So thanks to the lovely Kate-Bu for telling us about this festival a few days before it was on! I managed to organise a weekend trip for me and my buddy Jonni. Had to get the ferry early, and considering it was a late night the night before, we were pretty shattered. We took the Bluebridge ferry and it was 3.5hours to get to Picton on the South Island. Would've been okay but where we were seated was right under the speakers for the tv and also had a huge draft coming in from the open door to the deck. So instead of the cosy sleep we were hoping for, we froze and were subject to a very loud dvd playing Shrek the whatever-one-had-a-prince-charming-in-it...
Arrived at Picton approx 11.30am, checked in to the hotel and hopped on the shuttle bus to Blenheim, where the festival was being held. Something I have noticed here is that the customer service practically everywhere I go has been wonderful. Kiwis are so friendly and cheery. They make conversation with you and have that laid back demeanor that you can't really take it for anything other than genuine. Maybe I have it wrong and it's totally fake, but they do it in a way that actually goes down well.
We get to Blenheim and as soon as we enter the festival we are given our tasting glasses and off we go! Weather today was overcast and I guess we were still cold from the ferry ride in but one thing we couldn't fathom was how scantily clad some girls were. We looked like autumn/winter and they looked like they were in Hawaii!! Some others were dressed for a day at the races but we later found out that there was a best dressed prize up for grabs.
Wine Festival was fun! We went around the various tents, getting tasting after tasting for around $4 per taste. One of the most memorable parts was the helicopter ride. We decided to do this early on as we didn't think wine and ride would mix too well. I'm a little afraid of heights but it was pretty amazing! The pilot even did a little hover in the air and a dip which at the time I was truly panicking about but after surviving, was very thrilled and wanted to do again!
The one problem I had with this festival was how strict they were that after 5.30pm they will stop serving wine. We got there with minutes to spare and they half poured my glass and then stopped and closed it all off. I got the half glass free but that's besides the point. They are not allowed to sell bottles either! I shall remember this for next time!
After a fun time at a photobooth, lounging about and bopping to the live music we headed back to the shuttle bus. All in all, a really fun day. Shame some girl couldn't handle her drink and yacked on the bus ride home. It was really grim and I will save you the details! Haha.
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