Vino. vino. vino...

Although the title of this blog focuses on wine our day actually involved a great deal more: interspersed with wine were olives, chocolate, beer, roo hunting and Thai – quite a variety for one day.

We woke from our first night in Muriel feeling ok but discussing some modifications we might make to the sleeping arrangements for tomorrow night (no, not yet booking into a hotel!).

We were picked up from the campsite at 9:15 to go on the tour of Hunter Valley and were faced with our first challenge about an hour or so later: is it wrong to have a drink before 10:30 in the morning?  We concluded that given the ‘special circumstances’ that it probably wasn’t and therefore cracked on with the winery tour with full gusto.

Our first stop was at a boutique winery called Kevin Sobels where we received wine tasting tuition before trying 12 of his different wines: whites, reds, and ports.  Six different bottles purchased and back on the bus.

Next stop was Audrey Wilkinson (Audrey was a bloke by the way) where we again tried several wines.  Rossy our wine instructor, who had been to ‘wine university’, insisted a different method for tasting: view, swill, smell (mouth open, chest not rising) and then rinse, rinse, taste.  Whichever way is correct we were pleased that no one suggested spit, so we didn’t!  Three more bottles purchased and back on the bus.

Lunch at the Hunter Valley Gardens owned by the Roche Family (another winery) was very pleasant: burger, some more wine and a quick look round the shops.

Back in the bus to another winery, everyone now talking and giggling along the way (can’t imagine why?).  Another 10 glass tasting session at Tullochs and the day is feeling good.  Four more bottles purchased and back on the bus for the home straight.

Quick stop at the olive and herb farm (did you know they grew olives in Australia?), which was ok but did not induce us to part with any money, before reaching the Blue Tongue Brewery.

Now given the day so far you might expect us to make a swift manoeuver to the bar.  However, we didn’t, as Graeme our driver offered the chance of a ‘Roo hunt’ or more accurately he knew where a mob was likely to be hanging out (did you know the collective noun for kangaroos is ‘mob’, we didn’t).  So off we went in search of wild roos and we were not disappointed.  Whilst the promised spectacle of up to 50 roos did not materialise, a mother and her joey proudly hopped into sight – our first sighting of wild roos, how exciting!

Back to the brewery in time for a couple of ‘swifties’ before heading for home, with happy memories, 12 new bottles of wine and a slightly squiffy head.

We ate our tea, sourced from the onsite Thai restaurant (it was very decent), listening to the squawks of the parakeets and the pittle pattle of rain.

Off to bed, another early night…