When wine goes Vivid in Sydney CBD

Sydney's winter Vivid Festival is best known for its spectacular light shows but there is also a major wine and food element to the celebrations.

The Wine Bar at The International is being billed as "the CBD's ultimate urban cellar door" over the June long weekend.

Presented by Mike Bennie, P&V Wine+Liquor Merchants and The Wine Bar's food & beverage director Alex Kirkwood and award-winning sommelier Jacqueline Turner, the one-day event brings together more than 30 winemakers and importers from across the state.

With more than 100 wines on pour in the heart of Martin Place, Cult & Classic on June 6 is all about discovering the diversity, energy and personality of contemporary NSW wine from across the state without leaving the city.

 
Expect cult producers, emerging labels, established icons, great music, immersive light installations and a festival-like atmosphere.

To keep the party going, Hey Rosey from Orange - an acclaimed regional wine bar awarded one Chef’s Hat in the 2026 Good Food Guide - will join forces with The Wine Bar’s head chef Gabriel Del Conti for a one-day-only menu of snacks and dishes not to be missed.

Carrying through from afternoon into late evening, wine lovers can then enjoy a rooftop afterparty at Panorama Bar, featuring immersive light installations and live DJs.

For more info see https://www.vividsydney.com/event/food/cult-classic-a-nsw-food-wine-party

Meanwhile, at its new waterfront home in Barangaroo Reserve, Vivid Fire Kitchen takes shape as one of the centrepieces of Vivid Sydney 2026 with an expanded program that brings together more than 45 culinary voices and marks the arrival of two new focal points, The Vivid Fire Pit and the Food for Thought stage.

Running every night of Vivid Sydney from May22  to June 13, 6–11pm and free to enter, Vivid Fire Kitchen is a vibrant, casual dining hub inspired by the great Aussie backyard. It will feature open-fire cooking demonstrations, talks, tastings and live music. 

On ya bike! Otago extends its cycling trails

Otago is New Zealand's capital of adventure tourism, from hiking and biking to bungee jumping.

Now Otago is strengthening its position as one of New Zealand's premier cycle tourism destinations, with its interconnected trail network set to expand beyond 500 kilometres.

Key to this growth is the opening of the Kawarau Gorge Trail this spring.

It marks another step toward creating a seamless network linking Queenstown through Central Otago and onward to Dunedin.

Stretching 32 kilometres, the Kawarau Gorge Trail will connect Gibbston to Bannockburn along the Kawarau River corridor.

Built on the opposite side of the river from the highway, the grade 2-3 trail offers a moderately challenging ride through striking landscapes. Riders will traverse remote terrain, navigate rock bluffs, through areas once inhabited by gold miners on a journey between renowned wine sub-regions.

Importantly, the trail will link two of New Zealand's Great Rides, the Queenstown Trail with the Lake Dunstan Trail.

At the same time, local tourism authorities report work is underway on the final 13km section of the Roxburgh Gorge Trail between Doctors Point and Shingle Creek, with completion anticipated in summer 2026-27.

Currently accessible only by boat, this section has long been a missing link in the network. Once completed, riders will have the choice to experience this remote and spectacular landscape entirely by bike.

With more than 500 kilometres of connected trails, Otago offers a variety of experiences - from short half-day rides to multi-day journeys.

Supporting this network is a well-established ecosystem of experienced local operators providing bike hire, transfers, luggage services, accommodation, and tailored itinerary planning.

See https://www.centralotagonz.com
  

Meet a hotel offering packages designed for seniors

 

People are travelling much older and further than further than they used to, often into their 70s and 80s. 

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney is catering for that market by introducing special room packages designed  exclusively for senior guests aged 60 and above. 

The packages "offer a blend of comfort, indulgence, and warmth" and are available through December 27 (tough luck if you want to celebrate New Year by kicking up your heels). 

The Golden Years Experience is designed for "a relaxed and rewarding city stay" with 15% off the hotel's best available rate for all club rooms and suites, The Fullerton Club Lounge access for two, a welcome amenity and $100 dining credit to use across food and beverage outlets, early check-in and late check-out at 1pm. For reservations or more info see Golden Years Experience | Hotel Offers at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Seniors Winter Warmer includes best available rate on all room categories, a signature 32-layered chocolate cake with two hot beverages of the guests' choosing, and buffet breakfast for two at The Place. See Seniors Winter Warmer | Hotel Offers at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Some will see these offers as kind, others (particularly The Golden Years deal, as patronising. You decide. 

Victorian wine pioneer dies at age 86

Victorian wine pioneer Graeme Leith, co-founder of Passing Clouds, died this week at the age of 86.

His death was anmounced on the winery Facebook page. 

Leith, co-founder and winemaker until 2007, will be celebrated at Passing Clouds Winery in Musk, outside Daylesford, on May 15 at 3pm.

Former electrician and polymath Leith and his partner Sue Mackinnon hand-planted Passing Clouds at Kingower, outside Bendigo, in the early 70s. 

It proved a problematic site, and he and his son Cameron later transferred the whole operation to cool-climate Musk, in the Macedon Ranges.

The Passing Clouds website says: "In the early sixties he worked his way around Europe, finally tasting some superb wine in Italy, and the dye was cast.

"In semi-retirement Graeme finally put pen to paper and began documenting all his stories. In 2015 “Passing Clouds A Winemaker’s Journey” was published.

Leith retired to the Musk vineyard. He was a nice man.  

Passing Clouds is now operated by Cameron Leith and his wife Marion and family and is currently up for sale.   

Image: Passing Clouds, Facebook

So you want to learn about sparkling wine from the best in the business?

Serious about sparkling wine? 

Want to learn more? 

Leading wine educator and Champagne experty Tyson Stelzer is teaming up with Ed Carr (House of Arras), Natalie Fryar (Bellebonne) and Andrew Pirie (Apogee) for the inaugural Tasmanian Sparkling Immersion on November 13-15. 

The quartet will host five intimate masterclasses, two winery visits, barrel tasting and a vineyard visit in the Tamar Valley and Piper’s River, home to some of the best sparkling wines in the world.⁠

⁠The winemakers have a combined experience of a 134 vintages and the weekend will showcase over 50 of their finest cuvées spanning three decades, alongside some other great sparkling wines of Australia, Champagne and the world. 

Along with three days of tastings and visits, there will a gala dinner, a cocktail dinner, brunch and two lunches at Evenfall, where Apogee and House of Arras will pair their wines with local Tasmanian produce.⁠

⁠The weekend is limited to just 33 guests. 

For more details check out https://www.tysonstelzer.com/tasmanian-sparkling-immersion-13-15-november-2026/

Perth to welcome new hotel brands

Perth is a hive of hotel activity.

The Radisson Hotel Group this week announce the signing of Radisson Perth (above), an upscale hotel in the Sydney Charles Quarter (SCQ) precinct in West Perth.

The opening later this year will mark the debut of the Radisson brand in Western Australia.

Developed by APPL Group and operated by Mandala Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Perth will form a key part of SCQ, a mixed-use development designed as a "connected village" that brings together residential, commercial, and lifestyle elements.

The hotel will feature 120 rooms and studios, complemented by a rooftop bar and restaurant, meeting spaces, and a swimming pool.

"We're delighted to bring the Radisson brand to this exciting precinct," said Danilo Curcuruto, director of development, Australasia, Radisson Hotel Group.

"Radisson Perth is a strong addition to our growing presence in Australia and reflects our focus on partnering with high-quality developments in key urban locations."

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Ovolo Hotels, meanwhile, are set to launch The Bennett by Ovolo Perth a Wyndham Hotel. A very clumsy name.

The 111-key hotel is slated to open in 2028, with the signing announced at AHICE Global Hotel Industry Conferences.