I'm quite certain that not a one of you remembers the tale of crossing the "Takaka Hill" entering Golden Bay....white knuckled, etc....Kathy has been silently stressing about the return trip....not enough to ruin the beauty of Golden Bay, but enough to maintain a quiet angst.....enough to warrant a stop at the local "airport" (houses two single engine planes). We flew this type of plane when we lived in Puerto Rico (2004). I knew that my ears could handle this type of flight (unpressurized, only 3,000'). I stopped to ask if they had any flights to Nelson (first town across the "hill")....no, but I could charter one....$400...thank you very much....Now I know the sign says: "It's a hill, get over it!"....but i really could not face this again....solution: a small water bottle....1/2 water, 1/2 scotch....
Nettie and Jane showed up within minutes....because Texas, pictured below, had "told" them.
Texas was waiting for us....in his own kinda way.
Exactly as the pictures portrayed....right in the middle of the vineyard....surrounded by vines.
As the name signifies, it is literally built from straw..............
The view from our window/terrace
Our door is wide open, but Texas knows that he is not to enter. He waits patiently for us.
In our immediate front yard are the pinot noir grapes, which are fully covered to protect against the birds....surrounding vineyards who are not as "green" employ the tactic of "birdscare" which is "guns" firing at various intervals....which we heard from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., part of living the vineyard life.
To either side of our vineyard is the Sauvignon grape.....only partially protected....grows like a weed in this part of NZ....very prevalent....in a bar/cafe/restaurant/, one orders "sauv".....unless one wants a particular vineyard....any "sauv" in South Island, NZ, in very good!
Nettie and Jane run the vineyard and the B n B.....Nettie's husband, Bill, has a role, but is not "listed" in the advertisements!!!! Nettie invited us to have a glass of wine with the 3 of them about 6 p.m.....We later realized that this is their "free wine tasting" as part of our room tariff....a delightful 1.5 hours, complete with appetizers and lively chatter.....very much like a cocktail party....and, to note, the best "sauv" and pinot noir that we have tasted!!! I asked them why "World's End" for the label.....They have a bach in the Marlborough Sounds which is their "World's End" enjoyment.....
