July 28, 2017
Yes, it has been a while since my last posting. I’m expecting to be very busy with wine tours this coming summer. Good TripAdvisor reviews have been very helpful. Also, I know that I will get a mention in the … read more
June 26, 2016
Here we are a year on from my blog posting which referenced the Nelson Wine Club’s annual dinner where NZ wines were featured. 10 days ago we again dined at the Rata Room. This year we had Italian wines accompanying … read more
October 1, 2015
If you have read some of my previous blogs, you’ll be aware that Marion and I spent 10 wonderful days in Italy back in April 2015. On our travels we were graciously hosted by representatives of Farnese Vini. Firstly it … read more
June 30, 2015
Last week the Nelson Wine Club celebrated it’s 27th annual dinner, which as usual, was held at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology’s Rata Room. ‘The Rata Room’ is the restaurant where the hospitality course students not only study and … read more
June 9, 2015
You can easily research via the internet, places in Alsace to stay, visit and walk/bike, but for what it is worth I’ll put my tuppence in. This photo is of another appealing village in Alsace – Niedermorschwihr, with its very … read more
June 2, 2015
Before flying home from Zurich, Alsace was our final stopping point. This would be my 4th visit here in 20 years and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I’ve always been the tourist to this region nestled between the … read more
May 22, 2015
The eastern canton of Graubünden is Switzerland’s largest. There, some of the best wines can be found in the communes of Fläsch, Maienfeld, Jenins and Malans (all part of the Bündner Herrschaft subzone). These vineyards not only have good southern … read more

May 11, 2015
A lengthy, but not too arduous drive, in our rental Fiat, brought us to Ortona on the Adriatic coast all the way from Positano on the Amalfi coast. There was plenty of snow on the Apennines to enjoy en route. … read more
May 8, 2015
When in Rome, if you want a taste of Sardina, then I highly recommend you to visit the Sa Sartiglia restaurant in the Monte Sacro district of Rome. Having dined there twice in 4 days in 2012 I knew we’d … read more

May 8, 2015
There is so much I could write about our wonderful time spent in Taurasi, which is a town and commune in the province of Avellino, Campania, Italy. Our accommodation was the Al Campanaro B&B It’s run by Alessandro Barletta. Not … read more