1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Team podcast 2 00:00:10,573 --> 00:00:11,693 Speaker 1: from News Talks AB. 3 00:00:12,853 --> 00:00:14,693 Speaker 2: Mike Yadi joins us now to talk travel. 4 00:00:14,853 --> 00:00:18,493 Speaker 3: Good morning, Good morning, Francisca happing you here. You must 5 00:00:18,573 --> 00:00:20,813 Speaker 3: feel like you're working eight days a week. 6 00:00:22,613 --> 00:00:27,253 Speaker 2: I might be starting to count down now, I've got yeah, no, 7 00:00:27,453 --> 00:00:30,813 Speaker 2: next next Sunday. I'm I'm working every day on through 8 00:00:30,893 --> 00:00:32,893 Speaker 2: till next Sunday and then I get a week off. 9 00:00:32,933 --> 00:00:35,133 Speaker 2: But I've had a lovely summer. I've had a great summer. 10 00:00:35,333 --> 00:00:38,013 Speaker 2: I've done all sorts of different shows, and I loved 11 00:00:38,093 --> 00:00:41,813 Speaker 2: talking to lots of our listeners on summer afternoons. And 12 00:00:41,853 --> 00:00:43,053 Speaker 2: you know, I've had a ball. 13 00:00:43,013 --> 00:00:45,893 Speaker 3: Loving that good stuff. Yeah, good stuff. You're doing God's work. 14 00:00:47,053 --> 00:00:49,133 Speaker 2: Well, not really, thank you very much, Mike. 15 00:00:50,373 --> 00:00:50,613 Speaker 3: Hey. 16 00:00:51,053 --> 00:00:54,973 Speaker 2: Blenham gorgeous place, especially around this time of the year. 17 00:00:55,253 --> 00:00:57,253 Speaker 2: Let's start with the wine scene, shall we? 18 00:00:58,293 --> 00:01:01,773 Speaker 3: Definitely? And I think if you're looking for the ultimate 19 00:01:01,853 --> 00:01:04,373 Speaker 3: place to dine and Blenham, I think it's hard to 20 00:01:04,413 --> 00:01:08,213 Speaker 3: beat with the Hell's Cellar door and restaurant. Because the 21 00:01:08,333 --> 00:01:12,413 Speaker 3: namesake winery adorns those biscuit brown hells. You get the 22 00:01:12,613 --> 00:01:16,293 Speaker 3: most panoramic views across the Waida Plain. And when it 23 00:01:16,333 --> 00:01:19,453 Speaker 3: comes to winery finery, what I love about the venue 24 00:01:19,533 --> 00:01:23,613 Speaker 3: is that it is just the elemental brilliance of weather Hills, 25 00:01:24,053 --> 00:01:27,653 Speaker 3: cracking spot for lunch. In fact, don't miss the parmesan 26 00:01:27,733 --> 00:01:31,613 Speaker 3: Barantini Francesca. I think that is the for lunch there. 27 00:01:31,933 --> 00:01:35,293 Speaker 3: And you can swallow among the vines in the vine library, 28 00:01:35,453 --> 00:01:41,053 Speaker 3: which showcases several dozen varieties that weather Hells pumps out 29 00:01:41,293 --> 00:01:43,653 Speaker 3: best of all the barrel hall. I just think be 30 00:01:43,773 --> 00:01:49,933 Speaker 3: something incredible about the combined scent of oak and yeast, 31 00:01:50,253 --> 00:01:52,853 Speaker 3: which is what sort of consumes you when you go 32 00:01:52,933 --> 00:01:55,773 Speaker 3: in the barrel Hall at weather Hills. But obviously you 33 00:01:55,813 --> 00:01:57,293 Speaker 3: need to have a bit of a wine tasting, and 34 00:01:57,333 --> 00:02:00,253 Speaker 3: I would go with a single vineyard wine flight at 35 00:02:00,253 --> 00:02:03,573 Speaker 3: weather Hills because obviously they do very good sobernon blanc, 36 00:02:03,973 --> 00:02:06,613 Speaker 3: but they also do excellent pen and why. And what 37 00:02:06,653 --> 00:02:09,973 Speaker 3: I love about the opinion why is it's very fruit forward, 38 00:02:10,413 --> 00:02:14,053 Speaker 3: very light bodied pinot, bursting with plums and cherries and 39 00:02:14,133 --> 00:02:17,453 Speaker 3: I spice and all those good summary things. And if 40 00:02:17,453 --> 00:02:21,813 Speaker 3: you need bubbles, they also collaborate a lot with daniel 41 00:02:21,853 --> 00:02:23,533 Speaker 3: Le Broun, so you can go wrong with a bit 42 00:02:23,533 --> 00:02:24,613 Speaker 3: of Daniel's Bubbles. 43 00:02:25,213 --> 00:02:28,933 Speaker 2: We're getting the travel and wind all in one today. 44 00:02:29,493 --> 00:02:31,653 Speaker 2: The great thing is, as you mentioned it as a plane, 45 00:02:31,773 --> 00:02:34,173 Speaker 2: and I do. That's when that's when I get on 46 00:02:34,213 --> 00:02:35,453 Speaker 2: a bike when there's a plan. 47 00:02:36,253 --> 00:02:36,893 Speaker 3: Oh my goodness. 48 00:02:36,933 --> 00:02:39,973 Speaker 2: It is quite a lovely area to travel around via bike, isn't. 49 00:02:39,813 --> 00:02:43,013 Speaker 3: It tailor made for it? Absolutely? I hopped up with 50 00:02:43,253 --> 00:02:46,493 Speaker 3: Explore marlbra and they do really good wine tours, so 51 00:02:46,573 --> 00:02:49,093 Speaker 3: you can do like yourself guided to on a trusty 52 00:02:49,173 --> 00:02:52,693 Speaker 3: bike or e bike if you're feeling rather leisurely. They 53 00:02:52,733 --> 00:02:56,973 Speaker 3: also do sort of guided to us by vehicle if 54 00:02:56,973 --> 00:02:59,573 Speaker 3: you want to actually go beyond the white Oak Plane 55 00:02:59,613 --> 00:03:01,813 Speaker 3: and to say, like the Arba Terri Valley and so forth. 56 00:03:01,853 --> 00:03:04,613 Speaker 3: But yeah, kick yourself out with a bike and over 57 00:03:04,613 --> 00:03:07,973 Speaker 3: the next few hours just totally your way around white 58 00:03:08,013 --> 00:03:11,453 Speaker 3: Oak Plane. He's actually this fantastic stop bank on the 59 00:03:11,493 --> 00:03:17,053 Speaker 3: White O River which is close to Vines Village and 60 00:03:17,413 --> 00:03:21,213 Speaker 3: mccanna Chocolates if you so fancy. And the really cool 61 00:03:21,253 --> 00:03:23,933 Speaker 3: thing about riding along that stop bank, Francesca is you 62 00:03:23,973 --> 00:03:26,093 Speaker 3: get a little bit of elevation, so you just get 63 00:03:26,453 --> 00:03:30,413 Speaker 3: an even broader, more expensive view across all of the 64 00:03:30,693 --> 00:03:35,173 Speaker 3: all of the vineyards just bucolically, it is just gorgeous. 65 00:03:35,653 --> 00:03:36,933 Speaker 2: Any other special stumps. 66 00:03:38,333 --> 00:03:42,373 Speaker 3: I really fell in love with Hans Herzog estate. It's 67 00:03:42,413 --> 00:03:47,333 Speaker 3: one of New Zealand's most acclaimed wineries. It's fully organic 68 00:03:47,813 --> 00:03:51,773 Speaker 3: and hands himself. He planted the Pinot Gris and the 69 00:03:51,893 --> 00:03:56,013 Speaker 3: Vigner and the mold Monty Paul jarn Nol over thirty 70 00:03:56,093 --> 00:04:00,253 Speaker 3: years ago and these were all actually really seen varieties 71 00:04:00,293 --> 00:04:04,013 Speaker 3: back in the day thirty years ago. And it's such 72 00:04:04,053 --> 00:04:06,933 Speaker 3: an intimate vineyard, so you can, you know, take wander 73 00:04:06,973 --> 00:04:08,933 Speaker 3: around the vineyard and then you really feel it one 74 00:04:09,013 --> 00:04:13,333 Speaker 3: with the whole hands Huzog spirit. The wine tastings there 75 00:04:13,373 --> 00:04:18,573 Speaker 3: are just so elegantly presented, quite sort of high end 76 00:04:18,693 --> 00:04:20,933 Speaker 3: without being pretentious, if you know what I mean. But 77 00:04:20,973 --> 00:04:23,853 Speaker 3: you just feel like you're somewhere really special. And they're 78 00:04:23,893 --> 00:04:28,333 Speaker 3: all small batch, artisan wines snapped up by discerning wine 79 00:04:28,373 --> 00:04:30,973 Speaker 3: lovers worldwide. Most of his wine ends up, you know, 80 00:04:31,013 --> 00:04:32,173 Speaker 3: in Europe and North America. 81 00:04:32,853 --> 00:04:35,973 Speaker 2: Wonderful. But it's not just all about the grape, is it. 82 00:04:37,013 --> 00:04:39,533 Speaker 3: This is it if you want to swap your wine 83 00:04:39,613 --> 00:04:44,253 Speaker 3: for some bears. Blenham has a thriving craft scene and 84 00:04:44,453 --> 00:04:50,093 Speaker 3: I love Boomtown Brewing Company. They do fabulous, easy drinking 85 00:04:50,133 --> 00:04:53,613 Speaker 3: craft bears, and between now and until the end of April, 86 00:04:53,613 --> 00:04:57,213 Speaker 3: they've got this fabulous beer garden at Forest Wine. So 87 00:04:57,253 --> 00:05:01,613 Speaker 3: it's called Boomtown in the Forest, very park like setting 88 00:05:02,613 --> 00:05:06,253 Speaker 3: at Forest Data Wines. And yeah, fresh tap bears, so 89 00:05:06,453 --> 00:05:09,733 Speaker 3: unrelaxed vibes in the warmer months right through the wappril 90 00:05:09,813 --> 00:05:12,813 Speaker 3: its it must do. Also check out DNA Brewery and 91 00:05:12,853 --> 00:05:15,973 Speaker 3: I'm also a big fan of Moa Brewery once again 92 00:05:16,053 --> 00:05:19,133 Speaker 3: Shady Lawn's lots of food trucks. What I love about 93 00:05:19,213 --> 00:05:22,493 Speaker 3: Moa is they had kept all of their products affordable, 94 00:05:22,693 --> 00:05:27,213 Speaker 3: accessible and sessionable, and they're always switching up their repertoire. 95 00:05:27,253 --> 00:05:29,253 Speaker 3: I think this has got your name on it, Francesca 96 00:05:29,573 --> 00:05:33,533 Speaker 3: Ethel and Ruebarbs Cider, So this is like a very 97 00:05:33,613 --> 00:05:38,413 Speaker 3: sort of delicate tart flavor, very crisp cider. It sings 98 00:05:38,773 --> 00:05:41,573 Speaker 3: happy summer days. It's kind of like the cider equivalent 99 00:05:41,613 --> 00:05:42,493 Speaker 3: of a glass of rose. 100 00:05:44,093 --> 00:05:46,893 Speaker 2: Time to get thirsty. I've also had had a lot 101 00:05:46,893 --> 00:05:49,213 Speaker 2: of people talk about the Roots gin Shack. That's really 102 00:05:49,213 --> 00:05:50,173 Speaker 2: popular too, isn't it. 103 00:05:50,773 --> 00:05:53,613 Speaker 3: Ah. It's a runaway hit and Roots is one of 104 00:05:53,613 --> 00:05:57,093 Speaker 3: our biggest global award winning gin so there dry Gen 105 00:05:57,333 --> 00:06:01,933 Speaker 3: won the World's Best Gin in twenty twenty three at 106 00:06:01,933 --> 00:06:04,493 Speaker 3: the World Gin Awards. So about a year or so 107 00:06:04,533 --> 00:06:07,493 Speaker 3: ago they opened up this magnific tasting room. It's at 108 00:06:07,613 --> 00:06:10,693 Speaker 3: Vines Village, got a garden setting, so once again very 109 00:06:10,693 --> 00:06:13,573 Speaker 3: family friendly. But it's such a cool place to go 110 00:06:13,653 --> 00:06:16,573 Speaker 3: and just get a signature g and T or a Negroni. 111 00:06:17,293 --> 00:06:19,933 Speaker 3: They have all sorts of seasonal cocktails in the tasting 112 00:06:20,013 --> 00:06:25,133 Speaker 3: room and also some really nice eats. So they've collaborated 113 00:06:25,173 --> 00:06:29,693 Speaker 3: with the team behind Boom Spice, Sauce and Barbecue. So 114 00:06:29,813 --> 00:06:32,573 Speaker 3: on a hot day you can just chill out with 115 00:06:32,653 --> 00:06:35,693 Speaker 3: some small plates, few gins, maybe a few cocktails, and 116 00:06:35,733 --> 00:06:37,813 Speaker 3: if it's really hot, I would recommend you go with 117 00:06:37,853 --> 00:06:42,053 Speaker 3: a greapefruit and gin sorbet. That is very restorative, I 118 00:06:42,093 --> 00:06:44,493 Speaker 3: can assure you and Mike. 119 00:06:44,333 --> 00:06:47,013 Speaker 2: Look, if you've got some room left in your psych 120 00:06:47,173 --> 00:06:49,133 Speaker 2: and you've got a bit of energy, what would you 121 00:06:49,213 --> 00:06:50,173 Speaker 2: suggest for dinner? 122 00:06:51,253 --> 00:06:53,893 Speaker 3: I would go with Frank's Oyster Bar and ethy. So 123 00:06:53,973 --> 00:06:57,253 Speaker 3: this is in Scott Strait, downtown Blenham, under the command 124 00:06:57,293 --> 00:06:59,933 Speaker 3: of Sam Webb, who is a local hero it's got 125 00:06:59,933 --> 00:07:03,013 Speaker 3: a real old school New York bar vibe, Frank's Oyster 126 00:07:03,013 --> 00:07:06,333 Speaker 3: bar and eatery, lots of tiles, lots of industrial lightefact. 127 00:07:06,973 --> 00:07:09,453 Speaker 3: But despite its name that they do so much more 128 00:07:09,493 --> 00:07:14,253 Speaker 3: than just Marlborough's Magnificent mollusks. So their sheer plates run 129 00:07:14,293 --> 00:07:17,773 Speaker 3: the gamut from Marino lamb, shoulder and grilled zucchini to 130 00:07:18,533 --> 00:07:21,213 Speaker 3: chicken venus and sliders. And if you can choose, and 131 00:07:21,293 --> 00:07:24,293 Speaker 3: I did for Struggle, I would say just plump for 132 00:07:25,053 --> 00:07:28,773 Speaker 3: Frank eight's option and he'll just keep you happy all night. 133 00:07:29,213 --> 00:07:31,573 Speaker 2: Oh look, Mike, thank you for you know, putting the 134 00:07:31,573 --> 00:07:33,533 Speaker 2: body on the line and eating and drinking your way 135 00:07:33,573 --> 00:07:36,253 Speaker 2: round Leno for us all. 136 00:07:37,973 --> 00:07:40,453 Speaker 3: What a great Francesca, what a great job. 137 00:07:40,573 --> 00:07:43,133 Speaker 2: Thanks so much, Mike. For more tips on sipping and 138 00:07:43,253 --> 00:07:46,013 Speaker 2: nothing your way through Blenhim. Mike's article is on the 139 00:07:46,013 --> 00:07:49,213 Speaker 2: website Newstalk zb dot co dot nz Ford slash Lifestyle, 140 00:07:49,773 --> 00:07:51,053 Speaker 2: Ford slash Travel. 141 00:07:51,893 --> 00:07:54,973 Speaker 1: For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, Listen live 142 00:07:55,093 --> 00:07:58,253 Speaker 1: to Newstalk z B from nine am Saturday, or follow 143 00:07:58,293 --> 00:07:59,813 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.