High spirits mark opening of new winery

Press, 11 October 1988, Page 16

High spirits mark opening of new winery

Maurice Hunter’s

GRAPEVINE

The opening of Blenheim’s newest winery could fairly be said to have taken off with a hiss and a roar.

The big day was Saturday, when we walked into Rocco’s restaurant buzzing with the festival atmosphere of a full complement of diners at the preopening luncheon. While consuming a delightful lunch of antipasto, tagliatelle al salmone or spaghetti marinara, followed by cheeseboard and fresh fruit, we were introduced to the Merlen label ’BB wines, of which more later. Full of bonhomie, in addition to the wine and food, we proceeded by bus to the official opening

at Almuth Lorenz’s winery where the festival air was enhanced by the adoption of a medieval theme.

Morris dancers jiggled and jangled their way through various formations. Flagged pavilions offered children’s entertainment, food, soft drinks, and wine. Deeply embedded in a rock in front of the winery was a large sword, custom-made for the occasion and appropriately named Excalibur.

Pretty well everyone tried to extract Excalibur without success until Mike Bodnar, a Wellington public relations consultant who had devised the theme, made his opening speech, sprinkled a little magic powder around, and effortlessly removed Excalibur which, amid general applause, he then used to cut the ribbon.

So the opening proceeded with wine sampling and merriment until it was time to return to town in preparation for a

medieval banquet at the Sun Country Castle. By courtesy of the Blenheim Repertory Society, the Sun Country staff were all attired in medieval dress, and costumes were available to any of the guests who cared to scrabble in the box. Then it was time for the feast. The chamberlain made his appearance, bearing a tray on which reposed a boar’s head, followed by a procession: of serving wenches also bearing trays full of goodies such as roast beef, carved leg of swine, pickled pork, and pieces of fowl.

The Magic Merlen theme was inspired by the discovery that the original Anglo Saxon name for Marlborough was Merlenburgh. In spite of the magician of King Arthur’s court being spelt “Merlin,” the association was too good to pass by. It certainly made for a most ingenious and entertaining opening for the winery.