We're back in Kurow at Sublime Wines with Steve & Fenella and their family. Such a lovely place about 3 hours South of Christchurch, just outside of Oamaru and about 45 minutes from the boulders pictured above.

We were here before helping put the nets on the grapes, and were happy to come back to help pick grapes and take the nets off. The pinot noir & pinot gris grapes are really sweet & nice. Seems the harvest throughout the Waitaki Valley has been of good quality grapes but less quantity than expected. The good news is that the weather has been fantastic while we've been in the vineyard. And now that it's autumn, the leaves on the vines have turned a beautiful gold & red.

Last week, Fenella took us down the coast to this lighthouse where you can walk along the coast & see seals and penguins. There were lots of seals that day but it was the wrong time of the day for penquins. After our walk, we went to Fleur's Place which is quite famous for their seafood. The restaurant is right on a little pier and they bring the fish in from their own boats. We had a huge platter of all kinds of smoked, cured & pickled fish & various mussels and shellfish all with freshly baked bread. It was soooo good!!!