Shona – a beautiful bride and smart wine buyer
The wines served at Shona and Liam's wedding reception were well chosen by Shona. Following the marital ceremony Bouvet's well-made Saumur Brut. This mainly Chenin Blanc with some Chardonnay. It worked very well – at times like this there is no sense in going beyond a well-made, agreeable glass of fizz.
Few, if any, wedding guests are paying much attention to the wine in their glass as long as it is enjoyable since they are busy chatting, taking photos etc.
Guests enjoying their Bouvet:
Cheerful hats
(above and below)
Relaxed elegance ...... or
... more formal
Serving more Bouvet ready for the toasts
Wines with the meal:
For the meal Shona opted for the 2016 Devil's Creek, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough and, for the red – the 2016 Porta 6 from the Lisbon area – a blend of 50% Tinto Roriz, 40% Castelãu and 10% Touriga Nacional. I ought to have been able to provide a tasting note for the Sauvignon Blanc but I forgot to try it – what did I say about wine and weddings!
Instead like many of the rest of the guests I went for the attractively softly black fruited but nicely concentrated Porta 6 – a good example of how good Portuguese red wines can be without concentrating on international varieties.
Heading across on the ferry from Wellington to South Island 
Woollaston Vineyard – now
Rabbit Island 
John Stichbury and his wife,
