I’ve tasted a lot of different Central Otago pinot noirs, but I never imagined how extreme a climate it is for this temperamental grape to grow until visiting the area firsthand. “How do these New Zealanders pull it off?”, I asked myself. They get lucky, for starters. The frosts here…
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Where do I begin with New Zealand? I had been working up on the North Island, where business supposedly gets done here, in both Auckland and Wellington. These two cities are populated by over half of the four million people who live in this scenic country. Some good restaurants and…
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After returning from Vietnam and admiring the weathered nobility of their farmers, I was looking forward to working in the vineyard. I bought some waterproof gear: a pair of gumboots, a Rainbird jacket, some rainpants, a pair of gloves, and was ready to head into the trenches. With the help…
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In Tasmania, the island south of Melbourne off Australia’s southern coast, finding an open log fire isn’t as easy as you’d think. It’s pretty bloody cold in Tasmania this time of the year. Hiking through the rugged beauty of the state lends itself well to sitting by a fire and…
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There are many icons in the world of wine, and it takes a little luck and the right connections to meet them. I’d been intrigued by Wendouree Cellars in Clare Valley for some time. In a region known for its mouthwatering rieslings, Wendouree is known for its deep and tightly…
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We climbed higher into the mountains on the motorbikes, covering a lot of ground everyday. The Minsk’s were noisy bikes on the way up, but you could shut them off on the descent just by holding the clutch in and taking your hand off the throttle. That was the best,…
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The first day we rode the Minsks for hours, slowly beginning our climb into the mountains. Hung, an experienced guide and rider, led the way to a small village of Black Thai’s. We spent the night with a curious and friendly family. Mui was the matriarch and, man, could she…
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After a 10 hour night bus ride from Doc Let to Hoi An, I was in no mood to be hassled. I found my hotel, the perfectly situated Hoang Trinh, and collapsed for a beautiful 3 hour nap. It’s good to suffer, it makes the simpler creature comforts more enjoyable.…
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After saying goodbye to the cool pine forests of Dalat, and yet another new friend, I was ready to enjoy a few peaceful days somewhere remote along Vietnam’s extensive coastline. I’d heard tales of beautiful, isolated beach retreats, and after a few days of hectic Saigon, and a cold hailstorm…
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