True Indulgence: Cheese, Chocolate, and Wine

Back in Tasmania again!  Today was our last shore excursion from the ship, as tomorrow is a sea day, and the day after we will be pitched ashore in Sydney early in the morning, and bidding farewell to our floating home for the past two months.  We had a wonderful time visiting the Ashgrove Cheese factory about an hour outside of Burnie.  We learned how they make their cheeses, watched some of the process, and got to taste several different types of cheese -- some with unusual flavours, such as cheddar/wasabi which was very good!  Then we drove to the Anvers Chocolate factory which specializes in fine Belgian chocolates.  Here we met the founder/owner who gave us a very interesting talk on cacao and how he travels the world to source the very best fruits for his business.  We were served no fewer than four slices of cake -- each differently flavoured -- to sample, as well as a cup of sinfully delicious hot chocolate before we wandered around to see the workers busily creating Easter eggs and Valentine's chocolates.  Finally we arrived at Ghost Rock Winery, where we had a quick tour of the vineyard followed by a wine tasting! 

Left to right, top to bottom:  Cheeses for sale at the factory store; the principal cheese makers in their meadow; one of the delicious chocolate cakes we sampled; Easter and Valentine's chocolates; young Pinot Noir grapes on the vine; the four wines we tasted.