quote:

Originally posted by Marie56:
I really don't like cocktails, I prefer wines and maybe a cognac and single malt with a little bit of water. However I do like kir if a good white wine is used.

GOOD white wine.

quote:

Originally posted by Marie56:
I really don't like cocktails, I prefer wines and maybe a cognac and single malt with a little bit of water. However I do like kir if a good white wine is used.

Marie: My tastes exactly. We'll have to sit together on the next TT.

Brenda

quote:

Originally posted by Caitie:

quote:

If drinks were to be paid for separately then tipping would be involved and Trafalgar say all tips are included except for the TD, Driver and local guides.

Drinks usually are paid for separately at the included dinners, actually, and it doesn't seem to cause any problems or require any tipping at all.

Actually, Caitie, when we ordered wine at included dinners we did tip the waiter.

Brenda

quote:

Originally posted by dalene:

quote:

Originally posted by Caitie:

quote:

I was just joking Catie ~ as Mike said ~ we shouldn't take ourselves so seriously

Dalene: Understood. And I don't - I really don't make heavy weather out of this issue. I understand that wine/liqueurs/champagne is all part of the deal when I go to a place like France especially. When I visit my French friends, they tell me that it is scandalous to drink water instead of wine and they're ashamed to serve me water!

Catie ~ In my opinion France and Italy are synonymous with good wine. Quite frankly I agree with them!

Yes, yes, yes, dalene.

Brenda

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:

quote:

Originally posted by Marie56:
I really don't like cocktails, I prefer wines and maybe a cognac and single malt with a little bit of water. However I do like kir if a good white wine is used.

Marie: My tastes exactly. We'll have to sit together on the next TT.

Brenda

I would be delighted to sit with you.

quote:

Originally posted by Caitie:

quote:

Wow Catie ~ ten TT-tours! You are so lucky. Is there a country that you haven't seen?

There are loads of countries that I haven't seen.

No wonder - you are such an expert on travel advice. Not long before you leave in September!

quote:

Originally posted by Marie56:

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:

quote:

Originally posted by Marie56:
I really don't like cocktails, I prefer wines and maybe a cognac and single malt with a little bit of water. However I do like kir if a good white wine is used.

Marie: My tastes exactly. We'll have to sit together on the next TT.

Brenda

I would be delighted to sit with you.

Marie, Brenda ~ join me for a wine tasting tour: we will go to the Hunter Valley in Australia, to the Monterey County in California, then to Tuscany and Sicily in Italy, Burgundy in France and last but not least the Franschhoek wine valley in South Africa!

And what about Bordeaux?

quote:

Originally posted by Caitie:
And what about Bordeaux?

Of course, how can I forget.

Excuse me, folks, but I think you're forgetting something. We have two wine regions here in Canada, the warm and sunny Niagara region and in British Columbia, the Okanagan valley both of which produce marvellous wines that have also done well on the international stage against the big boys. We're just very modest about our accomplishments but you have to include Canada on this wine-tasting tour of the world.

Brenda

+
Don't forget to come to Rockbank, we have a number of wineries locally, including Witchmount who have just won a world competition in France!

quote:

Originally posted by dalene:
...Marie, Brenda ~ join me for a wine tasting tour: we will go to the Hunter Valley in Australia, ... and last but not least the Franschhoek wine valley in South Africa!

Dalene, what about spending more time in Australia, and going to states other than New South Wales? There are some famous wine-growing areas in South Australia, for instance! Redolent with history. However, you'd probably have to avoid the River Murray in SA - the creek which used to be the 'Mighty Murray' of Australia. There's a sad and worrying story behind that, which can be told from many different perspectives.

If you have the $$, you could pamper yourselves and cross the Nullabor Plain by rail to visit the lovely wine-growing areas in Western Australia, too. I'd be happy to meet you all at the Adelaide Railway Station!

quote:

Originally posted by Mallee:

quote:

Originally posted by dalene:
...Marie, Brenda ~ join me for a wine tasting tour: we will go to the Hunter Valley in Australia, ... and last but not least the Franschhoek wine valley in South Africa!

Dalene, what about spending more time in Australia, and going to states other than New South Wales? There are some famous wine-growing areas in South Australia, for instance! Redolent with history. However, you'd probably have to avoid the River Murray in SA - the creek which used to be the 'Mighty Murray' of Australia. There's a sad and worrying story behind that, which can be told from many different perspectives.

If you have the $$, you could pamper yourselves and cross the Nullabor Plain by rail to visit the lovely wine-growing areas in Western Australia, too. I'd be happy to meet you all at the Adelaide Railway Station!

and don't forget Rutherglen in Victoria and cold climate wines from around here (Canberra) and Tassie.. and then quick trip to NZ for some of their fine wines...

quote:

Originally posted by Mallee: However, you'd probably have to avoid the River Murray in SA - the creek which used to be the 'Mighty Murray' of Australia. There's a sad and worrying story behind that, which can be told from many different perspectives.

You will have to tell me that story now Mallee , I am very inquisitive!

quote:

Originally posted by dalene:

quote:

Originally posted by Mallee: ...the 'Mighty Murray'.

You will have to tell me that story now Mallee , I am very inquisitive!

Dalene, I wouldn't know where to start, where to go, or where to stop. If you google for instance
<"river murray" mouth disaster scientists Wong 2008>
you'll get an idea of the extent of the problem. Penny Wong, btw, is a South Australian senator who has been given the unenviable ministry for Climate and Change and Water - or some name like that.

Here's a short quote from the Guardian. "The crisis has come about because Australia is in the grip of the worst drought in a century. Years of scant rainfall have left vast areas parched and last month it was predicted that up to a million people could face a shortage of drinking water if the drought continues."

That includes us in Adelaide, by the end of this year. It doesn't leave much water for the irrigation of vineyards.

But, as forewarned, I'm having trouble stopping.