Fabulous weekend away...

We were greeted with homemade meringues & coffee at the Gourmet Retreat where we stayed overnight for a friend's amazing birthday celebration...

The gorgeous Gourmet Retreat had an 'Aspen' ski lodge feel to it, beautiful views of the vineyards, open fires & comfy lounges...

For larger/clearer (non-polaroid) pic - click HERE

For the drive, I wore my Chloe jewelled stripe top I've had for a few years, a pair of David Lawrence navy wool man-style pants & Dries Van Noten patent wedges...

After a few amazing cocktails (made with homemade Lemon Curd) - we went to our rooms to get dressed for dinner. I wore my Rick Owens silk dress & beaded Dries Van Noten sandals.



www.style.com

i.e. the same outfit HERE (tried to poladroid it, but it cropped the shoes off!)

13 bottles of French Champagne (mostly vintage) + 1 magnum bottle of champagne + 1 Salmanazar bottle of a our friends' Flagship Shiraz (i.e. 9000ml or the equivalent of 12 standard bottles of wine!) + numerous Lemon & Basil cocktails (yum!) + 20 friends = fun! (not so fun the next morning)

Delicious 9-course degustation by chef Hogg...

Surprise! What was a milestone birthday celebration turned into a wedding celebration, when our friends tearfully announced they had secretly gotten married the day before! There was squealing, tears, cheers & feet stomping (uhm, that was me).

The beautiful view certainly helped us nurse our hangover on the next morning, when we ate breakfast in the amazing retreat's kitchen

Vegemite = an 'Aussie' cultural icon, also a spread I just cannot eat

It was truly a perfect & amazing weekend...