My weekend

[vilakins]

There aren't any photos yet because I took my film camera with me instead of my old compact digital camera, because it has a zoom and works a lot better in bad light. I'll get them back tomorrow.

We left just after midday Saturday and stopped off at the Palazzo Roma restaurant in Drury's industrial centre, a strange place to have a gourmet restaurant. Its owner, chef (Simon Gault, whose book was on sale there), lives nearby however and it's in a nice location, sharing the premises of Phoenix Italia, who make Italian garden statues and furniture in classic to renaissance styles. The restuarant has become French since I was last there even though the name hasn't changed, but our meal was of the same high standard as ever.

It was Vilagrad Wines in the evening. There was grape stomping, great music from local Latin band Kantuta (I bought their latest CD) and some amazing dancing from the Latin Fever dance group. Vila would have approved of their costumes or lack thereof. ;-) I had a chat with one of the owners, Pieter Nooyen, about the history of the vineyard, which is celebrating its centenary. The Milicich family from Croatia established it as Ngahinepouri Vineyard (after the area) and it's still in the family after four generations, with Nelda Milicich married to Nooyen. Their three sons, winemaker Jakob, chef Kristian, and entertainment director Adam, even have their own band called Vila Brothers (!) and perform at the regular Sunday lunches and weddings etc. They got up at the end of the evening and had almost everyone dancing; Adam does a great Ricky Martin impersonation. :-) The Vila Brothers -- how cool is that?

Anyway, their father Pieter told me that he renamed the place Vilagrad 25 years ago when they decided to go in for the whole package of wines (excellent award-winning ones, too), food, and entertainment.
"Why Vilagrad?" I asked. "I know that 'grad' means town in Croatian. What's 'Vila'?"
"I always wanted a villa," said Pieter.
"But 'villa' has two Ls," I said. "You only used one."
"It didn't look right with two."

Hmm. 25 years ago, eh? Could he be a closet B7 fan? :-)

I was a bit fragile the next day, but after breakfast we felt up to visiting the Pirongia farmers' market that a couple at our table the night before told us about, which was fun. I saw alpacas and had a nice chat with a well-known NZ children's book illustrator (nephew Ari has a couple of her books).

Then we went on a lunch cruise on the paddleboat Waipa Delta.This was very relaxing and I was completely recovered by then so I thoroughly enjoyed the stone-grilled lunch and the slow, sunny cruise. It was a great weekend and Vila would have been right at home. Waikato is a good area for Deltas: Ngaruawahia has a pub just for them, the Delta Tavern.

Comments

[kerravonsen]

Hmm. 25 years ago, eh? Could he be a closet B7 fan? :-) I didn't

Didn't what? Ask?

Glad you had a good time. 8-)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

We did!

Yeah, I didn't think to ask. I blame the wine. He was so glad I liked the name Vilagrad, he offered me a glass on the house but I decided I'd reached my limit. :-P

[hafren.livejournal.com]

It all sounds like a very Vila-ish trip, one way and another!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It was! I wish I could have taken him with us.

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

A lovely weekend - and a great way to celebrate your birthday.

The Vilagrad people were really enterprising, expanding beyond just the wine-making like they did. It sounds like they've made a huge success of it, too.

I'll look forward to the pictures!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

They're very successful. I think a lot of Hamilton's glitterati were there; there were certainly a lot of beautiful people posing among the ordinary party-goers like me. They host quite a few overseas acts too. The Vila Brothers grew up in the entertainment world, so it's no wonder they're so talented in that as well as wine and cuisine.

I hope the pics turn out well. It was hard trying to snap the dancers, they moved so fast.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Oh and Pieter told me that they're thinking of opening a Vilagrad in Auckland. I'll be there!

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

Hee! The temptation!

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Ooh! Will there be pics of the Vila Brothers? I can see Vila in a band!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I think I only got two of them from pretty far away. :-(

Yes, I can see Vila on drums or guitar.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

And singing! I'm sure he'd love stepping up to the microphone to sing!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

And he's probably pretty good too!

[daiseechain.livejournal.com]

Sounds like an entertaining and relaxing weekend. And fittingly b7ish too.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It was lovely! I wish I could have taken Vila. He'd have loved it all and been very chuffed that Deltas are so well catered for.

[lizamanynames.livejournal.com]

So, we clone Vila, and then get them to start a band...

So glad you had a lovely birthday.

[jomacmouse.livejournal.com]

So, we clone Vila

...and we get a B7/City of Lost Children cross-over? :)

Glad it was a good weekend, vilakins.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It so was! I hope things look up for you on the flat front soon.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Cloned Vilas! [grabs at desk] I feel a bit dizzy. Maybe I could keep one...

I did, it was great! I'll be back to Vilagrad and the Waipa Delta cruise as they were both so much fun in different ways. I kept my 'boarding pass'; you get discounts on successive cruises.