Hawkes Bay. Wine Country. A term now used to promote the area, and a term that is by no means under estimates the area. For seven years now the Hawkes Bay area of WIMA has been holding the Wicked Wine Trail and we still haven’t run out of different wineries to visit! Mind you it does help when every year another half dozen or so new boutique cellar doors open.

This was the Seventh annual Wicked Wine Trail, and this was the first year where all the entries received (bar two) were pre-paid. Amazing. No last minute panic’s!

What wasn’t amazing was the weather that the Hawkes Bay turned on for the day – just another typical Hawkes Bay stunner. Phew, as the thought of 30 people squeezing into our little lounge doesn’t really appeal, but we do have a large back yard and deck.

Our mix on the bus this year was overwhelmingly Wellingtonian’s with some from the Manawatu, and a sprinkling of locals thrown in for good measure. As we departed for our first stop – Stortford Lodge for Lotto, food and alcohol – I played the smiling hostess dressed in Green, dishing out the survival bags, badges, and wine & beer. The run fell on St Patrick’s day, and we had a good turn out of entrants in green attire. Most shocking of which was Loopy who for the third time known to me was wearing a dress! Yes folks, we have photographic evidence as proof! For her efforts she won the prize for the best dressed in green. Personally I thought the pink gum boots were an added delight…

With the bus load happy and content, and all proclaiming they had bought the winning lotto ticket, we set forth to the first winery on the agenda. Matariki winery is one of the new ones around town, located on the out-skirts of Flaxmere. We arrived slightly ahead of time but the owners were ready and waiting for us. After a brief spiel about their wines, soil conditions, etc, we sampled the delights on offer. Mmmm, their reds were simple delightful! Mmmm have to take a few home for the cellar…

Most of us were indeed impressed and visa cards were hit heavily, but that’s what you do when on a wine trail. Back in the bus, and back on the road, we headed off to the second winery on the agenda. St George Estate has been around a while and were known for some fine wines. We arrived half an hour early – something unheard of on a wine trail.

Early or not we were greeted with total indifference by the staff who were only interested in serving the ‘paying guests’. Eventually the tasting got under way, but I was very surprised by the number of wines to taste – three. I was even more surprised by the wines themselves. Nothing to write home about at all! Very disappointing. The 1994 Cab Sav was well and truly past it’s used by date, the Fume Blanc did nothing for me, and the Muscat was, well passable – just. Take it from me, if you’re thinking of going their – think again. The whole experience left a sour taste in my mouth, especially after we had to pay a $2 tasting fee, and she didn’t take into account those who had bought wine and deduct it off the fee. And one of the wines offered for tasting was not for sale!

Our next stop was within spitting distance and was, I feel, the highlight of the trail. And more than made up for the disappointment of St George. Prenzel on the Bay produce Schnapps of all sorts of varieties! And what’s more, they also produce alcoholic ice cream toppings, and olive oil (non-alcoholic!), and a variety of other goodies as well! And the ladies who looked after us were highly entertaining! Again we had to pay a $2 tasting fee – but this time it was well worth it! Our first ‘sample’ was to be served a cocktail to highlight the delights on offer. Then we got a run down on what was on the shelves, then we were free to taste whatever took our fancy. The cash register and the eftpos machine were running hot!

About now it transpired that it was just as well we had arrived early. For the time spent at Prenzel’s now meant that we were back on schedule for our next and last winery of the tour. Askerne is another new kid on the block, located out of Havelock North down Mangateretere Road. They specialise more in white’s than red’s, and had a choice of two ‘stickies’ to sample. I found both their Reisling and the Semillon/Sav rather delightful, and wouldn’t you know it, the Semillon was on special! Yeah Ha. Turned out that an overseas deal had fallen through, and they were just trying to move the stock. Good news for those of us on the trail.

Our last stop of the day was at Gannets Bar in Te Awanga before making our way back to Redwood Place for the barbecue dinner. But not before we all lined up for a group photo! Poor Andrew – he was handed everyone’s camera with which to take a photo! That’ll teach him for offering in the first place!

Back at Redwood Place, everyone slowly wound down after a day full of tasting and merriment. Tez set to work on the barby – and a virgin one it was too. Our clever bastard friend from up the road, Marcel, had come up with a cunning plan. It involved two gas rings, a steel plate, a motorbike frame and a gas bottle. So with all the ingredients he set to work on Friday night (while we were still at the pub waiting for Wellingtonian’s to arrive) and created a masterpiece of a barbecue! Works well too.

The adventures of the day slowly took there toll on the people gathered, as one by one they fell under the spell of sleep and made their way off to beds. It’s amazing how an afternoon spent on a bus visiting wineries and sampling the delights can lead to bed before midnight! But at least I woke up felling a box of birds, which is more than can be said for Lisa from Palmerston North. Unlike Karen who feel asleep on the couch on Saturday night, Lisa was catching 40 winks on it on Sunday morning! But don’t worry Lisa, I won’t tell!!

The Y Machine