Of Wine and Chocolate

Well. What a day. Three winery visits – or was it four? First to House of Cards. Oh the red. Tis not even 11am. I buy a beautiful Cab Sav after (pointlessly) trying the Merlot and the Shiraz.  Alice tries pretty much everything. This is a boutique single vineyard winery which doesn’t blend with other grapes. Lovely golden retrievers by the door. There is Chocolate factory adjacent to the Winery called Gabriels! Very apt. We taste and purchase. And have a hot cocolate (me) a coffee (Al) and a juice (Skipper Owen who has a cookie as a reward for driving!) on the terrace. On to Killerby Cellar Door. A bigger affair where the wines are blended. Again – oh will I never learn – I work my way down the reds finally reaching the Cab Sav which I purchase! Oh my. Alice tries everything again. Skipper Owen watches in awe! I declare that lunch is next. We try the recommended venue but it is closed for a refurb, so on to Woody Nook. My sort of bonkers place. Winery plus lunch in the woods. Delicious lunch followed by more Cab Sav. We feel guilty not buying any but the weight allowance is looking stretched. There is a rainbow over the vineyard as we leave. I know, I know. Off to Margaret River to explore a bit. There is a fudge shop which we all enjoy, a hippy shop (crystals and ear bars) which Owen enjoys less and a bra emporium which drives him to buy chicken and coke and pace up and down rather. He’s so patient! Bless. We make purchases – Al & Mother that is! Finally (really) we stop at a fabulous ceramic shop called (I forget – will insert when I find the map) where my jug fetish is satisfied and where amongst the outdoor display of wonderful ceramics we are entertained by laughing frogs. No,  really. I have a video! Oh yes and then we stop at our final winery (did I say final before?) Swings and Roundabouts. It is also a brewery and cidery. I sample the Cab Sav. Shocking. And the Merlot then the Cab Sav again. Alice tries everything pretty much. Again. But she purchases some wine to bring back. Lovely. Then somewhat squiffily home via Coles and supper cooked by Alice who appears to be less squiffy than me.
We crack open a bottle of the red from Swings and Roundabouts. I have a small chunk of Camenbert with mine. Perfecto! This evening’s highlight is a new Australian competition programme called Bachelor. Owen is so excited. I’m off to watch it with them!!!