Wow, we've been on our trip now for almost two weeks. The first part of our journey is coming to an end. The second part is soon to begin. We'll only be here in Sydney for a few more days, then off to other parts of Australia.
We're being picked up for a VIP wine tour of boutique wineries of the Hunter Valley outside of Sydney. We've decided to go on a VIP Boutique Wine Tour. What that means is that we'll have to buy any wines we like while we're there, because NONE of them are available in the US or even in Bottle Shops (Liquor Stores) in Australia. I'm kind of excited. It's been a while since I've gone to wine tastings, Amy just started drinking again for the first time since Sydney was born. Let me tell you, it's no fun drinking wine alone!
Our driver picked us up at the hotel and off we go for the hunter valley. Our driver was named Klaus, and he was amazing. Very helpful, very knowledgeable, and like most Australians, very friendly.
Our first stop on the tour was Iron Gate Wineries, a boutique winery owned by an Englishman, but operated in the true spirit of the Hunter Valley. During our private wine tasting, we sampled an array of bottles, but the most spectacular were two sweet wines (not desert wines) that were a bit out of the ordinary. We sampled a Sweet Shiraz, and a Sweet Mandala. Now when the vintner first started making the Sweet Shiraz, he was laughed at from all circles as that crazy brit making a sweet Shiraz. Would you believe that not only is it a hit, but an award winner as well. We'll definitely be bringing a few bottles home.
Next we went to another winery which had a very good Shiraz. I'll be picking a bottle of that up.
After a gourmet lunch at the Hunter Valley Gardens, and a few tastings there, we went to our last winery for the day, Ernest Hill Wineries. It was a neat experience as our trip today was book ended by two great Estate wineries loyal to the traditions and methods of the Hunter Valley. Needless to say, we bought a few bottles there too.
A few notes.
1) Getting a great guide like Klaus is essential.
2) Go to the boutique wineries. You may not be able to buy the wines at home, but they know their craft. The wines are more expensive, but hey, you get what you pay for. No mass produced, corners cut table wine for $6 a bottle. Anything less than $20 a bottle is not worth your time.
3) If you like it, buy it now. We went home with nine (9) bottles, and we're still a drinkin'.
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