With romance in mind _{by Madelaine Empson}

Wairarapa (Summer 2017)

After work on a Friday, my partner Dean and I set off for a romantic getaway in the Wairarapa. I think Wairarapa is one of the most beautiful regions in New Zealand, and it’s only an hour and a bit out of Wellington. I remember the winding, scenic drive over the Rimutakas taking ages when I was a kid (maybe because I kept trying to read Harry Potter over the hill and subsequently nearly always got car sick), but it really doesn’t take that long at all. We blinked, and there we were in Greytown.

Our accommodation was on Main Street, just a five minute walk to the town centre and all the charming boutiques that characterise it. Pulling up to the gate, I already knew we were in for a treat. The fairy lights were on (what better welcome can you get?), and the garden looked lovely in the moonlight. We walked in to find the heaters on and the house cosy and inviting, and in the bedroom, I spotted my personal favourite touch: a bag of M&Ms on the nightstand. The place (called Suite 22, booked through Airbnb,) had a wonderful historic feel about it – high ceilings, chandeliers, and an outdoor bath completed this vibe, but it also had all the mod cons you could ever ask for. We had a great night’s sleep and awoke early (10am, that counts as early for a Saturday right?) for the big day we had ahead of us.

The day began with brekkie (brunch, I suppose, if you’re going to argue that we weren’t up early enough for breakfast) at Brasserie 74. Formerly 2 Short Whites, this beloved café is right in the heart of Main Street. Dean and I indulged in the most classic breakfast (okay okay, brunch) you can get: The Big Breakfast. Everything on the plate was beautifully presented, carefully considered, and cooked to perfection.

After we returned to Suite 22, Jill arrived at our front door to take us on the Half Day Martinborough Wine Tour. Martinborough Wine Tours were fantastic when organising this tour for us, recommending and booking the most romantic vineyards at my request.

We visited Te Kairanga Estate, Tirohana Estate, Haythornthwaite, and Luna Estate, learning so much from Jill about the region’s viticulture along the way. It’s hard to pick a favourite, because each vineyard offers something quite unique: Te Kairanga Estate is gorgeous, the outdoor area (complete with beautiful, well-established oak trees) particularly inviting, and a peppery pinot noir definitely caught my attention here; Tirohana Estate has an intimate indoor tasting room, replete with old film props from owner Raymond Thompson’s former life in the film and television industry; Haythornthwaite was planted the year I was born and its owners, Mark and Susan, are perhaps the loveliest couple I’ve ever met, plus the 2010 Gewürztraminer (named Susan) is to die for; and our kitten is called Luna, so of course I’d be partial to Luna Estate. In all seriousness regarding Luna Estate though, it’s a stunning vineyard, our host Rebecca was outstanding, and the fries (a surprise treat courtesy of Martinborough Wine Tours) were mind-blowing.

Our Half Day Tour was an incredibly special experience – we picked up heaps of interesting facts, sampled delectable wine, and felt like royalty every step of the way.

The next morning, we hit the boutiques of Greytown. I bought two jackets from Encore on the first day of spring (not very clever, but I couldn’t help myself in that store) and Dean a new pair of suave work shoes from Deluxe.

Then it was home to relax and dream about going back to the Wairarapa! Fabulous shopping, fine wine, sumptuous cuisine… we couldn’t have wanted for more.