Duvauchelle, Duvauchelle, Duvauchelle! We're back, praise the glorious day! Driving back onto the Banks Peninsula felt just like coming home. (Please see our various Christmas entries for more info). John welcomed us back to the house with open arms, and we had a delightful chat to catch up with what we've all been doing the past 3 months!
We also got to meet our fellow WWOOFers this time around: they're a French couple named Quentin and Maud, and they're great companions. Quentin is planning to open a craft brewery when he gets back to France- apparently it's a good time right now, as the scene there is very underdeveloped. Maud is a baker! They're almost done with their time in New Zealand, and are heading to South America next.
Our first evening back was paradise! John cooked an absolute feast of roast beef, broccoli, turnips and carrots, and of course homemade bread. Julie, who spends a good chunk of the week working in Christchurch, was back, and so was their son Mike. Mike had some hilarious stories about his police work in Christchurch! We had some of John's DELICIOUS wine- he even had a champagne!!-- and also his home-brewed beer. (Kara says: This cycle repeated every day. Feast, talk, drink wine and beer. In no particular order, or all at once.) I am so inspired when I'm here to make as much myself-- right now, I'm boiling milk to make labne cheese and I made a ciabotta loaf today as well. I need to hold onto this spirit for when I get home! I am already thinking of different cheeses I can make, and I'd like to get into brewing beer.
The next morning, after breakfast, we went up to one of John's paddocks to pick the grapes for his wine! The grape is called Breidecker, and it's a German-American hybrid. It's no longer grown in Germany because of a parasite, but it's a favorite table wine in NZ.
We really enjoyed picking the grapes-- it was satisfying and easy work on the scale we did it. I particularly like taking a moment to look up, which gives you a view down the paddock into Akaroa bay. UGH.