After an outstanding walk around tasting at Amisfield winery, and an even more outstanding morning tea, we were all split up to go to different wineries.
I think I lucked in – always wanted to see the cave at Gibbston Valley, and sure enough that is where we ended up.
Absolute scorcher outside, inside it was fabulous, cool and ethereal. And we entered loaded up. Flutes of méthode, with either freshly shucked oysters or little slabs of terrine/rillettes.
Chris, the winemaker at Gibbston Valley gave a beautiful welcome speech and this was followed with a karakia, by way of some waiata.
Chris’s wife was trained in opera singing, but she started with a traditional folk song from her country of birth, but followed up with the famous Puccini aria, “O mio babbino caro”, from Gianni Schicchi.
Absolutely amazing.