Sunday 11th October

I am writing this blog beside the pool over looking Acapulco Bay. It is a long way physically and philosophically from Astrolabe Farm. However it is very impressive and I feel a little like Alice in Wonderland.

 We have flown to Mexico to meet our importers Murray Bindon and his beautiful wife Yolanda Estrada.

 So we are here on big sister (Astrolabe) business and on Tuesday we begin the meet and greet before a function on Wednesday. However Murray is showing some interest in Durvillea as well. Mexico is a relatively new market for us and this is our first trip. It is a wonderful chance to promote the wine, gain some understanding of the market here and strengthen relationships . However right now we are staying at Yolanda and Murray’s apartment here on the beach. Perfecto.

This is another aspect of the wine business. We get to travel. I never take this for granted and I am always grateful for the opportunity to see countries and places. When we travel we have the advantage of being with locals and learning a little about the culture and life. So this morning we mounted an expedition to Walmart!

Friday 16th October

It has been a busy week. After our relaxing start at the beach we drove back to Mexico City fully recovered from jetlag and and opportunity to see a little of the countryside. We met with Yves and Pierre from Cavas de Francia who distribute the wine. Astrolabe samples had been released but the first shipment was held up in customs. Fingers crossed it will be released soon. That evening Simon presented the wines to an impressive group of about 80.  Yves translated as our Spanish is non existent.

The next day we lead a tutored tasting at Citimarket  which is an upmarket supermarket. Simon had had an interview with the Food and Wine editor of La Reforma the local paper earlier in the day. Today he had another interview with a columnist from the same paper.

Tomorrow we head home. Mexico has been a fantastic place to visit and I hope the wines do well here. Looking forward to getting home and seeing how the chooks, cat, garden and everyone are. Big week next week as Libby turns 22 and Simon 50!!!!!!!!

- Jane