For five weeks the Yarra Valley is the Place for Pinot

Pinot noir? Pinot gris/grigio? Pinot blanc? Pinot meunier?

Whatever your favourite pinot family member, the Yarra Valley is likely to likely to have something of interest.

From March 20 to April 27, Wine Yarra Valley is launching The Place for Pinot - a region-wide pinot celebration, bringing together 16 wineries for a five-week showcase of the wines the cool-climate region is known for.

Visitors are invited to taste their way across the valley, discovering cellar doors, vineyard stories and pinot experiences along the way.

And to guide the journey: a Digital Pinot Passport.

Visitors can check in at participating wineries, build a pinot trail, and unlock an entry into a draw to win a Pinot Prize Pack - a mixed pinot selection from participating wineries.

Find out more at https://wineyarravalley.com.au/the-place-for-pinot/

A taste of South America coming to the Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula wine region is set to gain a new restaurant with a distinct Argentine accent. 

Brasa is a new sister venue at Montalto Winery that will celebrate South American-style asado cooking over wood-fired grills. 

Led by a chef (still to be confirmed) who has worked with Argentine grill maestro Francis Mallmann, the menu will focus on premium meats, seafood and seasonal produce, much of it sourced from Montalto’s own gardens, served in a relaxed, share-style format. 

The name Brasa means embers in Spanish and the restaurant will aim to replicate the parrillas of Argentina, particularly Mendoza. 

Slow cooking over embers develops deep, natural flavours. In Mendoza that can include cooking over vine cuttings. 

The menu will be designed for sharing with large cuts of meat carved and placed at the centre of the table, encouraging guests to pass plates, pour wine and gather over food. 

Montalto is a member of Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia.

See https://montalto.com.au/pages/brasa-by-montalto

Meet a new limited-edition gin with a purpose

Fancy an Easter tipple that could help save one of Australia's iconic native animals? 

Meet a new limited-edition gin with a conscious. 

The Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) has teamed up with Brisbane-based craft gin distillery BY.ARTISANS ahead of the Easter holiday to launch Burrow & Bloom. 

Sales of the gin will support efforts to save Australia's beloved but threatened Greater Bilby, also affectionately known as the Easter Bilby.

The bilby has suffered population declines since colonisation and the introduction of feral cats, the primary driver of native mammal extinctions and ongoing declines in Australia.

While once found across the country, there is now only an estimated 10,000 bilbies remaining in Australia, with around 3,300 individuals living inside six of AWC’s feral predator-free sanctuaries. 

“Burrow & Bloom was designed to reflect the landscapes the Bilby depends on,” said Alexander Bell from BY.ARTISANS. 

“We’ve used a foundation of classic gin structure, layered with native desert botanicals like roasted wattle seed, saltbush, desert lime and lemon myrtle, to evoke arid soils, dry air and nocturnal foraging. A gentle rose infusion softens the profile as a subtle nod to Easter, without losing the austerity of the desert.”

Each bottle sold will contribute $48 to AWC to support bilby conservation and habitat protection across AWC sanctuaries. 

A maximum of 1,000 bottles of Burrow & Bloom will be produced, at full release, equating to $48,000 in sponsorship support for AWC, and the protection and management of wildlife sanctuaries across Australia.

You can find out more here. 

Image: Judy Moosmueller

Airline warns against online scammers

A major low-cost airline has warned flyers to remain vigilant against scams involving fake customer service contacts circulating on social media.

AirAsia's advisory followed the circulation of online posts displaying a phone number falsely claimed to be an official AirAsia customer service line.

AirAsia confirmed that the number is not affiliated with the airline and is suspected to be part of a scam targeting travellers seeking assistance with their bookings.

AirAsia clarified that it does not operate customer service via phone calls and urged customers to be vigilant about anyone claiming to represent the airline. 

All official customer support services are available either through the AskBo bot, or the airline’s digital support platform.

Guests can access AskBo via the AirAsia MOVE app or through AirAsia’s official digital platforms to receive assistance with flight bookings, schedule changes, travel information and other services.

AirAsia encourages travellers to always verify information through official AirAsia channels, including the airline’s website and verified social media accounts, especially during the peak Hari Raya travel period.

Customers are encouraged to visit www.airasia.com or access the AirAsia MOVE app.

British Airways adds daily London-Melbourne flights

British Airways today announced an expanded long-haul network, including daily flights from London to Melbourne (above).

The airline’s long-haul route network is set to grow by 9%, it said in a media statement with new destinations including Melbourne and Colombo in Sri Lanka.

The expansion also includes a boost to winter capacity on several popular leisure routes including Cape Town, Tokyo and Bridgetown in Barbados.

As a result of the situation in the Middle East. British Airways has added seven extra return services to Bangkok and Singapore in the last week and will continue to review its schedule and add additional flights to destinations as needed, the airline said.

“We’re delighted to announce sizeable growth to our flying schedule for winter 2026, including two notable new destinations that I’m confident will prove popular with our customers," said Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer.

"We’re also increasing services across several high-demand routes around the world. Together, these changes represent a significant investment in our long-haul leisure network, adding even more options and choice for our customers.

"Elsewhere, we know there is short-term demand as a result of the situation in the Middle East. To support customers with alternative routes from popular destinations we have already launched additional flights, and we will continue to monitor customer demand and add flights to our schedule if we’re able to do so.”

BA will commence daily flights to Melbourne in Australia from January 9, 2027, launching in time for the Australian Open and the Melbourne Grand Prix.

Flights will operate year-round from London Heathrow, via Kuala Lumpur.

Customers will have a choice of four cabin classes: World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), Club World (business class) and First.

Minor Hotels plans major Sydney expansion

The fast-growing Minor Hotels group is to add two new properties in Sydney under its NH brands.

The expansion will grow the Bangkok-based group’s Australasian portfolio to more than 60 properties.

“As Australia’s number one destination for domestic and international travellers, New South Wales continues to demonstrate strong tourism momentum, with total visitor expenditure up 5.7% year-on-year,” said Craig Hooley, Chief Operating Officer for Minor Hotels Australasia.

“This growth is supported not only by increasing leisure and business travel, but also by the state’s vibrant calendar of events and major international touring, which continue to shape demand for hotel stays and experiences.

“Events are re-shaping demand patterns across New South Wales.

“Major live entertainment has become a key driver of both occupancy and room rates, with concert-led periods delivering around 20% higher average daily rates compared to non-concert periods. International touring is now a consistent growth lever: since the Taylor Swift benchmark, we’ve seen a sustained flow of global artists driving meaningful room-night contribution year-round.

"These trends underpin the strategic timing of our new developments, ensuring we meet rising demand while supporting the state’s evolving tourism infrastructure. Major projects such as Western Sydney Airport will further strengthen connectivity for both domestic and international travellers, reinforcing the strategic importance of NSW within our long-term growth strategy.”

Minor Hotels will open NH Collection Sydney, marking the arrival of the brand in Australia.

The 256-room "upper-upscale" hotel in central Sydney is designed to cater to domestic and international travellers seeking "an eclectic, elegant atmosphere and outstanding service".

Featuring two restaurants and a rooftop bar, the property is set to open in late 2026.

Minor Hotels will also introduce its first NH Hotels property in Australia with NH Sydney Airport (top image), scheduled to open in 2027 in Mascot.

Truly weirdly, this development will also feature the reintroduction of the Sizzler restaurant brand to Australia through a partnership between Minor Hotels and Minor Food.

And here we all thought Sizzler died sometime last century.

* Minor Hotels operates hotel brands including Anantara, Elewana Collection, The Wolseley Hotels, Tivoli, Minor Reserve Collection, NH Collection, nhow, Avani, Colbert Collection, NH, Oaks, and iStay and will also soon open an Avani property in Wollongong.