Leading travel agent urges clients not to panic

One of Australia's leading travel agents has urged clients not to panic over the crisis sparked by Donald Trump in the Middle East.

"As parts of the world experience temporary travel disruptions, we wanted to keep you informed and reassure you that we will continue to support you," Mary Rossi Travel told clients in a newsletter.

"At this stage, there is no need to make any changes to travel plans scheduled for April 2026 onwards.

"While the situation continues to evolve, we are closely monitoring developments across the Middle East and staying up to date through airlines, government authorities, and our partners on the ground.

"We are also working directly with our airline partners to understand their policies around rescheduling and cancellations, ensuring we can provide the most accurate and timely guidance.

"In the short term, access to Europe is currently more limited as some travellers are choosing to reroute via Asia; however, availability beyond the next few weeks is expected to stabilise.

"Encouragingly, the majority of destinations worldwide continue to operate as normal, and many of our clients are currently travelling and enjoying their holidays without disruption.

"While some airlines - including Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways - are currently operating with reduced services, we remain optimistic that regular schedules will resume in the near future."

So there you go.

Image: Walter Pucher, Scop,io     

Snoop Dogg's latest wine pays tribute to a musical milestone

I love a wide range of musical genres from Led Zeppelin, to Smokey Robinson and the Miracles to Jerry Jeff Walker. 

I have not, however, become enamoured with the music of wine mogul Snoop Dogg, or his departed friend Tupac Shakur. 

Which means I was blissfully unaware that this year marks the  30th anniversary of one of rap's most iconic collabs: 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted. 

To mark this momentous milestone, wine brand Cali By Snoop has dropped (I think that means released) Kingz of Cali, a wine that is a personal tribute from Snoop Dogg to Tupac. 

I'm reliably told that Australia has a deep love of West Coast hip-hop. And Kingz of Cali is a red blend that celebrates the history of two of hip-hop’s greatest superstars.

Along with the tribute featuring on the bottle, Snoop Dogg also stars in a homage film, where Mr Broadus reminisces on their experience together and pours a glass of wine in Tupac’s honour. 

The film also features rare, archival behind-the-scenes footage from the music video for “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.”

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since Pac and I got together to make 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted," says Mr Dogg. .

"Nobody did it like us, and I can’t think of a better way to honour his legacy than with a drink.” 

Kingz of Cali was inspired by a time in Snoop and Tupac’s history where they came together as young artists. 

The label design is inspired by a moment etched in hip-hop history at the 1996 VMA Awards, featuring Snoop Dogg and Tupac. 

Here comes the hype: 

“It’s been an absolute privilege to work with Snoop Dogg and the Tupac Estate to develop a wine celebrating this historic collaboration, and worthy of two of hip-hops greatest Icons,” said John Wardley, senior vice president of brand, innovation, and partnerships at Treasury Wine Estates.

 “The “Cali by Snoop” range has always pushed the boundaries of traditional wine culture. We are proud to honour Tupac and Snoop's legacy with a truly unique wine.”

I'm not sure what makes it "truly unique". It is a shiraz-driven red blend from the US. 

Kingz of Cali is available for an RRP of $18 at Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores. For more info see CaliBySnoop.com.

And here's a link to the very unGhetto video: https://youtu.be/E2C2EBAsZ5Q

Oops: alcohol-free beer tastes just like the real thing

An alcohol-free beer that tastes just like the real thing?

No such luck. Just a labelling error.

More than 2,500 cases of Steinlager beer were recalled in New Zealand earlier this month after bottles containing alcohol were incorrectly labelled as alcohol free, drinks business reported.

The recall followed a consumer complaint that uncovered a production error at Lion NZ.

Authorities warned consumers avoiding alcohol not to drink the product and to return it for a refund.

Lion NZ issued a recall of Steinlager Ultra Low Carb beer after the bottles containing alcohol were incorrectly labelled as alcohol free.

The affected batch consisted of 2,538 cases. Each case contains 24 bottles of 330ml with a best-before date of October 21, 2026.

In a statement, a Lion NZ spokesperson said: “We have identified through a consumer complaint, an error in a production run resulting in clear bottles containing Steinlager Ultra Low Carb beer ABV 4.2% incorrectly labelled as Steinlager Alcohol Free, being sold in Steinlager Ultra Low Carb 24 packs. 

"Cases may contain a mix of clear bottles with labels for both products.

“Consumer safety is our highest priority, and we want to sincerely apologise to customers and consumers for any distress or concern caused."

New Zealand's Ministry for Primary emphasised the recall did not affect any other Steinlager brand products.

Saint Peter to mark 10 years of innovation

The best meal I had in 2025 was undoubtedly dinner at Saint Peter in Sydney - in the restaurant's new home at the Grand National Hotel. 

Josh and Julie Niland are masters of the art of hospitality. 

The multiple courses of seafood were of exemplary quality - and the service was of a rare standard of excellence. 

Niland celebrates fish in all its glory - and makes even unfashionable cuts a treat. This is food that is innovative and inspired. 

It was fascinating to watch him conducting his kitchen brigade like a conductor leading an orchestra (above). 

Saint Peter will celebrate its 10th birthday in September - with details of the celebration to follow. 

In the meantime, Saint Peter will be offering seafood all over the Easter holiday this year - a serious treat from a restaurant rated in the world top 100. 

From Good Friday to Easter Sunday, Saint Peter will be open for both lunch and dinner over all three days. And for an extra experience you can stay the night in the recently opened hotel rooms.

For details see https://www.saintpeter.com.au/ 

Saint Peter & The Grand National Hotel are at 161 Underwood St, Paddington, NSW, 2021, Australia. (02) 9167 3703. hello@saintpeter.com.au

Air New Zealand flags airfare increases

Bad news for flyers with the increase in the price of jet fuel leading the first international airline to increase airfares in a bid to offset challenging operating costs. 

Air New Zealand confirmed this morning that it has implemented fare changes, saying that if the conflict in the Middle East continues, it would take further pricing action.

So you can thank President Trump's "pre-emptive" action for that. 

IATA’s weekly monitoring of jet fuel prices has revealed a 58% rise from US$99.40 to US$157 a barrel on last week. 

Air New Zealand also pointed to an increasingly volatile spread in the difference between crude oil and the price of refined jet fuel. 

“Since the conflict began, the crack spread has been particularly volatile, widening from approximately US$22 per barrel before the conflict to as high as US$115 per barrel,” Air New Zealand said in a statement. 

"As a result, the airline has suspended its 2026 [earnings] guidance for the foreseeable future, with the crisis expected to 'meaningfully affect' its second-half earnings." 

Network and schedule adjustments were also flagged. The share prices for both Qantas and Virgin Australia both dropped this week on the back of the jet fuel crisis before rallying. 

Opportunity for young Australian wine industry professionals

Are you an ambitious young professional working in the Australian wine industry? 

Applications are now open for a new bursary giving Australian grape and wine professionals aged 35 and under the opportunity to attend the Institute of Masters of Wine International Symposium 2027, an influential forum for wine education, ideas and debate.

The bursaries are designed for emerging professionals who want to accelerate their careers, expand their global perspective and bring new thinking back to Australia’s wine sector, Wine Australia says. 

Open to people working across viticulture, winemaking, research, marketing and trade, the program removes cost barriers and provides access to learning and networks that are often out of reach early in a career.

Ten successful applicants will receive financial support to attend the IMW Symposium 2027 and engage directly with global experts, Masters of Wine and international peers. 

Emma Symington MW, Head of Education Development, EMEA at Wine Australia, is one of two co-chairs organising the Symposium and was instrumental in establishing this bursary to ensure young and early-career wine professionals have an opportunity to participate.

“Young professionals want to be part of global conversations early and gain confidence that their ideas belong in the room," she said. 

"But often the cost to attend experiences like the International Masters of Wine International Symposium are out of reach for many. As an organiser of this event, I genuinely want to see more young people attending.”

Jenna Vaughan, who oversees the Rootlings program, the national network for young grape and wine professionals funded by Wine Australia, and said the bursary responds directly to what under 35s are seeking from their careers.

“Young professionals want access, not just information." she said. "Being in the room where big conversations are happening changes how you think about your role and what’s possible. This kind of opportunity helps you bring new ideas back to the workplace and apply them on the ground.”

The IMW Symposium 2027 will be delivered by the Institute of Masters of Wine and hosted in South Australia with support from the South Australian Government. Wine Australia is a major sponsor of the Symposium and delivers the bursary program as part of its long-term investment in industry capability.

More information, eligibility criteria and application details are available here.