A Tale of Two Wine Regions Down Under: Martinborough and Marlborough
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In little more than 30 years, New Zealand has emerged as a powerhouse in the world of wine, most notably for its exceptional Sauvignon Blanc wines made internationally famous by the Cloudy Bay winery. Today New Zealand has more than 300 wineries scattered throughout both the North and South Islands that make up this country the size of Great Britain with a total population of about 4 million.
There are many reasons to visit this exceptionally beautiful country and you could easily spend weeks visiting just wineries, let alone many other attractions competing for visitor interest. For travelers seeking an introduction to New Zealand’s wine industry with less than a week to do so, a visit to Martinborough and Marlborough is a wise choice. These two important wine regions are located fairly close to each other across the Cook Strait and can be easily be combined with a visit to New Zealand’s cosmopolitan urban capital of Wellington.
Martinborough is a charming rural town located in the Wairarapa district, about an hour from Wellington.
With streets laid out in the shape of a British flag, this sleepy rural community has become the heart of an important wine growing region that is becoming particularly famous for its outstanding Pinot Noir wines.
Mauritius: A Tropical Indian Ocean Jewel Sparkling with Diversity
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Popular among visitors from Europe, Africa, Australia, and elsewhere, Mauritius is still relatively unknown to American travelers. This idyllic tropical island located east of Madagascar has a fascinating history, a remarkably diverse culture and population, and scenic beauty well worth the trip across the world to visit. Mauritius is famous as the home of the extinct Dodo bird, and today is perhaps most famous for its world-class beach resorts. This small volcanic island of about 720 sq miles is home to 1.2 million people of almost startling cultural diversity. On Mauritius, one can see French Catholic churches, Islamic mosques, and Hindu and Tamil temples in close proximity.
Discovered by the Portuguese in 1507, settled by the Dutch in the 1600s, Mauritius was ruled by the French from 1721 until 1810, when it was captured by the British after a fierce battle. Mauritius won independence from Britain in 1968 but remains a member of the Commonwealth. The official language is English, and French is generally understood but most locals speak Creole which is based on French with elements of English, Hindi, Chinese, and Malagasy. This veritable melting pot of cultural heritage is reflected both in colorful displays of diverse clothing, architecture, and in a fabulous range of culinary styles. Mauritian cuisine is based on French, Indian, Creole, and Chinese traditions, all of which have been adapted to take advantage of locally available delicacies
The Margaret River Wine Region: Western Australia’s Rising Star
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Located south of Perth in Western Australia, Margaret River is both the name of a town and the term used for the general wine-producing region surrounding the town. The geographic boundaries of the Margaret River Wine Region refer to the area between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. The oldest winery in this area dates only from 1967 and today dozens are found throughout the area’s small towns. In addition to becoming a major winery destination, Margaret River has become a gourmet food paradise, with numerous restaurants offering cuisine sourced from local farms to pair with the region’s award-winning wines. Margaret River also has a lively arts scene, with many galleries featuring first-rate contemporary works by local artists.
Its remote geographic location thousands of miles from Australia’s other major wine regions makes for smaller crowds - except on holiday weekends. Local wineries and “cellar doors” (tasting rooms) range from small and cozy to large and elegant, but the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming. Visitors familiar with larger and much more crowded wine regions elsewhere in the world are struck with a sense of delight upon finding a beautiful, unspoiled wine region that is still relatively unknown – at least outside of Australia.
There is great natural beauty everywhere in the Margaret River region, with many uncrowded beaches popular with surfers, and rolling hills covered with Eucalyptus trees and vineyards.
Approaching the Taj Mahal
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The Taj Mahal really is one of the true wonders of the world, and easily transcends all the hype and tourist promotion associated with it. To call this building “breathtakingly and stunningly beautiful” is not an overstatement, especially after you’ve seen it in person. Unfortunately, the area surrounding the Taj Mahal gardens and the journey getting there can best be described as “completely charm free” if not worse. Once you have run the gauntlet of aggressive street hawkers in Agra and have safely passed through security checks to enter the Taj complex, you can tour the sublime gardens and structures at your leisure. You won’t be alone, however, as seen in this short video clip.