Sorry JP, if you just can't stand the thought of any more blue skies and sparkling waters you should probably stop reading now. I am finally here on the west coast, dipped my toe into the Indian Ocean. It's not all sunshine you know. The rain goddess is still in full glory and we have been getting some spectacular rain. But when it is good, it is very, very good. Landed in Perth on Friday night and headed out early for the Margaret River, about four hours south, in the rain. Saturday mid-day reached Bunker Bay resort where we stayed for two nights. Through our good friend, Serendipity, of whom I have written before, we found the Deep Woods wineyard for our first tasting. Lovely wines AND we got a reference to a beautiful spot for lunch the next day - Will's Do
main. JC, Chris and I enjoyed a spectacular lunch there on Sunday (see pix). We also managed to find a few other wonderful spots, spend a morning on the beach and the evening in a lovely resort! Day one, big tick.On Monday, a quiet day in vacation land, we headed for Vasse Felix Estates for some beautiful wines and a meal that was quite the hit. This is the founding vineyard of the Margaret River Valley - the first vines were planted here about 50 years ago. Vasse Felix is spectacularly successful, but no longer on its own. There are now more than 90 vineyards in the area, and an entire tourist industry has sprung up all around the vineyards. People (us included) just love to stop in at the other farms to buy local products - cheeses and other dairy products, olives, home-made jams and other preserves from a variety
of locally grown fruits, sheep-products, peanuts, cereals, chocolate and fudge, art galleries and on it goes. This is a beautiful location.Some of our favorite vineyards so far (in addition to Vasse Felix and Wills Domain) have been Deep Woods, Cape Naturaliste (pictured below), Xanadu and Voyager. More coming soon on these, and our all 'round favourite (so far) Leeuwin Estates. What gorgeous wine and gorgeous art.
I am so priveleged to be able to see this part of Australia and to have these wonderful travelling companions. Chris has been a wine martyr, offering on a pretty regular basis to be the designated driver. That's almost more than a person can ask for when you consider the lovely tastings we have been enjoying. Joyce and I do make weak attempts to volunteer to be the DD (or the skipper as they
say around here), but give up our protestations rather quickly when Chris takes the wheel. I think we owe him. Big.It is also lovely to enjoy how Canadian-friendly everyone is. I hope we never become the 'ugly Canadian' tourist; it is just such a pleasure to see how warmly I am greeted, once they know I am Canadian and not one of those other North Americans.
Stay tuned to this site: I feel a top-ten coming for Australian wineries I have known!!!
2 comments:
Ummm, all that wine and cheese, etc. etc. I do hope you are keeping up the aurobic's?
Hi Cuz. I have not been able to connect with your blog for some reason, but now have a link from John.Obviously you are having a wonderful time. The pics are great. All the wonderful sunshine. Here in the interior BC desert---well we had snow again last week. Sunshine and wine, I cant't think of a better combination right now. Keep on having a great and I will look forward to more pics.
Take care.
Darleen
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