Shoreham Estate

Christmas Day at last after what seemed like a very long build up and now four days of food and rest!

We started last night, preparing the stuffing for the turkey, then up at 7am to put the turkey on and get everything ready before Veronica’s family arrived. A small intimate dinner for 13!!! Turkey, ham, roast potates, baked pumpkin and kumera and beans for something green. Veronica’s mum brought a prawn curry, her aunt brought a meatball (”ball”) curry and her brother about 100 prawns. For dessert we had Christmas Pudding with brandy custard and christmas cake. We drank, home made beer, Seppelt’s 2006 Sparkling Shiraz, Shoreham Estate 2008 Pinot Gris, Sanguine Estate 2005 Classic Quattro.

A fine time was had by all. We all ate too much and talked too much, so much in fact we forgot to open presents until well after lunch. Father Christmas was very good to all and so at around 5.30pm everyone left, some to other gatherings and some home to relax.

A very relaxing and successful family Christmas.

In the evening we had turkey and ham sandwiches (the first of many I hope!) and sat down and watched Animal Kingdom, rounding off a very pleasant day.

Of course New Years Eve, and not complete without a New Years Eve Party.  We were very kindly invited to Gerry and Victor’s at Mont Rouge.  We had a great time, I think, as my memory is a bit fuzzy and vague, possibly something to do with the number of great wines I just had to try!  I was certainly very delicate the next day and the butt of a number of comments from a very cruel Veronica.

We had our first visit to a Drive In, going to Dromana to see Avatar.  It was a good movie and an enjoyable experience, especially as it was such a nice night.

We had a BBQ for about a dozen friends and neighbours most of who are involved in vineyards either as owners, viticulturists, winemakers and of course drinkers.

We had the usual BBQ fare – prawns, snags, homemade burgers, chicken and lamb back straps – together with Veronica’s famous potato salad and mango salsa and two Jamie Oliver salads – rocket and peach with prosciutto and parmesan and carrot and coriander with sesame seed, orange and lemon juice dressing.  For dessert we had a dish that originated in New Zealand – Pavlova – strawberries soaked in liqueur with vanilla ice cream and a fruit platter.

To drink, what didn’t we have!  We started with sparkling wine from New Zealand and a few beers.  Then we moved on to 2005 Shoreham Estate Chardonnay (the only Chardonnay we have produced), 2008 Shoreham Estate Pinot Gris, 2008 Shoreham Estate Pinot Noir, 2006 Bellingham Estate Pinot Noir (a Peninsula vineyard and Ian the owner was one of our guests).  Also from the Peninsula we had 2009 unwooded Cabernet from B’Darra Estate and a 2004 Tempranillo from our neighbour Mantons Creek (Gordan its new owner joined us for the BBQ).  From Heathcote we had a 2004 Sanguine Estate Shiraz, also from Sanguine estate a 2005 Tempranillo, and a 2004 Barfold Estate Shiraz.

Cooking took longer than expected so by the time it was served everyone was starving and talkative!  Note to self, get the food on early and prepare some in advance.  I spent so much time cooking I didn’t get to talk to many people.  Something maybe they were grateful for!!!