A winter wine escape on Melbourne's doorstep

Fancy a winter wine escape just a short drive from the Melbourne CBD or airport? 

Marnong Estate offers rolling vineyards, long lunches, glasses of good red and the chance of a chilled night or two away from home. 

Locates in the Sunbury region just 35 minutes from the CBD (and 15 minutes from Tullamarine airport, the lifestyle destination offers Italian dining and boutique accommodation with sweeping views of the Macedon Ranges. 

It's a special spot. 

Wine experiences begin at the cellar door, where guests can build their own tasting experience with a selection of five Marnong Estate wines, or explore more structured flights such as a pinot noir tasting.

Experiences can be enhanced with optional cheese and charcuterie boards, or visitors can also opt for a casual picnic on the lawns of the estate with a bottle and grazing box. Try the 2024 Single Vineyard Montepulciano, an excellent drop. 

La Vètta offers Italian dining that has been recognised with a Chef’s Hat by The Age Good Food Guide and the winter menu leans into seasonal dishes designed for slow dining that can be enjoyed with a glass of estate wine.

For something more casual, Cucina 3064 is a family-friendly Italian eatery offering comfort classics such as lasagna, while Italian street kitchen Caffè Vista, offers al fresco eats perfect for a sunny winter afternoon. Think pizza and a glass of bubbles.

For a serious weekend escape, Marnong Estate offers boutique on-site accommodation overlooking the vineyards. The property includes architecturally designed cabins with studio or one-bedroom suites, as well as a beautifully restored 1840’s homestead for groups getaways.

Visitors can also meet the estate’s resident camels and llamas at the on-site petting zoo, enjoy live music, markets and seasonal events. 

Check out the website for the latest updates.

Respected New Zealand wine producer dies

Actor and vigneron Sam Neill has died, his family has confirmed.

“It is with immense sadness that the whanua (family) of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney, Australia,” they posted on social media.

Northern Ireland-born, New Zealand-based Neill, the star of multiple films including My Brilliant Career and Jurassic Park, was 78.

“The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care,” the family statement said.

“More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”

Neill was diagnosed with blood cancer in March 2022, but recovered.

 

Neill was highly respected in the wine industry, having owned and operated his own pinot noir-focused vineyard Two Paddocks in Central Otago for over three decades.

“We started in 1993 with modest ambitions and first planted five acres of pinot noir at our original little vineyard at Gibbston, Central Otago in the deep south of New Zealand,” Neill said on the winery website, which makes no mention of his career as actor. He was serious about wine. 

“I wanted to produce a good pinot noir that would, at the very least, be enjoyed by my family and friends,” he said.

Two Paddocks now consists of four small certified organic vineyards and produces between 3,000-5,000 cases depending on the vintage.

Australia edges towards the 21st century

Australia is finally entering the 21st century when it comes to entry formalities.

Filling out paper forms like the one above will soon be a thing of the past for millions of travellers to Australia as the Government rolls out digital passenger cards following a successful trial.

It will provide $56.1 million over four years for traveller modernisation at airports across Australia.

In a collaborative partnership with the Australian Border Force, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Qantas, the Australia Travel Declaration pilot program has delivered a digital alternative to the paper incoming passenger card.

Since the pilot commenced in October 2024, more than 450,000 passengers on eligible inbound Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne have trialled the Australia Travel Declaration, with anecdotal evidence proving the trial has been a significant success.

This new pilot, in partnership with Qantas will continue to be introduced to other capital cities including Perth and Adelaide, before the end of 2026.

The Australia Travel Declaration will then be rolled out to all international airports and seaports in a phased approach over the next 12 to 18 months, initially accessible via a webform option, with an aim to continue to collaborate with industry to co-design in-app capabilities.

The broader rollout of the Australia Travel Declaration will streamline facilitation and reduce manual processes for passengers, enable digital collection of information ahead of time and increase data quality for risk assessments, allow for rapid updates and management of global risks and events, such as biosecurity outbreaks, and meet passenger expectations for a biometric-enabled, seamless digital border experience.

"Making arrivals simpler and quicker means visitors can spend less time filling out forms and more time enjoying everything Australia has to offer," says Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Don Farrell.

"This is a win for tourists and a win for our tourism operators, helping make Australia an even easier and more welcoming place to visit."


Major travel hubs like the 29 Schengen Area countries, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Thailand have largely replaced paper arrival cards with direct passport scans, digital travel authorizations, or online systems


It is a belated change. Major travel hubs like the 29 Schengen countries in Europe, the United States, Canada, the UK, Singapore, and Thailand have already largely replaced paper arrival cards with direct passport scans, digital travel authorizations, or online systems.

Yelland & Papps: Letting the vineyard do the talking

Following a surprise visit to Glenside's notorious Z Ward, where the South Australian National Trust was holding a wine fair in the spooky cells of the former mental asylum, guest contributor Roderick Eime met with Susan Yelland of boutique Barossa winemakers Yelland & Papps, where the pair were showcasing some of their delicious reds and whites. 

He asked Susan to highlight a couple of her favourite vintages, to which she said the philosophy behind Yelland & Papps wines is to let the vineyard speak for itself.

Their single-vineyard Stonewell Shiraz is deliberately crafted as a brighter, more expressive interpretation of Barossa shiraz. 

"We're probably trying to make a more expressive, fruit-driven, easier-drinking style of shiraz from the Barossa."

Whole-bunch fermentation builds fragrance and texture, while the use of only seasoned oak avoids masking the fruit, resulting in a lighter, more aromatic and approachable style that showcases the vineyard rather than the winemaking.

The winery's passion for Rhône varieties is equally evident in its grenache. 

"Grenache, we love grenache. We are very focused on Rhône-style varietals."

Sourced from a pristine 60-year-old vineyard on the sandy soils of Vine Vale, the fruit is harvested in two stages. 

The earlier pick contributes lifted aromatics and delicate Turkish Delight notes, while the later harvest brings structure, tannin and depth across the palate. Together they create a balanced, layered wine that reflects both the character of the old vines and the Barossa landscape.

Rather than chasing mass-market distribution, Yelland & Papps focuses on independent wine merchants and quality restaurants, where they believe wines with authenticity and a strong sense of place are most appreciated.

Bicknell exits Oakridge after 24 1/2 years

David Bicknell, one of Australia's finest and most influential winemakers, has been cut lose by Endeavour Group, owners of Yarra Valley winery Oakridge.

Bicknell, who has headed operations at Oakridge for almost a quarter of a century, announced the split on social media. 

He is a chardonnay maestro and an inspiration to many in the wine industry. 

"Well, that’s it," Bicknell wrote. "After nearly 24 and a half years, my time Oakridge Wines has come to an end.

"It’s been an amazing ride, taking what was broken winery to the top of the industry with an unwavering commitment to quality and plenty of hard graft. Some really good times with some really good people.

"They say you never know you’re going to get boned until you do. And so it is. Thankfully, I leave a highly trained, capable and talented team for the next piece of history. Your support for them would mean a lot to me."

Bicknell was Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year (2017), is a past Dux of the Len Evans Tutorial (2005) and co-founder of the Victorian Pinot Noir Workshop (2002).

He is a senior wine show judge with 20 years of experience across both regional, capital city shows and was the Chairman of Judges for the National Wine show of Australia from 2019 to 2023.

After completing winemaking studies at Roseworthy College in 1993, Bicknell joined De Bortoli Wines in the Yarra.

After a 10-year tenure, which included added winemaking stints in Burgundy (Louis Latour), Alsace (Paul Blanck) and Beaujolais (Chateau Bluizard), he took over at Oakridge Wines in 2002, establishing the producer among Australia's best.

Oakridge was named the number one winery in Australia by both the Halliday Wine Companion and  Real Review in 2023.

He and partner Nicky Harris have operated side project Bicknell FC since 2011.

Anantara celebrates 25 years with culinary experiences

 

The Anantara Hotels & Resorts group is marking 25 years with a selection of signature culinary experiences. 

The options range from Sri Lanka’s spice trails to the rice fields of Vietnam. 

The feasts will celebrate the quarter of a century since the brand was founded in Thailand as the experiential luxury brand of Minor Hotels. 

Across three Asian destinations – Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam – the brand responds to what the Minor Hotels Travel Trends Report 2026 confirms: food is the primary gateway to culture for most travellers.

At Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort on the south coast of Sri Lanka, Mama’s Kitchen explores local culinary secrets and village cooking culture with the resort’s local mama. 

Guests participate in the preparation, hand-grinding spices and stewing slow-cooked curries, in the kamatha kitchen situated in the resort’s paddy field, learning the role each ingredient plays and the stories that accompany them.

At sister property Anantara Kalutara Resort, guests partner with the resort’s culinary team for the '25 Spices Table', an exploration of 25 indigenous herbs and spices, each used in the preparation of traditional local curries and each with an intriguing history. 

At Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, executive chef Punn Akkawin teaches guests how to create Thai dishes full of colour and flavour. The experience begins with a morning market visit to select the fresh produce and aromatics that will define the meal. Guests return to The Spice Market, a Bangkok institution with more than 40 years of history in the Thai capital, to prepare three dishes under the chef’s guidance to enjoy for lunch.

In Vietnam, rice is central to culture. Anantara Quy Nhon Villas takes guests into the countryside to meet the families who keep centuries-old traditions alive. 

The first stop is a family where rice paper making is still practised by hand. Here, guests can learn each delicate step of the process, demonstrated and shared. This continues with a visit to a second family for a tasting of traditional rice wine. The experience closes back at the resort, where guests create their own rice wine cocktails while overlooking the ocean.

The route between Quy Nhon and Hoi An is an experience in its own right. The Vietage by Anantara train connects the two destinations in style, with locally sourced provisions on board, such as strawberries from Đà Lạt, regional teas and locally produced gins that reflect the landscape en route.

At Anantara Hoi An Resort, the Taste of Hoi An street food experience carries the narrative forward through the dishes that define the town.

Anantara’s signature anniversary experiences, including those featured above, are available across the brand’s portfolio throughout 2026. Each is specific to its destination. 

Explore the full collection at anantara.com/en/25th-anniversary-experiences