We headed over to Laura's parents place where the bus was collecting us for our wine adventure. Then sun was out but it wasn't as hot as yesterday which was quite nice. Our destination for today was the McLaren Vale. There were seven of us in attendance including Bayly & Ash who had been out with us on Thursday. Our bus driver Micheal was a happy chappy, & took us to our first destination of D'Arenburg. New to this vineyard was their feature tasting building known as the cube. They have an art gallery downstairs that was a little bit different and dark. I was glad to escape and head up to the tasting floor which was a bright open space with some great views. We tried nine wines and a tawny port. The McLaren Vale is a red area and we focused on their Shiraz's. I tired a sparkling red for the first time that was very drinkable. The tasting itself was great fun with only a slight delay were one of the girls nipped off to the toilet and took quite sometime to return. Apparently the toilets were as arty as the ground floor gallery. After the tasting we headed to Polly's veranda bar which looked out over the vale, and shared a bottle of the Riesling. Laura purchased a few wines and I grabbed a bottle of the Riesling.

Our next stop wasn't far a two minute drive down the road in fact. At S.C. Parnell wide had a table outside on the deck for lunch booked. Most of us went for the special of the buttermilk chicken and bacon burger with a glass of red for $20. The burger was huge and very tasty. Laura and Ash's vegetarian sharing platter looked pretty appetising too. Mainly there thrice cooked chips. We broke into smaller groups for the tasting and had very different experiences. The girls didn't like the owner who was down doing the tastings for the first time since they opened. The lads had some decent craic with the fella to the point where he gave us one of the premium wines to try as well. There were some whites to try here but they were from the Adelaide Hills where I am heading tomorrow. The Aromatico was my favourite.

Our third & final stop took us to the bottom of the hill, 30 seconds away. This vineyard was slightly different with a hipster feel to it. Including a Buck Rogers pinball machine. Our hipster bearded host took a shine to Bayly poor lad. After our tasting we moved our table due to he sun, and sat amongst the vines themselves. This was truly a unique experience and we all shared a couple of glasses of the Kit and Kaboodle a four grape white that was very enjoyable. Laura had done tremendously well organising the tour and assembling some good mates to come on it. Sitting in the vineyard drinking wine was a real highlight of the holiday.

Of course the day was not done yet, time for a night out in the city! We headed to one of the festival locations and the croquet club. This year however there was no croquet to be played though. I was told that there was also an outdoor dancing area last year. But it was all change. The club is located right next to the Oval by the river. Initially I stuck to wine, as we were joined by Anders fella Matt who I had also met the other night. Laura and Ash met some friends and I chatted with the lads. We were all a bit worried about this fella who had stood watching he roller skating for kids for over an hour without a drink. Questionable fella. Bayly and I had a wander about the place to do some people watching and discovered a fire show taking place. He and I have a similar sense of humour which allowed me to be my usual drunken self without offending people.

Due to the lack of dancing facilities as he night drew on and after a few gins we headed across the bridge into town.

Laura suggested a club that she likened to Liquid back in the day in toon. As there had been plenty of middle class fun on this trip it was time to lower the tone. Walking in the place stank, there was a mechanical bull & awful tasting spirits. So we were straight on the raised dance floor next to the DJ as cheese personified came through the speakers. As the club filled up we relocated to a less busy room. Bayly got some reason had bought me a rum & coke that I didn't thank him for. The novelty of the place finally reached its Zenith and we headed off around half twelve.