Hobbits and Wine

Off to Rivendell

Another cool sunny day. We leave Wellington and head towards Napier.

Our first stop is Kaitoke Regional Park, or the site for filming Rivendell for Lord of the Rings fans. All the sets have been removed but there are signboards showing where scenes were shot and where certain trees are in those scenes. The archway from the movie has been reproduced on a slightly smaller scale. It is a beautiful area and I can see why Peter Jackson chose it for Rivendell. But post production effects turned the movie version into something that is unrecognizable from what we are looking at.

Remutaka Crossing

We drive through the Remutaka Crossing which cuts through the mountains. Our road changes to a winding steep incline and then decline with “high risk road” signs. The sheer drops off the roadside are a tad startling. John is in his glory.

We stop at the scenic lookout and take in its stunning views.

Once we get out of the pass and back onto flat ground, we stop in a place called Greytown where we have second breakfast…when in hobbit country, do like the hobbits…haha.

Wine Time

We head to Junction Winery which was recommended…but its closed. We next make our way to Lime Rock Winery…no longer there. On our way to another winery, we see Radburnd Cellars and stop. The grounds with their big pond are lovely. However as I walk to the tasting area it looks like no one is here so I start to leave but then Rachel comes out and we have an amazing tasting; a Chardonnay, a Shiraz and a Cab blend. The tastings are free because of weird rules here about licencing. Wineries that sell product in stores must charge for tastings while wineries that only sell direct to the public are not allowed to charge for tastings. This winery only makes the three types we tasted and prices for a bottle start at 85 NZD (70 CAD). All three wines were divine.

We next stop at Trinity Hills Winery and it is closed for the day…really? Rachel at Radburnd recommended we go to Mission Estate Winery. We get there at 4:40pm and they had stopped doing tastings for the day. I guess I wasn’t meant to drink more than the one tasting today. At least we get to see around the grounds which are lovely.

Napier

We head into the city of Napier. In the early 1930s the city was badly damaged in an earthquake. The town was rebuilt in the Art Deco style in vogue at the time and is now known as The Art Deco Capital of the World. It reminds us alot of Miami’s South Beach area. But at 6pm it is so quiet with hardly anyone here. John comments that it feel like we are on an empty movie set.

We head to a Thai restaurant for supper and then go to our bed and breakfast.