Ada and Kathleen

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Ada and Kathleen are extreme artists.  

In fact they are, in these days of rampant consumerism going forward, rare examples of individuals in our decaying society. Kathleen uses cotton and thread and cloth to make the most wonderful garments and hats, while Ada simply does what Ada does. This involves oil and water colour painting, pottery and living. When Bloodwood suffered a severe hail storm in 2000, before the smashed tissues of the vines had had time to dry and fall, a battered station wagon appeared on the road between the Riesling and the Chardonnay vineyard. A couple of hours later, Ada presented Rhonda and I with a magnificent wind swept, impressionistic vista over our sad vines as a permanent memory of the vintage we had, that day, lost to the elements. I fancy it was still drizzling on and off during the creation of the picture, and I am sure that sweet and very human gesture did a lot to help us regain perspective on that terrible day. But then again, Ada enjoys a challenge..In the face of the recent dust storm across eastern Australia, reportedly the worst in 70 years, Ada was attempting a landscape from the precipitous top of Mount Canobolas until gale force winds and driving dust tore the bull clips holding her picture to a convenient fence away in the storm. At times like this, says Ada, it is important not to grasp into the abyss for your disappearing work of art.

Let this be a lesson to us all.

Ada's Contacts:

Ada's place (Wednesday to Saturday 9am to 5 pm)

5 William street

MILLTHORPE, NSW 2798

landline: 02,63663108

mobile:0412663114

Indira Naidoo

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Some people are just born gorgeous shoe salespeople. 

When I asked MS Naidoo to please sit on her date on the Bloodwood celebrity stool, her internationally recognised commercial temprement clicked in. Quick as a flash..(in fact, quicker than the flash on the Instamatic) up went her pins and out popped a pair of shoes classy enough to make Stuart Weitzman weep. Now I know nothing about shoes, but I do like what I know.. when I know I've seen it...and these shoes scream exclusivity at me; so indigo, so flat, so July. Thanks heaps Indira, and I hope, when next you visit Bloodwood, to be exposed to your hand bag. if your people's fashion sponsororship arrangements permit. 

The Bloodwood Quartet

Rehearsing in the cellar

The Bloodwood Quartet consists of Gemma Laing (violin), Christina Morris (violin), Laura Curotta (viola) and Robert Jackson (cello). When Robert and Laura approached us in 2006 with a request to use our name for their new Quartet, we were thrilled. We called for an audition (because we Bloodwood types can be extremely annoying) to make sure that they played as well as we made wine. We needn't have worried. They played beautifully, and we have become firm friends and supporters in everything they do as The Bloodwood Quartet. In retrospect, we only wish we could make wine as well as they play. And as we are both un-reconstructed hippies, Laura took it upon herself to arrange Lennon and McCartney's Eleanor Rigby just for us. This is what it sounded like live recently at a concert they gave before heading off (incognito) as Quartet Australis on a love-boat tour of the Pacific. Enjoy and thanks guys. Click here for their rendition of Eleanor Rigby

Catriona Rowntree

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Madam, I have absolutely no idea who you are, but you are doing me a power of good.

No that's not true. In fact it is so not true that it could technically be called a lie. But the truth is, when MS Rountree turned up at Bloodwood with a film crew in tow, I wasn't lying when I said I hadn't the faintest idea who she was. That's what happens when you don't watch commercial television for a decade or so. However, I am a quick learner, and now realize that for the best part of that decade or so, Catriona has been wowing commercial television watching audiences across Australia and beyond with her work on Getaway and many other very popular TV spots. I also vaguely recall someone with a very similar sounding name hosting some JJJ programmes a while back before my tablets kicked in. Whatever the facts of the matter, and there surely must be some here I have overlooked, let's just say she doesn't travel unaccompanied. Not only that, but the totally charming and damn fine sport that she undoubtedly is, was tickled pink when I suggested she sit on her date..on the Bloodwood celebrity stool. Thanks Catriona, you're welcome at Bloodwood anytime you need a getaway.

(The bottle of Bloodwood Chardonnay, or one of many quite like it we prepared earlier, is available through the stunning Cellar Door section above where all our wines are hot, hot, hot at the moment and so are their prices, from a bargain  for the 2010 BMIT including taxes, to the absolutely stunning 2009 Pinot Noir at  until the end of this special promotion going forward.)