Rhonda and I woke really really early to catch the bus before 7am to meet Bev and our tour van. It was us and a group a 3 and a group of 4 from Ireland. We made a stop for much needed coffee on the way and then were at our first winery, Lindeman’s, by 11.
I was so excited as I have never really done wine tasting before. Our driver organized for us to go to 5 wineries, each very different. At the first place we stood at the counter, the second we were brought to our own area to sit amongst barrels of wine (pictured on right), the third was where we had lunch, the fourth was a boutique with a large table that we all sat around (pictured below in the middle of the grape plants), and the fifth was an unplanned stop similar to the first.
We also went to a cheese factory, and a chocolate shop. What more could 3 women ask for – good wine, food, cheese, AND chocolate. Oh, and to top it off Bev told me at lunch that she was treating me to the tour. How wonderful is that?!!
The end of the day was a little eventful and worth sharing, just because the day was going too smoothly! The final stop, as I mentioned before was unplanned, meaning that our driver did not warn this winery that we were coming. So as the 10 of us walked through the door the two people working were a little annoyed. The man helping us asked what kind of wines we liked. I said that I liked the sweeter fruitier wines – obviously I don’t know much about wine as I am still drinking the sweet stuff! He then asked loudly, “Who here likes sweet wines?” Another girl raised her hand and he told us to stand in the back as, “We don’t have any sweet wines here.” We thought he must be joking as it wasn’t as if that was the only wine we drank, I was just answering his question. But then we never felt welcome to go back to the counter, and we just kept looking at each other and wondering if we were allowed to try any of the wines. We finally pushed our way to the front and tried one wine and as soon as he poured the glass he walked away and started talking to a couple who just walked in. After the fantastic experience we had had all day I really couldn’t believe this – I mean I know Australian’s aren’t the best at customer service but still. So, instead of festering about it I got his attention and told him how rude he was! Not in a bitchy, whiny way, but just told him that I couldn’t believe how he treated us. He looked at me completely surprised and said, “Me, what did I do?” I told him and he replied, “Oh, it must have been Australian humour gone wrong.” Um, no, I told him, “I have lived in Australia for a year and a half and I have never been treated the way you treated us.” I don’t think he was fazed much, but at least I got it off my chest. When we all got back in the bus we all bitched about what a jerk the guy was, I guess the others were treated badly too, so they were happy I said something!
Then, because the trip wasn’t complete, the Irish drank two bottles of wine on the ride home and began singing Irish songs, it really wasn’t too bad until about an hour before we got home, when one of the guys decided to sit on our laps and serenade Rhonda and I with “Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie.”
Thanks again Bev it will be a day I will never forget!!
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