Basketball legend on target with kosher Champagne

There is niche - and there is niche.

Former Detroit Pistons NBA star Isiah Thomas - now a wine distributor - is launching the first celebrity-backed kosher Champagnes in the US as an extension of the Cheurlin Champagne brand.

Now only 54% of Americans drink alcohol, and only approximately 2.4% of the total US population is Jewish.

That means a limited but potentially lucrative target market.

But former NBA Hall of Famer Thomas has released Cheurlin Brut Spéciale (a blend of 70% pinot noir and 30% chardonnay), priced at US $75, and Cheurlin Thomas Célébrité, a zero dosage Blanc de Blanc (60% chardonnay and 40% pinot blanc), priced at $100 in the US market.

Both wines are described as “mevushal”, meaning they have been flash-pasteurised, so they remain kosher even if handled or served by non-Jewish people, trade publication drinks business reports.

Thomas hopes that “by introducing the kosher certification, we aren’t just adding a label, we are introducing more people into the Cheurlin family.”

Thomas became the exclusive US importer of the Cheurlin Champagne brand in 2016.

The Cheurlin family has been growing grapes and producing Champagne in Aube since 1788.

Lost in translation? Meet Suck my Duck

There is a fine line between audacious marketing and being downright offensive. 

Travis Fuller, MD of Kilikanoon Wines in the Clare Valley, posted this gem from the Wine Paris trade fair on social media this week. 

It's not a joke - it is an actual brand from Laungeudoc wine producer Vignobles Vellas, a family business that dates back four generations to 1929 and has multiple vineyards across the region. 

The family say: "Our slogan is to strive for excellence, authenticity and innovation. Making exceptional wines that release real emotions, bringing out a unique terroir through each of our vintages."

Hmm. not sure that this reflects that. And it is one several labels in similar vein. 

The website says: "With innovative packaging, creativity is one of our true strengths".

The wine in question is a classic southern blend of shiraz, grenache and mourvedre that is recommended to pair with duck dishes and cheese. It gets good reviews online. 

Maybe something was lost in translation. Or maybe not.    

Sign of the times; Gapsted Estate hits the market

It is a sad sign of the times when wine producers in high quality regions go into receivership. 

Gapsted Estate, a respected winery, cellar door, restaurant and events venue in the Alpine Valley wine region in North-East Victoria, is now for sale after receivers took over before Christmas. 

The property is a 24.05 hectare landholding with 8.41 hectares of vines, a winery, cellar door and on-site restaurant. 

The winery is fully operational and processes fruit for several local growers. The agents say it is capable of processing up to 11,500 tonnes of grapes per annum and has wine storage capacity of 8.2 million litres.

Other facilities include a large warehouse and distribution facility, administration building, production and laboratory building, tastings room, barrel shed and staff amenities.

The vineyard combines popular varieties like chardonnay with emerging grape varieties including saperavi, tempranillo and petit manseng. 

I've tried the wines sporadically and they have been of high quality. 

Gapsted is close to tourism drawcards including Myrtleford, Beechworth and Bright. 

Gapsted Estate is being offered for sale by Expressions of Interest closing Wednesday, March 18. 

Gapsted, also known as Victorian Alps Wine Company Pty Ltd, was established in 1997 by a group of independent grape growers from the Alpine and King valleys as a contract wine grape processing facility. 

Alpine Valley Vignerons president Stef Antonello told local newspapers that the local wine industry is “absolutely hoping” a buyer for Gapsted Estate can be found, given its pivotal role as a wine grape processor and wine maker within the region.

“Certainly if they closed there would be a lot more grapes that won’t have a home," he said. “We’re absolutely hoping someone buys them as an ongoing concern...it has great potential and just needs investment back into it.”

Monkey business: Why you need to be wary of simians when travelling

Monkeys can be a menace. Cute but dangerous. 

I've seen an unsuspecting shopper robbed of their groceries by an agile simian in South Africa, and an idiot bitten by a monkey in Bali. 

The closer humans come to their natural habitat the bolder monkeys become. 

Now a leading travel insurance company has issued a waning for holidaymakers; use caution or you may end up with a massive medical bill. 

Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) has just completed its 2025 round-up of travel insurance claims and reported that the number of travel insurance claims resulting from monkey-related incidents has surged by 350% in the past two years. 

While 78% of these claims were medical claims relating to bites or scratches from monkeys there were also several cases of theft-by-monkey.

In one case a traveller reported a gang of monkeys breaking into their villa in Bali and stealing a mobile phone - that one sounds dubious to me as monkeys prefer food to digital devices.

Others have had sunglasses and prescription lenses snatched straight off their faces - monkeys love shiny things. In another case, a child visiting Ubud Monkey Forest was hit in the eye by a monkey and required two rabies shots and a course of antiviral medications to combat potential rabies exposure.

Jess Strange, Chief Customer Officer at SCTI says: “Many people don't realise how quickly costs can add up when you fall ill or get injured overseas. Insurance isn't just about covering bills - it's about making sure you get the right care and support when you need it most.

“In some situations, getting home safely isn't as simple as booking a standard flight. 

“Customers may need to travel with a medical team, which often means an air ambulance or chartered flight - costs that can quickly climb into six figures. Even something as simple as upgrading a stricken traveller to premium economy or business class can add thousands of dollars to the bill."

It is pretty simple really. If you can't afford to take out travel insurance don't travel. Or be prepared to launch one of those annoying Go Fund Me pages to cover your stupidity. 

SCTI provides International Comprehensive and International Medical Only travel insurance policies for those travelling overseas. A Working Overseas policy is also available. Visit the website for more information: www.scti.com.au

AirAsia X pondering re-starting London flights?

It may soon be possible to fly from Australia to London using just one low-cost carrier. 

Malaysia's long-haul low-cost carrier AirAsia X will officially announce its return to the UK this week, trade website simpleflying.com is reporting.

While the airline's previous flights were nonstop from Kuala Lumpur to London Stansted using an  Airbus A340-300, the new route is predicated to use Airbus A330-operated flights from Kuala Lumpur to London Gatwick via Bahrain.

The new route is due to be officially announced on Thursday, the website says. 

It will mark the airline's latest attempt to make UK flights turn a profit. It operated non-stop flights from the Malaysian capital to London Stansted between 2009 and 2011, when it switched to Gatwick. Flights halted in 2012. 

In late 2025, Capital A, which operates the AirAsia Group, identified Bahrain as the location of its Middle East hub. 

If this happens then Aussies could fly to KL before switching to a flight to London. Cheap and cheerful. 

Adina to expand into Hobart

Go-ahead hotel group TFE will debut its first Adina hotel in Tasmania later this year with the opening of Adina Hobart. 

The new 48-key Adina Hobart will be located within the same mixed-use development as the 142-key Vibe Hobart and will feature a collection of studios, and one- and two-bedroom apartments with the ability to interconnect into three-bedroom spaces.

Known for contemporary design, spacious living, and flexible apartment accommodation, Adina’s continued growth across Australia and beyond reflects the strength of a brand that understands modern travellers, says TFE Hotels’ Group Chief Operating Officer Chris Sedgwick.

“As we expand our global footprint, we’re seeing increasing demand for apartment style hotels that offer the space, flexibility, and contemporary design that Adina does so well," Seddwick says.

"With every new opening, whether here at home or in key international cities, Adina anchors our premium offering and showcases the best of Australian hospitality on the world stage.”

The new Hobart property will provide extra rooms in a Tasmanian market that desperately needs extra room space. Tasmania’s capital is experiencing the highest visitor numbers on record, with 1.36 million visitors welcomed in 2025.

Adina Hobart is expected to welcome guests in the second half of this year.

Adina guests will have full access to the Vibe on-site amenities including Belvedere restaurant and bar, conferencing facilities, pool and gym.

“With Adina Hobart, we wanted to craft a hotel that feels intrinsically connected to Tasmania," said developer Richard Doedens.

"As such, the palette, the textures, and the organic forms all draw from the quiet beauty of the eucalypt forests that define so much of the state’s landscape.

“Our design approach also focuses on warmth and comfort, while still delivering the sophistication expected of an Adina. And, by anchoring the interiors in natural materials and rounded, calming shapes, we’ve created a place that feels both grounded and elevated.”