WINE TOUR ......Expressions of interest????

[Ghostrider]

Hi All,

Would we have up to 48 people interested in a Wine Tour in the Hunter Valley?

I'm suggesting an organised coach tour into the hunter, with a nationally recognised wine judge as a tour guide.

A coach as opposed to driving, as then everyone is free to indulge as they please, without fear of prosecution by the law.

Either a day trip or overnight weekend, nothing decided as yet, no times, dates, costs or anything.

Simply, "Is there enough interest in our car club to learn about the finer points of indulgence of our great Australian wine heritage"?

This is not planned as a simple pub crawl around the hunter.

Anyone interested, please reply.

Thanks, Dennis

[ZZE92]

I could be interested pending price..

I know you said cost/date etc are not decided, butdo yu have any rough ideas?

[Kirsty2520]

Sounds like a great Idea But I agre with Paul.
At least an approx price might be a good bit of info

But Count me is pending price

[Ghostrider]

Wellllllllllllllllllllll !!!

That's probably an interesting point.

I just looked into organised wine tours and the go including lunch is between $80 & $120.00 and get to 4 or 5 wineries.

IF we were to do this and do it as a leisurely sort of thing, excluding lunch/munchies on a one day trip without express departure times, I can supply the coach, wine tour guide & driver for about $20.00 per head. Based on 48 bums on seats.

Meals/munchies etc would be an additional cost. If it's a weekend with Saturday night accommodation that's going to be more, so I'm really looking for interest in what might be the expected.

Visiting probably up to 6 wineries, but probably more to expect 5 max. This is allowing an hour at each venue or there abouts.

A day trip would mean probably out of Sydney by 8ish or a little earlier maybe 7ish to be in the Hunter by 10. I haven't done this before, it's just a brain wave I had, but in by 10 and 5 wineries would be about 7.5 hours without a lunch break. Return time is open so I guess the governing factor is going to be the trading hours of the wineries.

Cheers, Dennis

[Kirsty2520]

Dennis,
The Approx cost was all I was looking for..... But that sounds like a more then reasonable price,

If it was me I wouldn't offer the " No munchies/food" thing as most of us know that drinking on an empty stomach means losing all you have just drank

[Lambolica]

On a coach, and miss a Putty road drive up and Old Pac Home? Where is the fun in that?

Seriously i like the idea, as partners can go as well, But I still like the idea of driving up and back I do this quite often with friends. But a bus tour might be a good thing for partners that don't like spirited driving

I'm hoping Stiit is going to organise the Go for Broke Cruise that could have a winery tour in it.

Cheers
Simon

[Ghostrider]

Dennis,
If it was me I wouldn't offer the " No munchies/food" thing as most of us know that drinking on an empty stomach means losing all you have just drank

" No munchies/food"

Sorry! but where have I suggested this is the go????????

Paragraph 5 of post #4 explains this to be an extra, NOT INCLUDED in the base cost, but nothing the way I see it suggesting that a lunch break/stop would not be on the agenda.

I cart drunks around nearly every weekend, bucks/hens nights, football supporters etc etc etc and there is NO SPECIFIC food/meal/dinner/lunch stops in the itinerary, but I'm sure it happens, as I'm sure any responsible adult would ensure it did.

As for those that want to DRIVE and have a bitch about JUST 5 WINERIES, go drive it and see how many you see, also when driving it, think about how many wineries your going to see that your guide is on first name terms with the owner and when your driving back down the old Pacific Hwy, think about the law your likely to encounter with more than .05 under your belt, because 2 glasses of wine and your over .05.

How does this fit in RESPONSIBLE anything???????

Sometimes I wonder why I bother. D

[Ghostrider]

This is going in all the WRONG directions.

This is simply a search for NUMBERS, don't make it too difficult.

IF we get some numbers an itinerary can be put to the masses, but I think if we got the numbers, some of the trip up time could be used to learn a little about what you would be tasting in the Hunter and then JUST MAYBE, you might know a little more than a twist top & a VB label.

Cheers, D

[Kirsty2520]

Dennis,

Count me in,

[TheToyman75]

On a coach, and miss a Putty road drive up and Old Pac Home? Where is the fun in that?

Seriously i like the idea, as partners can go as well, But I still like the idea of driving up and back I do this quite often with friends. But a bus tour might be a good thing for partners that don't like spirited driving

I'm hoping Stiit is going to organise the Go for Broke Cruise that could have a winery tour in it.

Cheers
Simon

Simon,

Toymods won't ever be offering a 1 day drive and wine tour visit, you really can't do both responsibly so unless it was a Toymods weeklend away it won't happen and this thread is not the place for it.

Personally its not my bag but I think what Dennis is suggesting is great idea and should be a really good day.

[MTD]

well i work for a wine company in the Hunter - Tyrrell's and am more than happy to help out with organising this.

i agree that driving up individually for the day is a big ask... even tasting samples can put you over the limit...

i would recommend staying the night, but the bus tour idea is the better option. this can be organised from Sydney or from the Hunter.

we can get group accommodation rates at Harrigans and it works out about $50-$80 per room per night. will need to confirm if these rates are still valid.

anywhere from now until august is the best time to visit the Hunter.

you can count Glen and I in....

[Lucida]

I'm not a fan of fermented grapes as the smell is enough to get me blind-drunk. I might consider accompanying the other half for the social activities (if there are any being planned) though...

[wagonist]

Has this gotten any further.
I'd be interested. Would also know a few people that could be interested. I'll check.