Day 5 - Still raining...

So its rather ironic that Arrowtown had no running water last night!

It seemed like a good day to do the (now obligatory) local alcoholic tasting visits - in this case a wine tasting tour. We found one that would pick us up and drop us back off in Arrowtown, visiting four vineyard "cellar doors" for the tastings. A stop a the second gave opportunity for lunch as well. But before the off, we had the morning to while away, which we did around the surprisingly good Arrowtown museum. This gave a quite comprehensive history of the area from the Gold rush, through to its time as a holiday resort of "cribs" (think beach huts in the mountains!). Displays included parts of the some of the original buildings.

Museumed out, the arrival of the bus for the wine tour was welcome. Straight into the tastings then at Amisfield. A fine purpose built building for the tourist trade would have a fantastic view over Lake Hayes in normal circumstances. We were welcomed with a glass of bubbly before being given the speil for a Suvignon Blanc, Pinot based Rose, and a Pinot Noir. All good light wines, but the Sparkling was best for us. Straight on then to Gibbston - the most commercial of the lot and lunch. We shared a cheese platter - nice but not outstanding local cheeses, and a pleasant glass of Chardonnay.

The Cave where we had the tasting at Gibbston was impressive. Best of the bunch here was the Riesling. The Pinot Gris was rather too light and the Pinot 2007 was rather rough (while our host raved about the award winning 2006 - which we were not offered! :-( ). On, then, to Pereguine. This vineyard was most notable for the open air stage being set for a wedding with a great mountain backdrop - what a shame about the weather. We supposed that at least the couple would have a talking point for years to come. Our tastings were in a room beneath the grand stage (it's also the barrel storage area). Four tastings here: A Pinot Gris, their "Saddleback" Pinot noir (light), Perguine 2007 Pinot Noir (ok - may improve with aging) and their top-of-range Karera Pinot Noir (2008, $65 a bottle) which was soft and light.

Best left to last. Waitiri Creek tasting looked to be held in a chapel. Six tastings here! A Reisling reministant of a Bourgogne, a creamy fruity Pinot Gris, and a delicate Pinot Noir rose which we thought would make a nice apperetif (ok, we might have been getting a touch squiffy by this point). Next the reds! First their lighter "Drumner" Pinot Noir - indeed light with strawberry and raspberry flavours. Their main Pinot Noir 2008 was full bodied, fruity with spice. We finished up with a sample of the same from 2006 vintage (a very good year apparently). This was very good indeed - well rounded, blackcurrent, plum and spice flavours.

We bought a 3pack of the white/rose wines for the road, and took details of the merchants Waitiri use to export to the UK - think we'll be getting a case of the 2006 Pinot Noir...