camduncan Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Last week Jen and I flew down south to Newcastle (approx 200 miles north of Sydney) for a friends wedding. We arrived a couple of days early and toured some of the wineries in the nearby Hunter Valley. Whilst not a great wine lover, I do enjoy a dessert wine, Muscat or Port... A great time was had by all - we were joined by Jen's brother Ian and we all plan to head back sometime in the near future. Several ports, including a 'white port' were discovered and purchased, as were a few each of different varieties of muscat and dessert wine. Jen being the wine buff that she is, also picked up a few bottles of wine - so many, that we couldn't bring it all home on the plane and had to leave a case of 12 wines with her Mum & Dad) Oh, and the wedding was a blast as well - a great time was had by all. Here's a few pictures from/of the wineries for those that may have tasted the wines.... The first is Tower Winery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camduncan Posted March 8, 2006 Author Share Posted March 8, 2006 Tempus Two winery - we didn't have time to stop here, but the site & building was impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camduncan Posted March 8, 2006 Author Share Posted March 8, 2006 · Hidden Hidden McGuigan Wines - a long time favourite of Jen's Link to comment
camduncan Posted March 8, 2006 Author Share Posted March 8, 2006 McGuigan Wines - a long time favourite of Jen's!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camduncan Posted March 8, 2006 Author Share Posted March 8, 2006 Lindemans wines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camduncan Posted March 8, 2006 Author Share Posted March 8, 2006 Jen and her brother Ian start an early morning tasting at 9am - Scarborough Wines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camduncan Posted March 8, 2006 Author Share Posted March 8, 2006 Jen at the entrance to Reg Drayton Wines - a small botique winery that had some of the best ports and dessert wines I've ever tasted :bowdown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camduncan Posted March 8, 2006 Author Share Posted March 8, 2006 And finally, my product find of the trip - Butterscotch Schnapps with Chilli and Rosemary - simply stunning after-dinner drink....:yum: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camduncan Posted March 8, 2006 Author Share Posted March 8, 2006 The staff thought I'd enjoyed the Chilli Schnapps just a little too much and challenged me to taste their special "chilli paste" It turned out to be a pure habanero paste - the picture shows me madly gulping down water. It wasn't that it was so hot, but that it caught in the back of my throat as I was trying to talk :hot: :bigeyes: Jen cracked up laughing - it's the first time she's seen me affected by chilli...took me about 10 minutes to come good again :skep: Of course, I bought a jar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Thanks for the pictures Cam! Leslie and I are making another trip to the California wine country this summer and your winery shots really got me excited again :toast:We just love Australian wine. The QPR just can't be beat anywhere else in the world IMHO. Jacobs Creek and Lindmans are two of our favorite low-cost everyday wines :yum: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffRenner Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 We just love Australian wine. The QPR just can't be beat anywhere else in the world IMHO.I was fortunate to visit several of South Africa's Cape Town wine regions, guided by a South African friend, 18 months ago. It is a stunningly beautiful part of the world.IMO, the South Africans have even the Ozzies beat on QPR. Because of the aparthied-era trade sanctions, they got a late start on international trade, but some of their wines are making it into the world market. If they ever get up to speed, they will give the rest of the world a run for its money.Not only are many of the wines of world class quality, in South Africa they are remarkably inexpensive.Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Here in Lexington the choices in SA wine are very limited. Our favorite wine is a Conde-Stark Cabernet from the Stellenbosch region that we have to special order. Of course we do get the Goats Du Roam (sp?) and other lesser expensive wines, but nothing under $12. The typical Stellenbosch or Cape wine on the shelf will be in excess of $20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camduncan Posted March 8, 2006 Author Share Posted March 8, 2006 I just woke Jen up to ask her opinion of SA wines (it is 6:45am after all and we've got to go to work soon:bigeyes: ).....She was there 2 years ago on a fast-track tour for work. She can't remember specifics, but said she definately enjoyed the wines she drank over there.We don't see many SA wines here (that I am aware of), or if we do, they are minimal compared to our own Aussie wine selection..Last year on our honeymoon, we were very impressed woith some of the New Zealand (South Island) wineries. In particular, we regularly look for and buy Gibbston Valley wines when they are available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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