G’day,
Drove inland from Adelaide to Auburn, at the head of the Clare valley wine country.
Arrived in Auburn, a small quaint village and so made our way to the post office to inquire about Vic B. Post master indicated that Vic and Maria just so happened to live a stone’s throw away. After an attempted picnic (mosquitoes were on us in a flash), we made our way to Vic’s house. He met us at the gate and led us inside his stone-walled hundred and fifty year old house and made us feel immediately at home. Vic and Maria were publicans (pub owners) for many years and Vic loves to cook and knows wines - from the vine, to the grape, to the bottling - very well.
We were introduced to the charming Golden Orb, a giant spider whose web sometimes has a golden sheen to it. When working in vineyards, people carry scissors so they can cut though the cobwebs, they are that strong. The GO’s bite is not fatal, but can be uncomfortable and leaves one nasty bitemark.
Our first eating and drinking experience with Vic and Maria will be a high point every time we speak of South Australia! Reislings were served with a delicious meal of gently pan-fried whiting on a bed of steamed bok choy, with a side of homemade salsa; a French red served with pears and a goat cheese wrapped in ash; and a wonderful port served by a fire pit made out of a washer drum capped off the evening. Conversations flowed easily and freely.
On Wednesday, we took a 50K out and back bike trip to Clare along a wonderful former train track. After our return, Vic took us sight-seeing. We visited a Monastery winery, church and crypt where monks and priests, several of whom who were wine masters there, are buried.
Our last evening was spent with Vic and Maria and two other couples. We enjoyed mutton and also sausages made by a local butcher who has won prizes for his sausage making. The other two couples are both grape and wine producers and so much of the conversation centered on these topics and on wine itself. There was a lot of rain this past growing season and unfortunately it resulted in much grape mold/rot. Does not make for a successful season.
We left early this morning (Wednesday), flat out like lizards drinking water (hmmmmm???!!), saying a sad good-bye, but knowing we had made two wonderful friends. Such a lovely, lively and entertaining visit.
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| Early morning...leaving Glenelg |
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| Part of beach at Glenelg |
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| Arriving in Auburn |
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| Coffee grinder...takes 35 cranks for pot press readiness! |
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| Yup...what a beaut, huh? The Golden Orb herself |
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| Our delish dinner the first night |
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| Maria and Denny |
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| Vic the chef |
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| Ah, le vin! |
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| So exquisite... |
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| Goat cheese |
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| Just amazing, their cellar! |
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| Ending the evening by the fire |
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| Cycling to Clare the next day |
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| We stayed in Auburn, on bottom of map and rode to Clare, at top of map. Huge Riesling wine-making country |
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| Bike trail...former train tracks |
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| Clare |
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| Vic and Maria's backyard |
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| Vineyards |
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| Monastery |
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| Wine casks |
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| Wine tasting room |
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| Wine 'master' is a woman. Caused a lot of conflict in the region...a woman? Noooooo! The priest on the right is the former wine maker |
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| Yup... the sausage maker was so proud, he had this made! |
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| The extravagance of an over-indulged young Englishman sent to pine away in Australia for bad behavior. So he built this, partied hard and then went home. |
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| Galahs (cockatoos) settling in for the night |
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| Guests last night |
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| Wine makers whose wine we bought |
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| Sweet Louis |
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| Proud of his wine |
Quelle chance pour le vin ! J'aime aussi beaucoup ce genre de monastère ... , mais pas du tout les araignées , surtout les géantes .
ReplyDeleteL'hospitalité que vous rencontrez est vraiment incroyable ; une note d' espoir malgré les événements actuels ?