I only have a few minutes so I will have to make this one quick. We're now in Martinborough, which is a small wine town about 50 minutes by train from Wellington. It reminds me of Calistoga, except more green and much more scenic (if you can believe that!).
We stopped by Alana Estates to have some of the locally produced Savignon Blanc and chard. The soil around this area makes a much different sav blanc than the Marlborough ones that we in the states are used to. Instead of that grassy, crisp apple-y flavor, the Martinborough variety is less acidic and milder on the palate.
The chef at Alana served us a beautiful and light lunch of local smoked salmon and a saffron and pumpkin risotto cake with green beans and slivered almonds. I never tire of the salmon here; it's rich and fatty and delicious.
For dessert, he presented us with a tart and lovely grapefruit granita (keep in mind it is spring here, so this dessert is perfectly appropriate). It came with his homemade pistachio and cranberry biscotti, which blew us away. We talked him into giving us the recipe, so I will definitely be making this when I return home!
We're now off for another day of wine tasting (I know, it's a hard life) and then we're back in Wellington for one more night before flying off to Blenheim and Marlborough. More soon!
