Set beside a vineyard in Martinborough, is a lovely, historic house, built in 1876, and now restored and enhanced to offer guests a home away from home. Hosts, Sandra and John, made me feel like part of their family and my stay was extremely comfortable.
The property is well situated for couples who want to visit some of the many vineyards in the area. It is also an ideal venue for weddings and group gatherings.
There are six guestrooms in the house. Each has a private ensuite. When I arrived, other guests were sharing a bottle of one of the region's fine wines and swapping stories about their day's exploring. I joined in and then took a short walk to the centre of town where several restaurants had menus offering a good range of choices for dinner.
I slept peacefully at the Old Manse that night and awoke to the quiet countryside and the enticing aroma of a cooked breakfast being prepared by John. At breakfast Sandra was busy organising a tour of the vineyards for other guests. Sadly, I had to move on. It felt a bit like leaving home; The Old Manse is a place I will particularly remember and to return to.
