Showing posts with label WIne Tasting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WIne Tasting. Show all posts

Sunday, 16 November 2014

Melbourne and Windsor

Parliament House, Melbourne
Looking for a mini-break we decided to visit an old favourite, Melbourne, Victoria. It's been over 6 years since our last visit so it was time to familiarise ourselves with this lively city once again. I love Melbourne, I love its friendly hospitality and its lane-ways and arcades. I love the people, passionate and confident and noisy. The city is busy and vibrant, I love the trams and nowhere in Australia can equal the dining experiences.

We had booked a package to stay at The Windsor, an establishment that cannot be described as simply "an hotel". This old-world hotel oozes charm, character and history. The corridors and stairs squeak and groan and the ancient lift takes an age to transit floors. All of this enhances the true experience of a stay here. The staff are formal but not stuffy, helpful and friendly. The rooms clean and old-fashioned, chintzy, cosy and delightful. If you travel to Melbourne, don't turn down an opportunity to experience The Windsor!

I confess we were spoiled, we were upgraded from our pre-booked Junior Suite to a Windsor Suite, on the top floor our huge corner suite overlooked Parliament House and there was no shortage of space, from the huge lounge, to the even larger bedroom and the walk in robe! Heaven!

Before we unpacked, a knock on the door brought a complimentary bottle of Yarra Valley wine, ahhhhhh, it was nice!

This wasn't our first stay at The Windsor, but it was the best and I guarantee it won't be the last!

It didn't take long for us to settle in and set off for a short walk. Lots of restaurants nearby and we soon found our afternoon favourite haunt, the delightful Wine Bar in Little Bourke Street, just around the corner, with a delicious cheese platter consisting of Pyengana Cheddar and Brillat Savarin, an exquisite accompaniment to a bottle of perfectly chilled wine.  Ideal to put you on until dinner!

Having arrived mid afternoon and checked out the locality, a short glamour nap was followed by dinner at Bamboo House! Yes, ok, I do love Chinese food, along with Thai it is a personal favourite.

Peking duck wraps, possibly the best ever, spicy dishes, mouth watering! As I write this, I am already planning my next trip!
I know my friend @2aussietravellers will be so envious!

We spent the next few days exploring the lane-ways and shopping, checking out the architecture in the Melbourne shopping malls. Our stay too short and a trip to the Yarra Valley, wine tasting was fun!

China Town, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia



All too soon, it was time to head home ... our few days in Melbourne and The Windsor, just awesome! In the catchphrase best associated with Arnie, I'll be back!








Sunday, 7 September 2014

The Hunter Valley, Pokolbin and Thistle Hill

 rosé by the fire
Thistle Hill, Reception
... and so we found our way to our lodgings for the next few nights, Thistle Hill, Pokolbin. Our host Carol was delightful and it was soon obvious why Thistle Hill is the #1 rated B&B in the area!

Lazy days and wine tasting tours followed, the promise of a long day and a degustation menu didn't pan out as promised but our tour with James' Hunter Valley Wine and Vineyard Tours was exceptional! Good value, great fun, a small group of 10! Lots of laughter and more wine than is good for you I'm sure!

One winery offered us more than 20 tastings but helped us limp through to lunch with a generous serve of cheese and crackers! Can't imagine why we needed food after a mouth watering home-baked breakfast including (yes honestly!) fresh scones with jam and cream, devoured earlier!
Breakfast Room

We picked out a few favourites along the way, not least a delicious Shiraz liqueur from Ballabourneen tasted and purchased as we listened to the highly amusing chatter of our host and a Chardy from Audrey Wilkinson that really hit the spot!

Our stop at one winery saw us filmed to be featured on a popular TV show, but given it was the last stop after a full day, I won't be seeking out that video!!!

Hidden Gems


We found a few hidden gems, Blaxlands Inn deserved a second visit, you can't go past their deep dish pies, but our favourite find of the winery week was Cockfighter's Ghost and their gold award winning Pinot Gris and their chardy is pretty good too!!  Thank goodness for the Internet, the cellar door is never far away!


Thistle Hill, Guest Lounge

Our wine tour group included a couple of honeymooners who had celebrated their wedding on Segways in Coff's Harbour just the weekend before! Sounded like a blast and different for sure!

Yes, we tasted every one!  And more!

A horse and carriage, outside Blaxlands Inn, Hunter Valley

Outside our room at Thistle Hill
It's been a few years since we last went to the Hunter and it is fair to say, it has improved with age! The people are friendly, the wine is exceptional, the food is mouth watering and the air is fresh! I'll be back and we won't leave it so long next time!

Sunday, 24 November 2013

Napa Valley - Wine Tasting....

And today?  It's Sunday....what's on the agenda?
Lunch and Wine Tasting @ Inglenook, a well kept secret and almost the "private" winery of Francis Ford Coppola, famous of course for The Godfather!  Difficult to choose, but for me, this was possibly the highlight of our trip!  If you have a little spare time, I recommend you read the history of this winery, fascinating.
Next up, wine tasting @ Paraduxx, famous for Napa Valley reds
... and finally ... wine tasting @ Silver Oak where we each were presented with a crystal glass each, somehow I inherited a second, so just two beautiful thin crystal glasses to pop in the suitcase minus boxes for safe travel home!  I am happy to say, they made it in tact!
Life's tough!

Francis Ford Coppola's winery and yet another beautiful blue November sky!


The little white house in the middle?  Home to Francis Ford Coppola.




Beautiful Redwood tree




Would you pay $1.2M for this car?




For lunch, we were fortunate in experiencing a private event in The Daniel Cellar, exquisite, we couldn't have asked for more.

A private tour followed by lunch, with our chef walking us through the dishes and our personal Sommelier talking us through the history of the winery from 1842 through today.

,


and on to ... Paraduxx to enjoy a few reds ...


... and finally ... a stop at Silky Oak winery ...






... and this I just have to share! that evening, we headed out to a nearby restaurant for dinner, our waiter recommended Chicken Pot Pie, "a traditional American dish" - until it arrived, I hadn't appreciated it would serve a family of four for a week!  Delicious but I confess, it beat me!  

I hope the many restaurants of San Fran at least offer returned food for the many many homeless people we noticed!