A Bottle of Memories

On November 3rd and 4th, just three weeks before they were married, Rebecca and Hayden spent the weekend with Rebecca’s father Mark, her eldest sister Nichola and her little brother Nicholas.

On Saturday there was a long debate as to what would be the most entertaining way to spend the afternoon. Nichola passionately held out for Mini Golf in Picton, but the majority ruled, so everyone climbed into the Bighorn and set off for an afternoon of wine tasting.

As Hayden drove down Old Renwick Road, Rebecca insisted “track 10” on the CD be played, her favourite tune of all time, and played at full volume! With Rebecca in the back singing along to “One Night in Bangkok” at the top of her voice, anywhere down Rapara Road was as good a place to start as anywhere.

If the day started out happy, after a few stops it was even happier, and Domain George Michel was added to the list. Rebecca loved some of their wine so much, out came the credit card and a few bottles purchased. As she was completing the purchase, she noticed a large jar on the desk with a sign noting that a monthly draw was made for a free bottle of wine. So, into the bottle went her business card.

She asked her Dad for one of his business cards as well, and as there was no New Zealand address on his business card, she wrote her home address on the back and added it to the pile.

On Friday December 7th, the day after the family returned to New Zealand from Fiji with Rebecca, everyone met at Hayden’s for lunch and in the middle of the meal a Post Haste Courier arrived.

It was a bottle of Domain George Michel Golden Mile Pinot Noir for Rebecca’s Dad, the prize winner for the November 07 draw.

Julie Yonge of Domain George Michel said that they are always very careful to ensure that the draw each month is fair and unbiased. When the draw was initially made, it was Rebecca’s business card that was drawn first. Julie had worked with Rebecca briefly in the past at Century 21 in Blenheim so knew that she had just been tragically killed.

There was a further problem however, as when Rebecca’s card was drawn it was attached to a second business card, thereby invalidating the draw.

Both business cards were put aside and a second draw made.

This time, and maybe with a little “assistance” from Rebecca, her Dad’s card was drawn.

The very gratefully received bottle of Pinot Noir, along with the business card with Rebecca’s own hard writing on the back, are now safely locked away, to be opened maybe one day in the future in memory of Rebecca.

Rebecca’s Dad is sincerely grateful to Julie Yonge and Domain George Michel for this wonderful memory.