In wine, there is truth – attributed to Pliny the Elder.

Contrary to the forecast the sun is fighting to be the dominant player today, although it has turned a bit windy and chilly for spring here, as the locals have concurred.

As we did not have the time to visit the wine region outside of Sydney, we made the time today to visit three vineyards about 30 minutes north in the Waipara Valley region. The area has become a significant player in the wine production in just the past twenty years.

The first stop was for lunch at Waipara Springs Winery, followed by tastings at Greystone and Pegasus Bay. NZ has developed some very good wines, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (notoriously a very high-maintenance grape), Syrah, Cabernet and others.

The final stop on the route south was Pegasus Bay, which was on a whole another level, as can be seen from the gardens…

And then there was the cellar room:

Alas, today is our final night in New Zealand and we leave reluctantly but very grateful to have experienced the awesome natural beauty of the country and the the genuine graciousness of the people we have met. To travel with an open mind and an open heart is a blessing that all should have an opportunity to experience…

Full disclosure – no wine was involved in the crafting of this conclusion.