Bowen Estate marks 50 years in style

The 50th anniversary red wine releases from family-owned Bowen Estate in Coonawarra are special for two reasons.

Not only do they mark the milestone, but they also pay tribute to late family matriarch, winery co-founder and regional stalwart Joy Bowen, who died in 2024.

The 2024 Bowen Estate cabernet sauvignon and shiraz are also noteworthy for a third reason: at $36 they represent outstanding value for money.

Owned and operated by the Bowen family, Bowen Estate lies towards the southern end of the famous Coonawarra strip.

Started by Doug and Joy Bowen in 1972 with the first vintage in 1975, Bowen Estate is now run by their daughter Emma. 

All their vines are individually hand pruned ensuring maximum grape quality for their tiny range. 

The Bowens don't do reserve wines, single vineyard releases, or special cuvees. Their entire range comprises three wines: the two reds and a chardonnay. They don't do much promotion. Good luck finding them on social media! 

The 2024 releases are exceptional; varietally correct, immediately appealing and delightfully balanced. I think the shiraz is my favourite, but there is only a whisker in it.

"We are proud to be releasing our landmark 50th vintage—an achievement that celebrates not only five decades of exceptional winemaking and grape growing, but also the enduring commitment of our family, whose name has become synonymous with classic Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon and shiraz," says Emma Bowen. 

"The 2024 vintage is one we are immensely proud of, with the wines showing exceptional quality and character."

Well worth checking out. https://bowenestate.com.au/

John Lennon, Satchmo and Dolly Parton

Nashville International Airport is to be renamed after country music icon Dolly Parton.

The much-loved singer and songwriter died last week at the age of 80, and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport have announced their intention to rename the US transport hub in her honour.

That will follow in the footsteps of Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, and Liverpool John Lennon Airport in the UK. 

"Dolly Parton's extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state," Lee told multiple US media.

"From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the volunteer spirit with her.

"At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state's favourite daughter and greet travellers with the enduring legacy of Dolly's music, generosity, faith, and kindness."

Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, said he believed Dolly's "remarkable legacy" needs to be recognised.

"Nashville International Airport is the front door to Music City, and with that comes a responsibility to reflect the very best of who we are as a community," he said.

"Dolly's remarkable legacy reminds us that what makes Nashville special is our ability to welcome people from every walk of life.

"She understood that dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status. At Nashville International Airport, we share that commitment.

"Whether you are boarding a private aircraft or taking your first flight, you deserve to be welcomed, respected and served with the same level of care. That spirit is what defines Nashville International Airport and it is a fitting reflection of the values Dolly shared with Tennessee and the world."

Bolivia named as a travel danger zone

Australians planning to travel to South America have been urged to pay attention to their itineraries.

Government website smarttraveller.gov.au has updated its advice for anyone planning to visit Bolivia.

"We now advise [you] reconsider your need to travel to the Chapare region in the department of Cochabamba due to the risk of violent crime," the website says.

"Criminal groups and gangs linked to illegal drug trafficking operate in this region.

"Authorities may be very limited or unable to provide assistance in this area.

"We continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution in Bolivia overall due to the threat of violent crime and the risk of civil unrest."

Most of the rural territory consists of valley rainforests that surround the area's main waterway, the Chapare River, a tributary of the Amazon.

The provincial capital is Sacaba, while the town of Villa Tunari is a popular tourist destination.

Australia joins the UK in warning against visiting the region. It warns against "all but essential travel" to or through the Chapare region.

Image: Cochabamba City, Bolivia

What future for Australian ski resorts?

What does the future hold for Australia's ski resorts? 

The 2026 season marked the hottest winter on record for the Australian Alps, with the highest mean temperatures on record for June to August across much of Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT and Tasmania. 

The season is shutting down early across the Australian Alps, with resort closures, businesses up for sale, and a severe lack of snow, the Protect Our Winters team says. 

The snow season typically peaks in August and runs through late-September to October, but climate pollution is driving higher temperatures and significant rain events that have greatly reduced snow cover, bringing an unusually early end to the season.

Mt Baw Baw in Victoria and Selwyn Snow Resort in New South Wales both closed for the season last week. Selwyn cited a “challenging winter”, temperature, and rain’s “impact on our remaining snow cover” as the reasons for closure.

Mia Rennie, POW Athlete Alliance, free skier and sports commentator, noted the changes at Selwyn in a media release.

"I grew up skiing at Selwyn snowfields and remember having to dig our front doors out at Cabramurra," Rennie said. 

"That’s now a thing of the past. I have seen first hand how quickly our winters are changing and how quickly we need to respond so future generations can continue to experience the magic of winter that I grew up with.”

Australia’s resort economy is worth over $3 billion annually, supporting thousands of jobs. 

Thredbo Alpine Resort was recently hit with a valuation drop of over 50% from $292 million to $143 million, POW says. 

And coming off the back of Australia’s most successful Winter Olympics, climate change is threatening the future of Australia’s snow sports viability, success, and culture. With diminishing opportunities for training and competition in Australia, athletes are increasingly forced to chase snow opportunities overseas.

Protect Our Winters Australia (POW) is A community-driven, science-backed collective of winter sports enthusiasts, High Country devotees, climate scientists, and regional businesses advocating for systemic climate solutions.

For more info see protectourwinters.org.au.

Image: Mount Hotham slalom gully last week. Supplied. 

Discover Paris's secret cinema

Meet one of the most exclusive cinemas in the world.

Usually used for private screenings and for hotel guests, there is a movie theatre in Paris that most visitors never see. 

Hidden inside the luxury Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris, the Cinéma Katara offers a different cinematic experience, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The 99-seat cinema is tucked away inside the hotel and has become a discreet meeting place for movie stars, filmmakers and international personalities. 

But now locals and visitors have a chance to sample the experience with the cinema is opening its doors to a wider audience with a Royal Film Club line-up.

Described as the French capital’s first luxury cinema, Katara combines 35mm, 2D and 3D projection with oversized leather seats designed by Philippe Starck and a professional sound and image team is also on hand for screenings and private events.

The theatre is often used for film industry gatherings, premieres and bespoke events. Hotel guests can also book it for private screenings, concerts, sales events and seminars.

But now, once a month, the doors will be open to the public, giving s moviegoers the chance to watch a film from the same plush seats used by celebrities, while enjoying a choice of food and drinks. 

The experience is designed for families and friends, with a gourmet package featuring sweet treats or a more indulgent “Royale” option served with a glass of Champagne.

Tickets start at €25 and can be booked online.

Details here: https://www.raffles.com/paris/experiences/royal-film-club/

Luang Prabang lights up for annual festival

Looking for an Asian getaway with a difference?

Every rear on the October full moon, Luang Prabang in Laos lights up for Boun Lai Heua Fai, the Festival of Light marking the end of Buddhist Lent.

After dark, illuminated boats built from bamboo and paper move through the streets of the old town to the beat of drums before they are set adrift on the Mekong River.

Lotus-shaped lanterns line the temples, and thousands of small krathong drift downstream, each one carrying a wish into the current.

This year, the festival falls on October 26.

La Résidence Phou Vao, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Luang Prabang, is offering special packages for the event.

Called The Festival of Light Offer, it pairs a hillside stay with guided access to the parade, the lanterns, and the river itself, arranged by a dedicated guest experience curator (they used to be called concierges).

Every stay booked under The Festival of Light Offer includes:

# Daily breakfast for two at La Brasserie de la Résidence
# Round trip transfers to and from Luang Prabang International Airport or the railway station
# The services of a dedicated guest experience curator for personalized itinerary planning
# A minibar stocked with non alcoholic beverages, replenished daily
# Complimentary shuttle service to and from the old town of Luang Prabang, running from 9am to 9pm.
# A $50 USD resort credit toward dining or spa treatments
# A daily sunset apéritif with wine or cocktails and French canapés for two
# Complimentary laundry for up to six garments daily
# A complimentary three-course dinner for two on stays of three nights or more

Sounds tempting. 

To discover more about the offer, visit https://laresidencehotels.com/phou-vao/offers