January 2012
Fat Pig Winery is located in the countryside just outside Kerikeri. After we parked, we met the official greeter, a big black lab who rolled on his side for the mandatory tummy scratch before he would show us the way to the tasting room. (I do notice that winery dogs are always nice and clean, which is good because you don’t want the nose of your fine wines being enhanced by the eau de Fido on your customers’ hands.)
Satisfied we’d completed the tummy scratching obligation, the lab led us to a very pretty Quonset hut where the tastings are done. We rang the bell and out came one of the owners to give us the tasting herself (you often get to talk to the winemaker at these smaller wineries). We tasted about five wines, and they were surprisingly good, especially the “Char-boar-nay.” I think the the piggy-themed names made me not expect much, but I was really impressed. We also liked the syrah and the port.
After our tasting, the owner took us over to see the vines and meet their pig, Jenny Craig. Like the dog, Jenny rolled on her side to enjoy some scratching and petting. In all this was one of our most enjoyable winery visits, although come to think of it they’re all pretty enjoyable, especially after tasting a few wines. –Cyndi
