Wine Tour

We're done with the wine tour now. Was totally fun. Key points to note:

- the three wineries were all super modern; one in particular was practically from the set of the Da Vinci Code with moody lighting, cellar constructed like an underground circular chapel with mysterious tiled mosaic in the middle on the floor and inscriptions on the wall. I kept expecting a monk to pop out from behind a barrel;

- wine definitely of variable quality. I didn't really like some of the whites so much, though H did, but some of the reds were very tasty. Definitely learnt a lot about the wine and region and the whole thing was done really well with lovely sit-down tastings and people talking us through each of the wines, so "worth the extra bucks". Feel like we've definitely notched up a key holiday moment today;

- really well organised with comfy minibus and nice guide plus full delicious lunch in private room with stunning views all cooked by some visiting Mexican chef who seemed to be a celebrity as there were various speeches and rounds of applause;

- totally fun older American lady who let rip on the healthcare issue and general US political situation. She asserted that most better educated Americans are Democrats and how Republicans are idiots. She wants to add to minimum wage legislation by having a maximum wage. She was totally funny and had views on most things (sample comments included "I don't really care for salmon", "we live in Bend because it rains too much in Portland", "I was very disappointed with the food in Spain - frankly a lot of it was inedible" and "Australians aren't generally very well educated"). Definite good value lunch partner who also offered tips on where to get a good gin and tonic in Mendoza ("they have Tanqueray") and fun stories about being held up and mugged at gunpoint in Brazil;

- also two Canadians on the tour and H, having watched Fargo on the way over on the plane, was loving the fact that the woman had some of Frances McDormand's intonation ("willll, yoo knorrr").