Marlborough

So, we left the ferry terminal at Picton and drove south to Blenheim. Our next destination was “Vineyard Cottage – Stunning Views On Your Doorstep” and the promise of four days spent in a vineyard in the middle of the Marlborough wine district of New Zealand. Sauvignon Blanc is Wendy’s favourite tipple and one of her favourites, Small and Small, is produced just around the corner, or so I believed – they were not very forthcoming about the location of the vineyard(s) in the emails we exchanged.

The scenery was just glorious on the drive down and the number of vineyards per square mile increased exponentially as we approached Blenheim. We stopped to pick up some groceries (and wine) and then turned out of Blenheim on Route 63 to our accommodation. Driving down that road was a little like driving along the white wine shelf on your local supermarket or exploring the New Zealand section of Waitrose. They were all there, one after another:

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It was quite unbelievable. And there was acre upon glorious acre of vineyard often as far as the eye could see. We came upon our little lane and then upon our unfinished track:

and we entered paradise. Even better than either of us expected.

We stood a bit stunned and then managed to collect ourselves and open some beer and some wine to enjoy while we unpacked.

Later on, our hosts Ian and Leigh came over and joined us for a glass or two. As I chatted with Ian and looked out over the vines I asked “so, do you produce your own wines here?” “Oh no”, he replied “most of it is under a lease with a wine company called St Clair except for a small plot over there,” he pointed to the right, “and we look after that for a husband and wife team called, oh, you’ll never have heard of them, they’re called Small and Small.”