Riding this COVID thing out
Margaret told me to keep it short which is extremely difficult for a bloke who specialises in bull and verbosity. I’ll try. With bullet points...
Coney restaurant is closed but as your spartan bread and water diet bites, the prospect of Margaret’s menu will shine like a beacon.
We intend to ride this Covid-19 thing out and reopen the moment Jacinda nods but we need to sell some wine to pay the bills.
Your wallet and discerning palates must combine forces. As encouragement, we’re knocking 20% OFF ALL ORDERS OVER $100 for Coney Confederate members.
To get you in the mood for a resumption of play and the restaurant’s terrific food when we reopen - if you purchase a six-bottle case you get free shipping and your name goes into a hat to win a $100 voucher to spend at the Coney vineyard restaurant.*
MPI had the good sense to classify producing wine as an essential activity.
Your task, through modest but regular sipping, is to give this wise decision meaning. Ours is not to Riesling why!
If you want to hear more of my crooning about Covid-19, visit our Facebook page!
*Terms and conditions apply. Open to NZ residents,18 years or over on orders of $100 or more. Full terms and conditions are here.
DOWN ON THE FARM
After unrelenting sun, the 125mls of rain we got made us pull finger and start picking. Ramblin’ Rosé is in tank fermenting nicely as is Piccolo Pinot Gris. The fruit is in perfect nick. There are also three fermenters of Pinot Noir fizzing under Lisa’s watchful eye and nostrils. That leaves 29 rows of Pinot still to be harvested by Italian, Spanish, German and Czech backpackers! There’s plenty of soap, the luxury of running water, boxes of gloves, and I’ve cut a 2-metre length of pipe for distancing and whacking any transgressors. Just so you know, they’re averaging around 80kgs of fruit per hour per person = 2 press loads per day = excellent wine in the future - assuming we have one.
FOLLOW THE FINNS
Years ago while still a callow youth (some say this continues) I was employed by BP and was sent to Scandinavia to help work out the best location for service stations. Sweden was then grappling with the drink/drive conundrum and taking it seriously.
At the end of the business day, someone said: "Let's go and have a drink". Good idea. However, shock horror. Instead of repairing to a bar we hit the café and had a cup of hot chocolate. This looked remarkably like the end of civilisation. However, what happened next was pretty obvious. Drinking wine and spirits didn’t stop. It simply shifted location, with revelry conducted in people’s homes. No driving involved. Small gatherings with a mandatory sleepover, and a glass of Ragtime Riesling.
KEEP THE BALL ROLLING
Assuming the width of your wallet is still intact, we are enlisting your support so that when Covid-19 is vanquished Margaret and her team can roll up their sleeves and resume play.
Imagine your culinary life without her Snapper Kokoda, Kikorangi Mille Feuille and White Chocolate and Bacardi Bavarois - and fall on your sword!