Archive for the 'Nelson' Category
Warwick House
May 17th, 2010
Adriena and I checked into Warwick House last night. Built in 1854, it is one of New Zealand’s great architectural and historical gems. The rooms are huge; my suite has three rooms plus the bathroom. It feels a little bit like I have travelled back in time.
We took a little wander through Warwick House yesterday and saw the grand ballroom, where they serve tea on Sundays. I could just imagine the well-dressed ladies and lords socializing here 150 years ago.
For anyone who likes Victorian heritage and a little bit of history with your stay, this is a great place!
Boat Shed Café
May 17th, 2010
One of the amazing things about New Zealand is the food. There are so many exceptional restaurants here. Adriena and I went to the Boat Shed Café, which sits perched over Nelson Haven in a historic boat building shed with views across Nelson Harbour.
It is a great place to eat if you find yourself in Nelson. But why believe me, I will let the photos do the talking!
WOW – World Of WearableArt & Classic Cars Museum
May 17th, 2010
Persephone's Descent - by Stuart Johnson
I had the opportunity to visit the World of WearableArt & Classic Cars Museum in Nelson. It is a very interesting place. Adriena and I were taken on a tour by Jahmiel Sowman, Marketing Coordinator.
We first went into the World of WearableArt gallery, where art is literally off the walls to adorn the body in wildly wonderful ways. Each piece in the gallery makes you stop and stare. The concepts, the designs, the execution…the time it must have taken to create these pieces. It is incredible!
At first glance, I wondered why there would be a car museum together with a fashion museum, but after touring both, it makes complete sense. The Classic Cars Museum is also full of pieces of art – more than 50 cars and motorbikes. This gallery pays homage to man’s obsession for speed, power, status and luxury. This place has something for men and women!
I will be spending some time at TRENZ with Jahmiel, so I will be coming back to this attraction with more information next week. What I can tell you is that you have to see these pieces to believe them. The photos are great, but nothing can give you that sense of style and story like being there in person – for both museums!
Click here for more images.
A House Protected By The Ocean
May 17th, 2010
If you have a moment, check out the video of our drive to carver Brian Flintoff’s studio at his home. It shows some of the beauty of the area and it also shows one of the most unique roads I have ever seen – the beach. When Astrid said she would show us where Brian lives, we followed her car and then she hit the end of the road…and started driving on the beach! We, of course, followed in our rental car…sorry Budget! (It changes from road to beach at about the 50 second mark.)
Turns out, Mr. Flintoff’s home is right on the beach and every couple of weeks or so, high tide hits and there is no more road and no access in or out. He laughed and said it’s a good excuse not to do some things!
Being in Mr. Flintoff’s studio was an incredible experience. He showed us the pieces that he works on and explained their significance in the Maori culture. He initially began to carve out of bone (and still does) and the pieces are amazing! They are intricate, detailed and tell incredible stories. He then began to carve musical instruments and realized that he needed to expand what he used and turned to wood.
His artistry is beautiful, but I think what brings the magic to his work are the stories in his pieces. Stories that go back as far as the birth of New Zealand, that wind through the piece connecting the past to the present. Meeting this artist was inspiring. If you ever have a chance to purchase one of his pieces, you won’t regret it. They are exceptional.
Check out his website here.
A Lovely Lunch At Waimea Estates Winery
May 17th, 2010
Wietske van der Pol, Associate Winemaker, Waimea Estates
After picking up the rental car with Adriena, our first stop in Nelson was the Waimea Estates Winery. We met with Astrid Fisher, International Marketing Manager from Nelson Tasman Tourism and Wietske van der Pol, Associate Winemaker, Waimea Estates. It was a beautiful, sunny day and we sat out on the terrace for lunch.
Waimea Estates is an interesting winery. Wietske explained that the winemakers are locals and they have a strong commitment to making good, reasonably priced wines. Wines that real people (like you and me!) can afford and that are good, really good.
Here is some information for the wine lovers reading this blog post. The owners of Waimea Estates, Trevor and Robyn Bolitho, have been growing grapes on Nelson’s Waimea Plains since 1993. The first vintage release was of a trophy-winning Sauvignon Blanc in 1997. There are now over 130 hectares of grapes planted in six vineyards. The soils are predominantly free draining alluvial soils. The combination of these soils with plenty of sunshine hours and a long ripening season, thanks to moderating maritime influences and a protective phalanx of hills, provide the perfect terroir for growing quality grapes.
The main varietal wines made at Waimea Estates are Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, plus smaller volumes of Viognier, Gewürztraminer and a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend. In addition, two wine styles they are establishing a cult following for are iconic dessert wines and a “strawberries and cream” Rosé. When vintage conditions allow, Bolitho Signature Vineyard wines are created from specially selected, low-yielding vineyards. They have also added “Spinyback” to their stable, a range of seriously good fun wines – full of South Island sunshine!
Waimea Estates produces about 60,000 cases annually. Currently, they sell approximately one third of the production domestically, with the balance going to Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, the UK, and the U.S.
Check out their website www.waimeaestates.co.nz for more information and to see the long (and I do mean long!) list of awards.
I am just learning about wines and this was an exceptional opportunity to see how a winemaker thinks. Wietske is a very interesting character. She has a way with words that takes you right into the story she is telling or the location she is describing. I commented on her poetic descriptions and she just laughed and blushed a little. Then I learned that this Dutch born Kiwi has a master’s degree in Russian. With a master’s degree in another language, no wonder she has such an incredible talent with words!
We did a tasting with several different Waimea wines and I have put the tasting notes below. If you see one of these wines in your area, pick up a bottle. You won’t be disappointed. When I get “homesick” for New Zealand, I like to have a glass NZ wine.
During the tasting, I used my grown-up voice and proclaimed that you can really taste Nelson in the wines. (I have heard connoisseurs use the phrase before.) Wietske laughed and pointed over to some rocks that surround one area of the winery and she said: “I think that is what you are tasting…a bit of mineral.” Hmmm…wine from a stone, now there’s a concept!
Waimea Savignon Blanc
This is Waimea Estate’s most popular wine, due to the emphasis on drinkability. Nectarines, gooseberries, limes and ripe capsicum on the nose, while the palate is characterized by toned-down acidity, fruit concentration and mouth-filling texture. Even Chardonnay drinkers love this one!
Waimea Edel
I had never heard of this kind of wine. Wietske explained that the inspiration for this wine comes from Alsace’s Edelzwicker. The Waimea “Edel” is a blend of Riesling (47%), Pinot Gris (38%) and Gewürztraminer (15%). With the spicy aromatics of Gewurz, the texture of Pinot Gris and the fresh acidity of Riesling, the resultant blend is full of intrigue and delight!
The first release of this special blend has a heady nose of orange peel, Turkish delight, lychees and spice, plus hints of marshmallow! The intensity of flavour, textural palate and the off-dry style make for a generous, mouth-filling wine with length and character.
I should have bought a bottle while I was there, since the winery makes such a small amount of this lovely wine that it doesn’t export it. The locals are the lucky ones!
Waimea Rosé
Waimea Rosé is made predominantly from Pinot Noir and partly fermented in American oak barrels. Aromas of red berry fruit and rose petals, an off-dry palate that is absolute strawberries and cream, and a spicy vanilla finish make this a charming wine.
Waimea Bolitho SV Pinot Noir
Waimea Bolitho SV Pinot Noir comes from low yielding vines, is hand-harvested and hand-plunged – all done the Burgundian way. On the nose it has black cherries and damson plums wrapped up in classy French oak, while on the palate it possesses silky, fine-grained tannins and concentrated ripe fruit flavours.
All in all, not a bad start to my stay in Nelson!