The Hawke's Bay area is known for it's food and wine. On this drizzly Thursday we start our adventures by stopping in the Hohepa Shop in Clive. In researching the location of the shop the website tells me "Hohepa Homes was formed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining home schools throughout New Zealand for the curative education and social therapy of children, young persons and adults with intellectual disability". I know of it from the delicious cheeses we had at Mission Estate.
The Hohepa Shop contains products produced as part of the vocational program. This includes organic vegetables, milk and cheeses as well as wooden products, candles and textiles. We pick up some organic vegetables as well as three types of cheese: blue, fenugreek and herb & garlic. There's some wonderful snacking ahead!
We drive on to do some shopping in Napier. I am looking for a scarf to go with the purple sweater I'll be wearing to Paul and Kara's wedding. William jokes that I should get a solid orange scarf - going with the Clemson school colors, but we find a very nice print.
Today's wine region is Havelock North. We start at Red Barrel. Their wines are okay, but don't impress.
The Hohepa Shop contains products produced as part of the vocational program. This includes organic vegetables, milk and cheeses as well as wooden products, candles and textiles. We pick up some organic vegetables as well as three types of cheese: blue, fenugreek and herb & garlic. There's some wonderful snacking ahead!
We drive on to do some shopping in Napier. I am looking for a scarf to go with the purple sweater I'll be wearing to Paul and Kara's wedding. William jokes that I should get a solid orange scarf - going with the Clemson school colors, but we find a very nice print.
Today's wine region is Havelock North. We start at Red Barrel. Their wines are okay, but don't impress.
Our next stop is Black Barn, which does impress. In addition to good wines it has a well regarded dining room. We are lucky and there has been a cancellation. We are shown to a table by the window. William orders the snapper, which is served with corn purée, sweet corn kernels and broccoli. I choose the organic chicken breast which is served with roasted cauliflower purée, roasted leeks, red cabbage slaw and microgreens. The presentation is spectacular and the food tastes even better. We accompany our meals with Sauvignon Blanc and unoaked Chardonnay. We are tempted by the dessert options opt to finish the meal with coffees.
Half a kilometer down the road is Te Mata Winery. Our sommelier is a woman from Japan. It's fun listening to her talk with her Japanese-New Zealand accent. The Te Mata Gamay Noir is a light red sipping wine, and quite delightful. A bottle goes home with us.
Half a kilometer down the road is Te Mata Winery. Our sommelier is a woman from Japan. It's fun listening to her talk with her Japanese-New Zealand accent. The Te Mata Gamay Noir is a light red sipping wine, and quite delightful. A bottle goes home with us.
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