Cromwell, New Zealand. 09/12-February-2025.
Table of Contents:
- All posts
- Introduction, 05-February-2025
- Sydney, 06/09-February-2025
- Cromwell, 09/12-February-2025
- Fox Glacier, 12/14-February-2025
- Christchurch, 14/16-February-2025
- Blenheim, 16/19-February-2025
- Wellington, 19/23-February-2025
- Napier, 23/26-February-2025
- Taupo, 26/27-February-2025
- Auckland, 27-February/03-March-2025
- Sydney, 03/05-March-2025
Sunday 09: Now in Cromwell, our first stop in New Zealand. Thanks to the time zone shift our bodies were in NZ, but no idea where our time clocks were! Rather than eat out we bought some comfort food (spicy lamb sausages and potatoes) and drank some local wine.
Monday 10.
Today was all about wine tasting with Roaring Wine Tours and the very knowledgeable Natalie. We visited four different wineries, had a delicious food and wine pairing lunch and in total tasted over 30 wines including an interesting Pinot Noir white, a number of delicious Pinot Noir Roses plus Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Cabernet Franc and, of course, Pinot Noir.
We learned interesting new facts: they are the most southerly vineyards in the world, their specific climate means a few problems with pests, and they have to net the vines when the grapes start to form to stop the birds getting them all. We also learned that the Māori were only here for about 600 years before European settlers arrived.
Starting at the stunning setting of Te Kano where we must have seemed especially interested as we got to taste 9 wines instead of the promised 4! The last 3, single vineyard Pinot Noirs, were a fascinating demonstration of what could be done with the same grape in slightly different locations.
We then moved on to Terra Sancta, again showing what can be done with a variety of wines and wine plots. A smallish vineyard where they were proud of the fact that they do everything themselves - from vine to bottle - meaning they have control over every part of the process.
Lunch was at Stoakers where old wine barrels come to die but only after being used to BBQ delicious meats and vegetables. The pork in the barrel on the left is being slow roasted for about 4 hours over wood chips. Lunch was a huge platter of delicious food with 5 matching wines.
Next was Ruru where you could select any 5 wines to taste. We decided to share and so were able to taste all their wines. As we were tasting on the porch, we could see them netting the wines in the distance.
Last was Dunstan Road and the indomitable Marc who created a small vineyard from scratch and runs it single-handedly, a real labour of love. After tasting 5 of his bottled wines he showed us around his production facility (about the size of a double garage) and let us taste some of his Rose left in a barrel which he has to top up regularly to replace the "Angel's Share". It was fascinating to compare against the bottled version with the barrel wine being distinctly richer and fruitier!.
Of course we had to buy some! Looking forward to the Gewürztraminer with Thai food tonight.
.A relaxing day with a gentle stroll to the Cromwell Heritage Precinct and then along the Clutha river to Misha's vineyard as recommended by our tour guide yesterday. By sharing glasses we managed to taste all 10 of their wines.
Too good to resist.
Lunch was back at The Stoaker Room next door but not the huge platter of yesterday. Roast pork anyone? Smell was gorgeous!
After lunch our way back took us to the fascinating Cromwell Museum. There we learned about the formation of the town in the Otago gold rush in the 1860's and it's development through to it's partial submerging as a result of damming the river for hydroelectric power in the 1980's.
Cromwell Historic Precinct, some are museums, some are shops or cafés.
Enjoying a coffee in the precinct...
... on the edge of Lake Dunstan, formed as a result of the dam.
Assuming that this is named after Kilwinning Lodge No 0 (in Ayrshire).
Anthenum Hall, once on hill high above the river.
Likewise Renshaw's cottage.
That evening we stayed in for a relaxing evening with a light supper of a Thai-style prawn salad accompanied by one of yesterday's purchases, the Dunstan Road Gewürztraminer.
We loved Cromwell for its pride in its fruits, wines and heritage and its character - gnomes bungy and homekill butchers are available!
Next: Fox Glacier, 12/14-February-2025
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