Friday 9th March 

So today was my first vineyard trip and it was absolutely brilliant. It was to the Adelaide Hills and McClaren Valley. It was with a group called Prime Mini Tours and they were brilliant. They aim their bookings at the bit more mature market which was great and their tours may be abit more money but still competative. There was only 5 of us on the bus so it was alot easier and we had more time when it came to the wine tastings.

I was picked up at 8.30am and the tour guide was really good. Our first stop was the Blessed Cheese. Where we had coffee and a platter of local cheeses with nibbles of fruit and nuts to accompliment each cheese, fantastic. We then had our first stop at Fox Creek winery where we saw the process of the wines and then on to their cellar door where we sampled there wines. Next stop the Olive Grove where we sampled variouse Olive oils and looked around the shop at their different products made from the oil. Lunch was at Woodstock winery where we had another tasting followed by an excellent lunch platter of pates, cold meats, cheese warm pitta breads etc, followed by panacotta!! It was beautiful. Then onto Hugo Winery, Bridge Water Mills and finally Arranmore Vineyards. What an unbeleiveable day, so interesting and fun. Not once did we feel rushed at any of the tastings and the quality of wines were amazing the tour was really good value. Looking forward to my second one now.!!