Bastille celebration moves to Adelaide

 

A popular Sydney festival is set to offer French-accented fun in Adelaide this winter. 

Bastille Festival, a French food, wine, art and culture expo, will make its Adelaide debut from May 30-June 1. 

Known for transforming Sydney’s Circular Quay and The Rocks into a celebration of all things French in July, the Adelaide edition will be earlier in the year - at Festival Plaza. 

“Bastille Festival finding its second home in Adelaide is no coincidence,” says festival founder and director Vincent Hernandez. 

“With its passion for European living, its taste for exceptional wines and flavours, and its vibrant appreciation for the arts, Adelaide embodies the spirit of Bastille.

"We’re igniting that legacy, freedom, boldness, and pure joy through a thrilling fusion of food, wine, and art, perfectly matched to this city’s lively soul. 

"Festival Plaza, with its dynamic energy and beating heart, is the ideal canvas."

Adelaide's three-day event will feature over 30 food stalls operating from breakfast to dinner. 

Think raclette, crepes, and pastries. 

Wine lovers can prepare for a journey through French regions including Bordeaux, Burgundy, Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Alsace with at least 15 boutique wines imported from France.

Organisers also promise over 40 free performances along with market stalls and - reminiscent of French Christmas markets - a fire pit and mulled wines. 

Admission to Bastille Festival Adelaide is free, with ticketed experiences like the Wine Walk, Food Passport and Fire Pit Experience available for purchase. 

Gladiators, comedians, vinegar and a new way to hydrate

 Celebrity spirits are 10 a penny nowadays. Celebrity wines are commonplace.

But how about celebrity canned hydrating drinks? 

Comedian and wine lover Merrick Watts is putting his weight behind Posca Hydrate - a sports drink that he has just launched in Australia. 

The blurb tells me Posca Hydrate has been "reinvented by Merrick Watts to hydrate modern-day warriors and health-conscious consumers". 

I'm assured that "combining ancient wisdom with modern science", Posca Hydrate is Australia’s first sugar-free sparkling hypertonic drink in a can – an alternative to traditional sports drinks, with zero  sugar, all-natural ingredients and 100% stimulant-free.

Posca Hydrate apparently has a hypertonic formulation, enriched with four essential electrolytes and boosted with the addition of red wine vinegar, a rich source of antioxidants.

The original Posca recipe dates back to ancient Rome, and was widely regarded at the time as the beverage of choice of soldiers and gladiators. 

“Over the past 10 or so years, I’ve become a self-confessed health and fitness nut and like many of us, I have been disappointed with the lack of sugar-free, all-natural sports drink options available on the market," co-founder Watts says. 

"Aussies are increasingly becoming more health conscious and searching for a better alternative to stay hydrated - without a crash, without sugar, without stimulants, without regrets. 

“It was during the depths of the Covid lockdown of 2021 that I came across the original Posca recipe and its fascinating stories, buried in the [online] history books. It got me thinking that there is a thing or two we can learn about hydration and health from the ancient world. 

"Given Posca was the drink of actual gladiators, there is no doubt it is the original sports drink.”

In 2021, leveraging his expertise in liquid formulations and understanding of beverage balance from his wine knowledge, Watts created his first batch of Posca Hydrate. 

Available in three flavours: grape, yuzu and pineapple, Posca Hydrate is available nationwide at major and independent convenience stores, petrol stations and other outlets. A 330ml can costs an RRP of $6.50, or a 12-pack can be purchased at poscahydrate.com for RRP $59 or on Amazon. 

I'll let you know when I've tasted some. 

Time to say farewell to Vintage Cellars and First Choice stores

 

It is time for Australians to say goodbye to Vintage Cellars and First Choice liquor stores.

Coles Liquor Group has today announced it will commence the national alignment of Vintage Cellars and First Choice Liquor Market under the Liquorland brand.

This follows a "successful trial" which will see the Coles customer offering changed nationwide.

Starting in April, a national roll out will see all Coles Liquor stores unified under three banners: Liquorland, Liquorland Cellars and Liquorland Warehouse. So three brands - just like before. 

Coles says this will deliver "a consistent experience and greater value for customers" no matter where they shop.

It is said the new store formats will simplify the customer offer across 984 stores by aligning product range, promotions, Flybuys loyalty program, and omnichannel service - all underpinned by Liquorland’s new price match promise.

To me that sounds like less choice.

A 16-week pilot program – trialled at 14 selected stores in South Australia, Victoria and Queensland "demonstrated increased brand awareness and customer engagement, repeat visit and overall greater shopping satisfaction".

Coles Liquor chief executive Michael Courtney said the announcement represented a significant milestone for the business by bringing together the best elements of all three brands across value, range and convenience.

“This is the biggest transformation in the history of Coles Liquor Group, and we believe it will have a meaningful impact on how we serve customers the drinks they want, when they want them, and how we partner with suppliers to deliver value,” Courtney said.

“As we move towards a unified promotional strategy, we are strengthening our value proposition for customers with consistent and competitive pricing under one brand and one website."

The Price Match Promise apparently means if you see a better price at another retailer, then Liqourland will match it.

“In terms of range, we are bringing a more tailored and relevant drink selection from the three banners under one roof," Courtney added.

"This means we will be unlocking the best-selling premium drops from Vintage Cellars and great value drinks from First Choice Liquor Market, and making them more accessible to customers through Liquorland across the country.

“The results of the pilot program exceeded our expectations across all measures. We were pleased to see brand awareness improve by 16% and found customers visited our stores more frequently, and 30% of customers who shopped at our pilot stores said they plan to shop with us more often compared to before the rebrand.

“These results give us full confidence that uniting under the Liquorland brand is the way forward not just for us as a business, but for our customers.”

Around 160 Vintage Cellars and First Choice Liquor Market stores will be transformed as part of the national roll out, expected to be completed by end of 2025.

Liquorland first launched in Australia in 1971 and currently has 818 stores across the country.

I remain unconvinced, but will watch with interest. I fail to see how a shrinking range will be good for customers.

Image: Coles Liquor chief executive Michael Courtney at Liquorland, Richmond Traders, Victoria

Pilot forgets passport; delays international flight

A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai diverted to San Francisco over the weekend after a pilot realised "they forgot their passport"

The Boeing 787-9 left LAX on Saturday for a 13 hours and 50 minutes flight to the Chinese city, Airlive.net reported.

The aircraft flew for about 1 hour and 45 minutes before the crew decided to turn around over Pacific.

The airline initially cited the incident as a “crew-related issue” but CNN reportedone of the pilots realized he forgot his passport. How he was able to depart LAX without a travel document was not explained, but this is the 'new" US.

The flight UA198 was diverted to San Francisco. Passengers were given $15 meal vouchers to make up for the inconvenience.

The flight with the new crew took off around 9 p.m. and landed in Shanghai about six hours behind schedule.

A replacement crew boarded the aircraft later to resume the flight to Shanghai.

United Airlines said in a statement: “Your flight diverted to San Francisco due to an unexpected crew-related issue requiring a new crew."

Wine industry body slams Federal Budget

The wine industry is not happy with the federal budget - but its response does sound, how shall we say, a little whiny.

Australian Grape & Wine has expressed deep disappointment at the Albanese Government’s failure to deliver meaningful support to the grape and wine sector in the 2025-26 Federal Budget, describing it as a second major missed opportunity in as many years.

“This Budget is another blow for growers and winemakers across Australia,” said chief executive Lee McLean. 

“It fails to deliver the targeted programs or strategic investment needed to address the serious challenges facing one of Australia’s most iconic and economically important regional industries.”

Australian Grape & Wine acknowledged the Government’s pre-budget announcement to increase the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) producer rebate cap to $400,000 from July 1, 2026, describing it as a welcome measure for some small and medium-sized producers.

“We welcome the increase to the WET rebate cap - it will assist some producers with much-needed tax relief in the years ahead,” said McLean. “But tax relief alone doesn’t address the structural crisis gripping our industry, largely driven by the lingering impacts of trade impediments our producers did not initiate, or deserve.”

The Budget includes $6.8 million for international agricultural engagement and market access, which may benefit some wine exporters. But Australian Grape & Wine warned that this falls well short of the coordinated, sector-specific investment required to diversify markets and rebuild export momentum.

“This isn’t the bold action our sector has been calling for -  it’s a modest allocation spread across all of agriculture,” McLean said.

 “We asked for targeted investment in sustainability programs, export assistance, and domestic tourism development. None of that has materialised.

“The re-opening of the China market is a welcome development, but it’s not a silver bullet. The oversupply of red wine alone sits at more than 330 million litres. Businesses are selling water rights to put food on the table or pay power bills. They're laying off staff, and many growers haven’t drawn a wage in years. The impact on regional economies is profound - and the need for support has never been more urgent.”

Australian Grape & Wine remains committed to fighting for growers, winemakers, and the future of wine communities across the country.

“We’re not giving up,” said McLean. “Our industry contributes $45.5 billion to the economy yet has once again been left to wither on the vine. It’s time for the Government to step up and show it values the people, regions, and industry that have contributed so much to this country. Before it’s too late.”

Sorry. To me this sounds just a little self-centred at a time many Australians are doing it tough. 

Kuruvita pops up on the Gold Coast with Sri Lankan flavours

Star chef Peter Kuruvita will be bringing the flavours of Sri Lanka to the Gold Coast until the end of April. 

JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa restaurant Citrique has launched a Chef Spotlight series which will highlight the heritage, flavours and ingredients of regions around the world.

The series kicks off with a My Sri Lanka Spice Trail available from now until the end of April. 

Designed by Sri Lankan-Australian chef Kuruvita in collaboration with JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa executive chef Paul Smart and the Citrique team, the menu will take guests on a culinary journey to the sub continent. 

“Last year we launched the Producer Spotlight series, which celebrated unique ingredients from leading suppliers around the country," Smart said. 

"Following the success of the series, we wanted to continue connecting Citrique diners to experimentative ingredients and flavours in a refreshing format. 

"We’ve now partnered with Australia’s best culinary talent for a Chef Spotlight series which draws on their multicultural culinary backgrounds to bring a taste of the world to Citrique.”

Kuruvita, of Flying Fish fame, is celebrated for his expertise in taking traditional Sri Lankan flavours that draw on his background and family recipes. 

Citrique’s weekend buffet - which features a variety of locally sourced seafood, meats and international favourites - will be complemented by an additional array of bold dishes like spiced roasted chicken, prawn tamarind-glazed barramundi, Lankan black pork tacos, masala potato dumplings, dhal soup and bibikkan coconut cake.

During the week, diners will be able to enjoy the vivid flavours of Sri Lanka as part of the a la carte menu through dishes like Goroka glazed beef short rib with crispy chickpeas; roasted tamarind-glazed toothfish with sugar snap peas and egg curry; and butter-poached king prawns with string hoppers and pol sambol.

A cocktail menu by Dilmah Watte Tea will complement the weekend buffet and a la carte menu, featuring the likes of black tea and Ceylon tea in innovative blends that infuse each drink with the aromas of Sri Lanka. 

My Sri Lanka Spice Trail is available until April 27. 

You can sneakily use the code LOCAL when booking weekday a la carte dining at citriquerestaurant.com to receive 15% off the total bill and complimentary self-parking.

Reservations are essential.