13th November - Gerlinde picked me up from home to drive to Perth for the Portavin opening of their new 6,500 per hour bottling line. In true Portavin style it was a great event. About 50 customers and colleagues took a tour of the bottling line followed by a full sit down, white table clothed, fine food and wine affair.
Mike's Mum did the honours of smashing the bottle of champagne off the bottling line to officially open the line. Even though she thought it was "a waste" it made some impact as the champagne was bottled by Portavin's competitors.
We then moved onto an Indian restaurant in the city for dinner prior to Mike, Bullant and I flying on the red eye out to Melbourne. A 2 hour stop in Melbourne then onto Wellington, what a stunning city! We met Bird-Man, Rob and Urzela and enjoyed a lovely Italian meal in town. Early night in preparation for the Martinborough Food and Wine Festival.
What an amazing day, we caught the train from Wellington, about and hour into the vineyards where buses were on hand to take us from winery to winery. Each with their own uniqueness, food, wine and live entertainment. A blast! Wineries included Craggy Range, Te Kairanga (WHITEBAIT & ALASKAN KING CRAB FRITTERS- yumm!), Alana Estate, Tirohana, Escarpment Vineyard, Ata Rangi (GOOD PINOT & STEAK And KIDNEY PIES!), Vynfields, Margain Vineyard, Muirlea Rise, Martinborough Vineyard, Palliser Estate. Fine wine, food and music a perfect blend for a big day out!
We met some new mates on the train on the way home who joined us for dinner in a restaurant none of us can remember, good seafood chowder and more pinot!
Now sitting in a hotel in Auckland (The Oaks Residencees, 16 Gore Street, quite close to some late night girly bars of anyone is interested) after a marathon drive from Wellington yesterday. Dinner at NSP in http://www.nonsolopizza.co.nz/ in Parnell which was not as good as last time we went there, perhaps monday night is the B team? You know something is wrong in an Italian restarant when the pasta is not cooked properly.... Met up with Nick (GM Portavin NZ), his wife Anna along with Chris Kelly (Ops Manager) and her hubby Paul.
Looking forward to another quiety tonight before a direct flight home to Perth tomorrow.
I volunteered to help out at Escarpment Vineyard this year. Let me just say I'd never make it as a professional bouncer!
ReplyDeleteoh dear was it that bad? We had a ball and did not see too many people making trouble.
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