Mount Johnson

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Today ended up being another wine tour! We set off from Queenstown around 9.30 picking up a maccas breakfast on the way to the Gibbston Valley wine region. We managed to tackle five wineries and a cheesery here between 10 and 2. In order; Peregrine Wines, Mount Rosa, Gibston Valley Cheese, Gibston Valley wines, Chad Farm and Waitiri Creek. In short, Peregrine sported a spectacular set up, with a decent wine selection, we left here with a Pinot Gris. Mount Rosa hardly looked like it was open or had a cellar door. We followed the arrows to a phone to call for assistance. Soon there after we were greeted by Jeremy and his friendly Dalmatian 'Muppet'. Muppet snoozed whilst we went through a tasting. These were probably my favorite wines of the day, all excellent. We left with a Pinot Blanc hot mulled red. To break up wine tasting, we stopped for a cheese taste, deciding on a grilled brie with fresh bread. Next door, Gibston Valley wines, the most famous and commercial in the area was a slight disappointment.

Just getting to Chard Farm was an experience in itself, a winding gravel road on a cliff edge overlooking an aqua blue stream. The wines here were right up there too. We actually left with three bottles, one specialty Pinot Noir we will save to mark the year anniversary of our engagement. The last winery in the area was Waitiri Creek, the cellar door in a pretty and quaint old chapel. We opted to have lunch here, even at the higher price ($27NZ for a pizza?). The food was ordinary (fancy flavor combo didn't work) and wines weren't special to me.By 2, we headed down the road to Cromwell and Bannockburn for a couple more wineries, stopping at Lydias Lookout on the way.

First up was Mount Difficulty, packed with customers. The wine here was decent, we will have to look out for it at Dan Murphys back home. With Felton Road and Desert Heat estate closed (many places seem to be appointment only), we picked nearby Gate 20 two as our last stop. In comparison to Mount Difficulty, this place was deserted, and felt like someones home. We actually completed a tasting in the guys doorway. Still, we left with a Pinot Gris and headed north on the two hour drive towards Mount Cook.

The drive in was breathtaking, driving along ice blue Lake Pukaki before an enormous imposing white-capped mountain range. Our accommodation was nestled in the Mount Cook Village, right at the base of the mountain. Our room had a spectacular view of the snow covered mountainside and glaciers. We arrived around 6, with just enough time to squeeze in a couple of walks.The Tasman Valley was a short 8km drive down the road. Here we took two walks; the Blue Lakes and Glacier view, and Glacier Lake. The first in particular ended up at an amazing summit view of an intense aqua coloured lake. I'm running out of superlatives to describe the colour of the water here in New Zealand, but its comparable probably only to Interlaken, Switzerland; and Iceland, and still got them beat I think.By now it was 8pm and time for dinner at the Mountaineers Cafe near the Hermitage at Mount Cook Village. My steak and Nats lamb chops were sensational, probably being the best in NZ so far. We turned in around 11, looking forward to another hike tomorrow.Read more