June 5, 2018
Waking up this morning, after all the fun last night was not easy. And what was even harder was knowing that we had to go winetasting at 9:30 in the morning……
I was originally very excited to check out the McLaren Vale wine tasting area outside of Adelaide. I knew once I got myself going I would be excited again, now if I could only eat breakfast.
We had a really nice Sprinter and a great driver and guide. Our first stop was d’Arenberg, place that everyone seems to know about because of quirky cute. It was founded in 1912 and now four generations of wine makers, currently Chester Osborn is in charge. Their wines are made using traditional methods, they specialize in Rhône varieties and all have quirky names.
The Cube is bizarre! But it is something you need to experience. It was built in 2003 and inspired by the complexities and puzzles of winemaking. There are 5 levels and it’s like going into a fun house! Each level is made to excite the senses with features such as a wine sensory room, a virtual fermenter, a 360degree video room, and many other tactile experiences. I could hear White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane playing in my head and felt like I fell down the rabbit hole! There is no way to explain it, you have to experience it.
We took our places at the bar On the top floor with amazing views of the Vineyards. I looked at all of the classes and our list of wines and saw that we were tasting 9 different wines, I got dizzy all over again! I made it through the first two but couldn’t do anymore. Had to sit on one of the crazy couches and close my eyes for a little while. Towards the end I was ready to try more, especially the Peppermint Paddock sparkling red!! It was yummy and a great way to end our tasting here.
On the way down we explored the Alternate Realities Museum, and the many art installations on display-even the crazy bathrooms!
Stop number two was Wirra Wirra Vineyards, established in 1894 by an eccentric Australian cricketer. The winery prospered in its early days, producing many wines including a much acclaimed Shiraz. After his death in 1926, the winery ran into disrepair and was eventually abandoned. In 1969 the winery was rebuilt from the remnants of two walls and some slate fermenting tanks. It is a beautiful vineyard with rolling green hills. One of its most famous wines is Church Block.
By number three we were so ready to eat!! Lots of wine after breakfast really builds an appetite. Longview Vineyard is a family-owned winery in Adelaide Hills set on rolling slopes reminiscent of old world estates but with distinct Australian accents.
The tasting room and restaurant were beautiful and the food was delicious.
Besides all of this, they also have four-star accommodations with gorgeous views of the vineyards.
By the time we got to the Lane Vineyard, we were getting tired. Again, another beautiful vineyard and we had a great tour with one of the winemakers and were able to sample a few of the wines right from the barrel.
I think most of us slept on the way back to the hotel, it was about 45 minutes away but we hit some traffic. Thankfully we had time to nap before our dinner tonight which was hosted by Tasmania.
After the Tasmania event, we all tried to rally and have a drink in the hotel bar. We did go to an interesting bar around the corner that was non descriptive from the outside, had a winding staircase down, dark lighting, narrow and atmospheric. There were some great whiskey and scotch choices and we all sat around talking and having fun but only lasted one drink! It was a fun but tiring day.
