Vin Santo

Vin Santo, a dessert wine especially popular in Tuscany, aging in San Gimignano.

Lunch at Fattoria San Donato Winery

While interviewing the owner and assistant wine maker at Fattoria San Donato near San Gimignano in Tuscany we were served a lunch of local cured meats, pecorino cheeses with chestnut honey and farro salad. Fattoria San Donato specializes in Vernaccia but they also make Vin Santo, Merlot and are experimenting with Rosé. The winery's facilities are in a medieval village the family purchased in 1932.

Ferry to Russell, Paihia, New Zealand

Marsden Estate Winery, New Zealand

The Northland of New Zealand has only recently emerged as a winemaking region though it was the first place vines were planted in NZ in 1819 by Anglican minister Samuel Marsden. Its climate is subtropical so grape growing can be a touch challenging given the humidity and periodic costal cyclones. Yet, some people have taken a stab at it anyway. On Sunday afternoons there isn’t much to do up in the Northland so we headed up from Paihia to Kerikeri, about 26kms/16 miles, to the Marsden Estate Winery.

Hawke's Bay Tastings, New Zealand

 Yesterday was a Hawke's Bay tasting day. If your not familiar with HB it is New Zealand’s second largest wine region behind Marlborough. Notable Syrahs come out of Hawkes Bay along with Bordeaux blends and Chardonnays.