Pinot Noir tasting

We had a blind Pinot Noir tasting at our house last night. The Friedlaenders, Kightleys, Langenfelds and Stacey's joined us for a good evening. I was not feeling well so unfortunately couldn't taste as well, but everybody tasted the 9 wines blind and selected their favourites. We had wine from Australia (Mornington, Orange and Tasmania), South Africa, New Zealand, Chile, Germany and France. All around the $20 - $25 mark. The wines that stood out were the Bouchard Finlayson from South Africa, Nanny Goat from New Zealand,  Maycas Limari from Chile and Graf von Kageneck from Baden in Germany. Ernst used to work on this farm and went back there recently when he bought this. Great fun evening with good friends!

Could you help African food entrepreneurs?

Could you help African food entrepreneurs?

Let me know if you would like to get involved.

24 Jan 14

Rainy day in Sydney which is quite nice as it was becoming quite dry here. I watered my plants and also transplanted some cuttings which will hopefully grow into nice Bonsais.

The flash for my camera arrived from Hong Kong. I tested it late at night after dinner with Peter and Sachiko Dittmar. The pic looks ok but there's no doubt that natural sunlight always wins!

But then again it worked really well on the spider that Lynne is looking after outside out front door!

23 Jan 14

Warm and humid in Sydney. And the seas were quite rough. I took this pic at Curl Curl after a walk with David to Shelley Beach.

22 Jan 14

I want to get my bonsai Rock Fig to grow on a rock, so I went to see Karol up in Cromer Heights ans he showed me around his property where we found a good rock. Let's hope it works!

21 Jan 14

Another rainy day in Sydney. I took Udade for a walk in the Forest next to our house and took this pic there.

20 Jan 14

Rainy day in Sydney, and I'm sure every photographer loves a spider web on a after the rain.

19 Jan 14

Lynne and I went for a walk with Ernst and Sue from Curl Curl to Long Reef, followed by a swim and coffee at the end. Great fun. Took this pic of Ernst looking up the NSW North Coast from Long Reef headland.

18 Jan 14

Another beautiful day in Sydney. Went for a swim at Dee Why beach and then to the Bonsai shop in Terrey Hills. I bought this native Rulingia to replace the bonsai that I destroyed when I tried to shape it with wires. Hopefully this one will last. Apparently it gets really nice blooms in spring.

17 Jan 14

Dinner with the Friedlaenders and Langenfelds. Ernst brought this excellent Syrah from a farm in Stellenbosch - delicious!

16 Jan 14

Walked from Curl Curl to Shelley Beach with David Irvine. While walking back along Manly Beach we saw the council workers remove one of the old Pine trees align the promenade. Interesting how shallow the roots are. And I wonder where they were taking it because it looked like they were planning to replant it somewhere.