Philippines opens up to tourists

The Philippines is to lift its entry ban on foreign tourists after nearly two years.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said the Asian nation famed for its glorious beaches will reopen to travellers from more than 150 countries visa-free starting February 10.

The move is aimed at reviving a crippled tourism industry, Travel Mole reported.

More than a million Filipinos lost their jobs in tourism during the first year of the pandemic

"We will closely monitor the situation and ensure that health and safety protocols are strictly implemented," Puyat said.

The government had initially planned to lift the ban on December 1 but indefinitely postponed as the more contagious Omicron variant spread.

The number of daily infections has dropped considerably in the capital in recent days, officials said.

“We’re done with border control,” Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire told a news conference, adding that government focus has shifted to preventing community transmission of the Omicron variant, which has caused five deaths in the country so far.

“We are also aware that there is no room for complacency given the unpredictability of the virus,” Puyat said. “We will closely monitor the situation and ensure that health and safety protocols are strictly implemented in all tourism establishments.”

Tourism destinations, including popular beach and island resorts liked Coron Island (above), resembled ghost towns at the height of pandemic lockdowns.

The Philippines has reported more than 3.5 million confirmed Covid-19 infections, with 53,801 deaths, the second-highest total in south-east Asia after Indonesia.

Australians are among the nationals allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a period of 30 days or less.

Image: Jessica May, scop.io

Tourism operators unite to fight logging of native forests

Many tourists do not notice the damage done to native forests in Tasmania by the ludicrously named Sustainable Timbers Australia.

Loggers are very clever in keeping their devastation from public viewing.

In the town of Derby, in the north-east of the state, local businesses have united on the eve of proposed Krushka forest logging to again call for Government intervention to protect forests.

The Krushka forests wrap around the Blue Derby mountain bike trails and leading local businesses are part of the 200+ business signature open letter to Premier Peter Gutwein and Tasmanian Government calling for "an end to native forest logging to allow our nature-based tourism sector to live up to the Brand Tasmania promise".

Louise Morris, co-ordinator of Blue Derby Wild said: ‘We have seen an unprecedented call from businesses across our island state, and globally, noting that our Gondwana forests are worth more standing.

"From global giants like Paddy Palin and Patagonia to The Tasmanian Walking Company, Franklin River Rafting and numerous businesses here in Derby we are all united in understanding our forests are our biggest eco-tourism drawcard, and our best natural assets for tackling climate change and increasing biodiversity loss. Our communities need our Gondwana native forests intact."

Damien Neilson, owner/operator of the Derby Bike Shop said: "We hear on a daily basis from our customers the beauty that Derby is, with its lush wet forests, the amazing views they get on the trails and how diverse the area is.

"To then tell them that these areas are about to be logged they are shocked and stunned that in this day the Government would agree to this. These forests are what make the experience for many, if not all, who visit and ride the trails in Derby and we need to protect these natural assets."

Jules Seymour, owner and operator of Pinned Property Management said: ‘When there are over 31,000 signatures from the general public, over 200 business owners and conversations from interested and concerned tourists in the main street daily, I really don't understand how they can ignore this.

"Plain and simple, it’s ruining the future of eco tourism in an area that will keep giving back year after year and be sustainable for years to come. Rider separation zones are completely irrelevant when they are ignoring the point that once these forests are gone, there is no getting them back."

Changing of the guard at Tahbilk

Alister Purbrick (right) is standing down as head of Tahbilk - Victoria's oldest family-owned winery. 

And Tahbilk has gone outside the wine industry to appoint a replacement. 

Tahbilk, established in 1860, has been owned and operated by the Purbrick family since 1925. 

Fourth generation Alister Purbrick will retire in June and will be replaced as Chief Executive Officer by Ross Sudano. 

The press release describes Sudano as having "experience in disrupting existing markets". 

He has worked with familiar brands including Little Creatures Brewing, Anaconda Adventure Stores, BP Australia, Foodland Associated Limited and The Reject Shop.

His most recent role was as CEO and managing director of The Reject Shop Limited. He apparently "differentiates by employing a strong and inclusive approach to leadership". OK. 

Sudano (below) starts today.

Alister Purbrick is a well-known figure on the Australian wine landscape, having served on a number of industry boards and committees over the course of his career. 

This includes his role as the inaugural chair of Australia’s First Families of Wine, this country’s leading group of multi-generational wine families, established in 2009, and as past president of the Winemakers Federation of Australia (now Australian Grape & Wine Incorporated).

“After 43 years running my family businesses, Tahbilk and the Tahbilk Group, it’s time for me to pass the baton on," Purbrick said. 

"After an exhaustive recruitment process, overseen by a family and independent member panel, we welcome Ross and are certain that his extensive and proven business acumen and leadership skills will build on the successes achieved over 162 years of operation.”

Sudano will be based at Tahbilk’s corporate office in Melbourne with regular time spent overseeing operations based in the Nagambie Lakes region of Victoria.

Tahbilk has over 220 hectares under vine and produces around 120,000 cases of wine each year.  

Thai cannabis reform: but hold on to your spliffs for now

Thailand, the first south-east Asian country to legalize medical cannabis in 2018, is set to become the first Asian country to decriminalise recreational cannabis for personal use.

Thailand's Drug and Food Administration has proposed removing cannabis (which is known locally as ganja) from a list of controlled drugs, Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said.

Under the new regulations, people will be allowed to grow cannabis plants at home for personal use after notifying their local regional authorities. Cannabis used for commercial purposes, however, will require further licenses.

But anyone planning to grow or smoke cannabis should be patient as the new law is not in effect yet.

The Bangkok Post reported that the law will be implemented 120 days after it’s been announced in the Royal Gazette.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said: "Just hold your horses for the time being." 

"Until the law is cleared, caution should be exercised," he said. "It isn't something that can be done freely."

Image: Alex Alexander Scop.io

Budget airline expands its footprint in Europe

Budget airline Wizz Air is name that anyone who fancies a cheap trip from London this summer should jot down. 

Wizz this week announced it will launch four new routes from its London Gatwick base to Burgas and Varna in Bulgaria and Venice and Palermo in Italy.

It will also increase the frequency of flights on recently announced new routes to Larnaca in Cyprus, Milan and Vienna, Travel Mole reports.

Tickets are available now on wizzair.com starting from £8.99 - which is an incentive to hop on a flight to somewhere you have never visited before. 

Wizz Air will fly five times a week to Venice from March 27 and twice weekly to Palermo, the capital of Sicily, from March 29.

From June 15 it will launch five flights a week to Varna and four flights a week to Burgas. 

From the end of March, all of Wizz Air’s flights from Italy to London will be operating from and into London Gatwick. 

"Today marks another important step in our continued expansion at Gatwick," said Marion Geoffroy, managing director of Wizz Air UK.

"The lifting of Covid travel restrictions for fully vaccinated passengers arriving in the UK is a positive development for the travel industry, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more customers onboard."

When you can win a gold medal for finishing 26th

I heard another wine lover reporting this week how their favourite drop won "the gold medal" at a prestigious wine show. 

Sure dude. Wine shows do not operate like the Olympics. There can be dozens of golds, silvers and bronzes at one show; any wine the judges score at 18.5 or above gets a gold. 

So it is not "the gold medal" but "a gold medal'.

It would be reasonable to imagine that a wine that won a gold medal was first in its class, like at the Olympics, a silver medallist was second and a bronze medallist third. 

Not in the wine industry, so I am reworking an old story to make this point crystal clear. 

Wine meriting a score of 18.5 out of 20 (or 95 out of 100) from the judges gets a gold medal. That could be as many as 20% of all the entries. Any entry scoring between 17 to 18.4 and gets a silver, and so on. 

At shows, all the wines are tasted “blind” - without the judges knowing what they are.

The outright winner in any class earns a trophy – which is what you should be looking out for after the judges have finished sipping, swirling, tasting and spitting.

But the problem is that there are still hundreds of trophy winners out there in retail land.

There are over 70 officials wine shows in Australia (some far more important than others), several unofficial regional shows and dozens overseas.

Bigger companies can afford to enter their wines into myriad different shows (it is an expensive and time-consuming business), making themselves almost certain, simply by the law of averages, to earn some bling to enliven their labels. Others prefer to let their wines stand on their own merits.

You need to look very carefully at those label stickers to determine whether a wine won a bronze medal at Pine Gap Show, some tasting in Moldova, or a trophy at one of the major shows like Sydney or Melbourne.

I receive regular press releases saying: "Our shiraz is the best in Australia after winning the trophy at the [Insert Any Name You Like Here] Wine Show."

Or, if the show is in London, New York or Ljubljana and has an international field: "Our shiraz is the best in the world."

It's a nonsense. Winning a trophy at a wine show does not make your wine the best in Australia, or the world. It makes it the favourite of the small group of judges who tried it at that show. Usually at room temperature, and almost certainly without food.

Most wines, as you know, are enjoyed with food. And the whites and sparkling wines are almost always drunk chilled by consumers.

The reality is that a wine can win a trophy one week, and get a score of 14/20 the next. Different judges; different scores. But no one ever sends out a press release saying: "Our wine wasn't even good enough to win a bronze."

If more than a couple of panels (different judges; different shows) award trophies or gold medals to a particular wine then there is a pretty strong basis for assuming that it is a wine of excellent quality that appeals to winemakers, sommeliers and, sometimes, wine writers with educated palates.

If the judges of one show share similar palate opinions to you; excellent news all round. But they may not.

The fact is that a lot of very good people with excellent palates give up a lot of their time to judge at shows "and help improve the breed". I'm in awe of the number of wines they can taste each day.

Stickers help sell wines. And that's the bottom line. But look closely and that gold-coloured sticker on your bottle may just say "Good with fish". Buyer beware.

Top image: Andrii Omelnytskyi on Scop.io

Adelaide Hills producer sets up shop in the Barossa

 

Adelaide Hills single vineyard wine producer Saint & Scholar is to launch a pop-up cellar door at its sister winery in the Barossa from February 4. 

In 2019, Saint & Scholar, owned by Dural, which also owns and operates Kaesler Winery, Barossa Valley, and Yarra Yering, Yarra Valley, set up the Saint & Scholar cellar door attached to Maximillian’s restaurant in Verdun. 

The pop-up cellar door will be housed in the previous home of the Kaesler Steakhouse that closed in 2015. To make way for the temporary tenants the interior has received a mini make-over; a paint job, some new contemporary furniture. 

‘The Adelaide Hill cellar door was a great kick-start to our young brand’, says winemaker Stephen Dew. "we were able to build a solid foundation for the brand during our time in Verdun, despite the lockdowns and limited interstate travel. 

"Now, bringing it closer to our whole team, we’ll be able to be even more hands-on and build a stronger consumer experience." 

Guests will be able to enjoy the Aspect Lounge for wines by-the-glass and by-the-bottle.

Also inside is the main wine tasting area, the Bugs, Beetles & Bees Bistro. Here visitors can learn more about the company's regenerative viticultural practices. 

The two brands at the Barossa Valley Way location will be distinctively different. 

‘We don’t think consumers will be too fazed tasting an Adelaide Hills wine in Barossa, it’s common for brands to show wines in their cellar doors from other regions, and our Gumeracha vineyard is only 40 minutes from our winery, so it’s not much a stretch," says Dew.

Saint & Scholar is a 50-hecrate single vineyard first planted in 1999-2000. Saint & Scholar’s first vintage from the vineyard was 2017.

The winemaking team is Stephen Dew (The Saint) and Reid Bosward (The Scholar) from Kaesler Wines team. 

See https://saintandscholar.com.au/

Beer set to hit £7 a pint in London

A quiet pint of beer at an English pub used to be one of life's simple pleasures - and a pretty affordable one, too.

But beer prices across the UK are set to rise by 50p, with pints in London soaring to up to £7 ($13.30) due to rising inflation rates.

Industry insiders have warned that Londoners may soon have to pay £7 for their pint of beer in the pub, Drinks Business reports.

The price of beer is estimated to increase by 50p across the country, but London is set to be worst affected as industry experts warn pub inflation has now risen by 10%.

In order to try and cap the rise in beer prices, industry leaders have called for VAT to remain at 12.5% ahead of a rise of up to 20% in the northern hemisphere spring, the Evening Standard reported.

Pub trade was down 30% on average across England during the second half of December, compared with 2019, according to data from CGA Stategy, which works with food and drink suppliers, hospitality operators, trade bodies and financial institutions.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is urging further Government support to combat the increasing financial pressures to ensure pubs remain open for consumers, having recently relaunched its Long Live The Local campaign.

The campaign urges the British Government to provide long-term support by extending the current lower rate of VAT, lowering beer duty, and reforming the business rates system to reduce the disproportionate tax-burden on pubs.

CGA’s Consumer Pulse survey of 2,000 nationally representative consumers indicates more than two-thirds (70%) now feel confident about visiting pubs, bars and restaurants.

That figure is double the number (34%) who felt confident at the start of 2021, and a sharp increase on the figure of 52% from CGA’s research in July.

Image: Maksim Chernyshev, Scop.io 

Meet the country where international tourism is booming again

International tourism is starting to boom again in the small European nation of Slovenia - one of my favourite places to visit.

New figures show four million tourist arrivals in 2021 and more than 11 million tourist overnight stays - which is 31% more arrivals and 22% more overnight stays than in the same period in 2020.

Of foreign tourists, in 2021 most overnight stays in Slovenia were made by tourists from Germany (22.3 %), followed by tourists from Austria (9.0 %), Italy (7.4 %), the Czech Republic (6.9 %) and the Netherlands (6.6 %).

Most overnight stays were made in mountain municipalities.

In mountain resorts the numbers increased by 17.9 %, in seaside resorts by 20.3 %, in health resorts by 13.5 %, in the capital of Ljubljana by 60.3 % - but all figures were down on 2019 pre-Covid numbers.

A total of 20 destinations in Europe have been shortlisted for European Best Destination 2022 award with lovely Ljubljana (top) among them.

Zdravko Počivalšek, Minister of Economic Development and Technology, said: "The Covid-19 pandemic showed the importance of the tourism sector for many economic activities, as well as the economy in general.

"Due to the decline in international travel during the pandemic, global and domestic tourism industry suffered greatly in 2021, though slightly better results on tourist visits compared 2020 were recorded. This, however, is still far from the figures we recorded in the record year of Slovenian tourism in 2019."

"It is important that we highlight that tourism providers in Slovenia provide safe and quality services and that all guests are warmly welcome. Successful tourism will also have a multiplier effect on higher economic growth this year and in the future." 

Slovenia is one of the smallest countries in Europe, with a population of just two million people.  

Image: Alexis Borderon, Scop.io

Meet the Jacob's Creek wine range with a difference

 

Jacob's Creek is one of the best-known wine brands in the world, but its latest range barely features the name at all. 

Jacob’s Creek has released a quartet of premium wines in tribute to Ann Jacob, a South Australian wine pioneer from the 1840s, which are labelled A.J., with Jacob’s Creek a tiny afterthought on the label. 

The initial releases are a 2020 Chardonnay and and 2019 Grenache, to be joined by a shiraz and a cabernet sauvignon. 

All are made by winemaker Trina Smith, who says: The wines are made in a modern Australian style, with all fruit sourced from vineyards across the Barossa Valley. 

"The wines are fruit-forward, with a silky-smooth texture and bright delicate aromatics and are for drinking now or within two to three years."

I was particularly enamoured by the very juicy, lightly spicy and very appealing grenache. 

Eric Thomson, Global Marketing Director at Pernod Ricard Winemakers, said: “Ann Jacob was a pioneering young woman with an interest in viticulture, and an early female landowner in South Australia, planting vines on her Barossa property in the early 1840s. The vineyard still thrives as part of Jacob’s Creek vineyards today.” 

The 2019 Jacob’s Creek A.J. Grenache and 2020 Jacob’s Creek A.J, Chardonnay are now available for  $30 RRP at Coles Liquor Group stores across Australia.

  

Soccer player became "the airline passenger from hell"

We all hope and pray each time we board a flight that we do not get seated anywhere near the passenger from hell. 

Every now and then there is a media report about someone behaving bizarrely on a plane - fortunately it does not happen too often. 

Earlier this month, however, an Irishman allegedly went beserk on a flight between Dublin and New York, pulling down his pants and baring his buttocks at crew and passengers, hurling a drink can at a fellow traveller and putting his own cap on the captain’s head.

Shane McInerney was in court this week charged with refusing to wear a mask on a Delta flight and several other offences, Global Travel Media reported. 

He allegedly put his cap on the captain’s head, held a fist to his face and told him, “Don’t touch me.” The captain was on a rest break at the time and was in the cabin.

The criminal complaint said “at least one passenger” had found the Irishman “scary” and flight crew considered diverting the plane to a nearby airport to hand McInerney over to airport security.

McInerney’s flight from Ireland to New York was the first leg of a trip to Florida to begin a job at a soccer academy in the state, British media reported.

He was admitted to hospital for medical and psychological evaluation after the flight landed, prosecutors said. 

He could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $US250,000.

McInerney played for several lower league teams during his career, including a stint with Magpies Crusaders in Mackay, Australia. He also signed for Dandenong Thunder in Victoria.  

Hiking into happiness for gourmets and wine lovers

I no longer run unless someone is chasing me (which, to be fair, is very rarely).

I do still walk, usually if there is a wine or food reward to be enjoyed at the end of the journey.

Hedonistic hiking, however, sounds right up my alley, or hill climb.

Hedonistic Hiking's European tours re-start in May with new tours to central Italy, Sardinia and Corsica, and a selection of new foodie-related experiences.

The Hedonistic Hiking team say their tours are as much about gastronomic and cultural experiences that provide real insight into the region you're walking through as the actual exercise you are getting.

And demand for the tours is apparently high, with many tours selling out up to two years in advance, but there is still availability on tours to Central Italy, centred on the town of Orvieto; a Parmesan production and pilgrim trail; a classic Tuscan Harvest tour including a pasta-making class, and a walk encompassing truffle hunting and a cooking class in Piedmont.

All tours are fully-inclusive, including guided walking, gourmet picnic lunches, gastronomic dinners with wine, museum visits and food/wine tastings or cookery classes, and airport transfers.

Accommodation is in locally-owned hotels and alberghi diffusi, an initiative that has brought old homes back to life.

Hedonistic Hiking tours run in Australia and Europe (mainly Italy) and the company was established in 2007 by Anglo/Australian couple, Jackie and Mick Parsons, one of whom leads each tour.

Discover full details at www.hedonistichiking.com and remember flights are not included in the published prices.

Randall pounces to buy McLaren Vale estate

Wine entrepreneur Warren Randall has added McLaren Vale producer Penny's Hill to a portfolio headed by Seppeltsfield Estate in the Barossa.

The Randall Wine Group (RWG) was established in 1978 and is Australia’s largest private luxury vineyard holder.

The move sees the group bounce back after being hit by Chinese tariff increases in its largest export market.

“Australian winemakers, invested heavily in the Chinese wine market for 10 years, supported by a free trade agreement with that country," Randall said.

"The Australian wine industry was an innocent bystander, a casualty in the crossfire of political coercion between China and Australia.

"Following a very high quality vintage in 2021 it was time to reset the company’s strategy and pivot away from the Chinese market, which is a shame because the Chinese wine consumer loves the fruit and taste profile omnipresent in Australian wines."

The Penny’s Hill and Black Chook brands are sourced from a premier location between McLaren Vale and Willunga, suiting a wine tourism village, and were founded by Tony Parkinson in 1988. He masterminded exports to 15 different countries.

Penny's Hill has 44 hectares of estate vineyards and produces around 60,000 cases a year. 

“In the face of advancing years and with no clear family succession plan, it was time to find a new custodian for the 1855 estate," Parkinson said. "Warren has a proven track record of acquiring, respecting and injecting enthusiasm and energy into historic 19th-century Australian wine estates with provenance.

“I trust that he will carry on my legacy and springboard the brands to greater international success under his leadership.”

RWG owns close to 3500 hectares of vineyards in regions across South Australia,  including the Barossa, Riverland, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Currency Creek, Coonawarra, Clare Valley and Eden Valley

Fruit that tastes like fruit used to taste

Supermarket chains can be ultra-demanding when it comes to the fresh fruits that will grace their shelves.

Supermarket buyers want fruits that are pristine, uniformly and specifically sized, identically coloured, blemish free and under-ripe, so that they have a shelf life of eight days or more. 

They also want to buy in large volume from big farms, so they can have a supply chain that links several outlets, and often suffocate the fruit in plastic wrapping. 

That's bad news for small growers who need to hand-sort their produce to meet supermarket criteria.

Unfortunately, when it comes to fruit, good-looking does not always mean good tasting. 

Enter Andrew Driscall, a former private chef and food entrepreneur who is well known to Tasmanians for his food truck businesses Cafe de Paris and Proper Pasties. 

Cornish-born Driscall realised that fruit does not have to be perfect looking to taste good, particularly if it is being used in a fruit salad, in an ice cream sundae or to make a jam or preserves. 

A lot of perfectly good fruit, which could have gone to waste, or be sold as animal feed, can now be found in old-fashioned punnets, ripe, unwrapped and ready to eat, either from his mobile food truck or to take home. 

Driscall is selling a range of seasonal fruit (currently cherries, strawberries and apricots) from his truck, which can be found at Huonville Esplanade, south of Hobart, or at various local markets in Tasmania. 

Pop by to pick up fruit, or enjoy an ice cream or ice-cream fruit sundae.

"A lot of supermarkets will not take ripe fruit, because they want everything to have a long shelf life, which can leave fruit growers in a bind," Driscall says. "I can access fruit direct from the growers and sell it the same day it is picked.

"I've found a lot of customers have been surprised at how good fruit that may be mis-shaped or slightly marked can taste if enjoyed straight away."

Driscall's days can vary, so call him on 0437 951 751 if you are in Tasmania and have a need for fresh fruit.           

 

How drinking red wine "might" help you beat Covid

Drinking wine could reduce the risk of Covid infection, a study in Britain has found.

The picture is less rosy for beer and cider drinkers, as the same study found they face a higher Covid infection risk compared with those who didn’t drink alcohol.

Details of the study conducted by UK Biobank were published by influential trade magazine Drinks Business.

The study, published in Frontiers of Nutrition, looked at the medical records of 473,957 people - tracking alcohol consumption and Covid infections throughout the course of the pandemic.

“Adverse effects of alcohol consumption have been widely documented," the survey found.

"The observed relationships between alcohol consumption and diseases are often non-linear, with low-to-moderate alcohol consumption being protective and heavy alcohol consumption being harmful.”

It found that compared with non-drinkers, the Covid-19 risk was 10–17% lower in red wine consumers, and 7-8% lower in white wine and Champagne drinkers.

Beer and cider drinkers were found to be at a 28% increased risk of Covid infection compared to those who didn’t drink at all.

Drinks Business reported that Polyphenols in red wine could be an influence.

Scientists noted that these have antioxidant properties and this would explain why red wine was found to represent the greatest fall in Covid infection risk.

“Studies have shown that wines exhibit beneficial properties which are independent of the presence of alcohol, and should be attributed to their polyphenolic contents,” the study says.

“Red wine provides additional benefits to other alcoholic beverages probably due to its higher polyphenolic content, by decreasing blood pressure, inhibiting the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein particles and other favourable effects on the cellular redox state, improving endothelial function, inhibiting platelet aggregation, reducing inflammation and cell adhesion, and activating proteins that prevent cell death.”

The authors noted in conclusion that: "“Our study suggests that subjects who usually consumed red wine and white wine and Champagne above guidelines, and sometimes consumed 1-2 glasses/week fortified within the guidelines appear to have chances to reduce the risk of Covid-19.”

Food (or wine) for thought. But all things in moderation.

 Image: Manu Saez, Scopio

Covid is no barrier to Lunar New Year fun

The people of Sydney won't let a pandemic prevent them from having a good time.

The City of Sydney is hosting Lunar Lanes - a one-off Sydney Lunar Festival event - in Haymarket this Saturday featuring roving performers, market stalls, DJs, lion dancers and a night-time concert.

The event will run from 5pm-10pm.

Lunar Lanes offers the first chance to see this year’s new crouching tiger lanterns, standing guard in Dixon Street Mall as part of the city's lunar lanterns display of the 12 zodiac animals.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the event is a terrific opportunity for Sydneysiders and visitors alike to come back and enjoy the city and Chinatown, the traditional heart of Sydney’s Lunar Festival celebrations.

“We launched this wonderful community celebration in 2020 and we’re looking forward to once again seeing people experiencing the cultural activities, entertainment and feasts on offer,” Moore said.

“Lunar Lanes is a wonderful way for people to enjoy the spirit of our 2022 Year of the Tiger celebrations.

“Creating outdoor opportunities for visitors and residents is an essential part of what we’re doing to support our local businesses through these challenging times, and we are doing everything we can to make this a safe event for everyone.

"Covid-19 safety plans will be in place for Lunar Lanes and all NSW Health regulations will be followed.

“People are keen to get out of the house and enjoy what Sydney has to offer, safely. By closing off streets, we’re creating extra space that will give people a safe way to support local businesses and re-engage with their community.

“Given the ongoing spread of the Omicron variant, people still need to exercise caution, follow health guidance and get vaccinated. When it comes to enjoying events like Lunar Lanes and our Summer Streets activations, we urge people attending to be vaccinated, wear a mask and practise safe distancing.”

Entertainment and activities at Lunar Lanes will include cultural performances by Sydney’s Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Taiwanese and Japanese communities on the main stage at Hay Street, lion dancers performing to the beat of accompanying drummers and 10-metre illuminated LED lion dance performance.

Street stalls will be set up for a carnival atmosphere and food trucks will be on site as well as local restaurants.

For more information on Sydney Lunar Festival events, entertainment, restaurant offerings and art installations, visit the City of Sydney’s What’s On website.

A new reason to take a trip to Woodend

Woodend is a small town in regional Victoria - a lovely spot for a day trip from Melbourne. 

Located halfway between Melbourne and Bendigo in the Macedon Ranges, the town of around 6,000 people has a new drawcard with the opening of The Rock and Wombat bar.

This stylish looking spot is showcasing premium local wines, spirits and brews.

 

The Rock and Wombat Bar is located in the landmark Victoria Hotel, helmed by innovator Emily Blades. 

The list features cocktails including Moscow Mules, French-style martinis and the specialty Victoria Cocktail. 

“It’s great to see so many people coming in,” said Blades. “We’ve only been open a few weeks, and already I’ve had people saying we’re their new 'go-to' spot.

 

“It’s been such a tough few years. Not just for venues but the local wineries, distilleries and breweries who rely on them. We really wanted to create a destination for people to immerse themselves in all the region has to offer.”

The dog-friendly Victoria Hotel has slaked the thirsts of locals since 1861.

 

The ‘Rock’ refers to the nearby Hanging Rock formation and The ‘Wombat’ to the furry natives that populate the region.

See www.thevictoriawoodend.com.au/

Mornington Peninsula wine pioneer mourned

Baillieu Myer

Baillieu Myer, the only surviving son of the founder of the Myer retailing dynasty Sidney Myer and a Mornington Peninsula wine pioneer, died over the weekend in the family home at Merricks, south-east of Melbourne. He was 96.

Myer and his wife Sarah established Elgee Park in 1955 and planted the vineyard 1972, leading the way for viticulture and winemaking on the Peninsula.

He was one of the founding members of the Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association in 1982, which brought the region together with a collective vision and focus on building a successful wine industry.In 2021 the Myers launched the Dr Allan Antcliff Viticulturist of the Year Award to celebrate the work of winegrowers across the region.

"We are going to miss Bails and his love for the Mornington Peninsula, his thoughtfulness and his humour, as well the contribution to the growth and success of Mornington Peninsula Wine," the MPVA said in a statement.

Myer was the owner and vigneron at Elgee Park.

He is survived by his wife Sarah and three children.

Cognac sales soar around the globe

Cognac is one of the drinks du jour with producers saying sales have never been stronger. 

Sales figures for 2021 suggest new grape plantings will be needed soon as the French region of Charente struggles to keep up with demand, the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac says. 

"The demand for Cognac has never been so strong in our markets," says Christophe Veral, president of the association. 

"Cognac remains marked by a very strong momentum," Veral said. "We are recording very good shipment results in 2021. 

"We end the year with an increase of +16.2% in volume and +30.9% in value compared to 2020. 

"This result in value stems from a relative growth of old qualities and a good valuation of Cognac on its buoyant markets. 

"Demand for Cognac has never been as strong on our markets as this year. Despite the uncertainties related to weather conditions, the 2021 harvest allows us to support the continuation of our growth, while all the available data lead us to be reasonably optimistic for the year 2022."

Figures show that 20 years ago the sector shipped 117 million bottles per year worldwide but 2021 figures were close to 230 million, Vitisphere reported. 

There are plans to exceed the milestone of 350 million bottles by 2035 as Cognac is increasingly used in high-end cocktails as well as a stand-alone drink. 

In other good news for Cognac, the Michelin Guide France will unveil its 2022 edition on March 22 from the Cognac region. 

"A benchmark of French excellence, and a global jewel in terms of spirits, Cognac and the Charente region will host the best of French gastronomy talent:" the association said in a statement. 

The BNIC was founded in 1946 to promote the drinks of the region. 

Taste the Hunter then take in the views

It is hard to match the panoramic views from Audrey Wilkinson winery in the Hunter Valley - and there are three accommodation options to choose from after your wine tasting and behind-the-scenes tour. 

The sandstone and timber building winery building includes a museum displaying a curated collection of original vats and wine and barrel-making equipment, and guests can enjoy either a tasting or tour, or both. 

There are three self-contained guest cottages on the property. 

Mulberry Cottage (above) is a spacious modern country house with three queen-sized bedrooms and one king-sized bedroom, all with their own en-suite bathrooms and can comfortably accommodate up to four couples or a large family. 

Oakdale Cottage is a three-bedroom guest house set high on the historic vineyard, while The Dairy Cottage is a two-bedroom, self-contained cottage featuring 360 degree views of the valley and the imposing Brokenback Ranges.

Visit Audrey Wilkinson for details or check out a range of winery experiences and accommodation at www.ultimatewineryexperiences.com.au/

Update: London Wine Fair forced to change dates

The London Wine Fair has announced new dates for its 2022 event, which will now run from June 7-19. 

The change comes after the event was blindsided by rival German wine trade fair ProWein. 

Many exhibitors were booked in for both events, which would have clashed. 

 “Our objective is simply to create the best outcome for the wine industry," said Hannah Tovey, event director of London Wine Fair. 

"Being forced to decide between the two events was proving extremely unpalatable and clearly being in two places at once simply isn’t possible. When we pitched the possibility of moving the Fair to June, the response from our exhibitors was a resounding 'yes'."

This was my earlier story: 

Along with the various VinExpo events and VinItaly, the London Wine Fair and ProWein are two of the major wine industry events of the year in Europe. 

So how, then, have the London Wine Fair and ProWein (above) ended up with a date clash? 

It would appear the organisers of ProWein are to blame. 

After two years of cancellations the German trade fair announced this week it had switched its dates from March 27-29 to May 15-17. 

The only problem is that the London event, which has run for 40 years, had already locked in May 16-18. 

ProWein director Bastian Mingers told Drinks Business the Dusseldorf event had selected “the only alternative date” - which seems a little lame. 

Blaming the move on the spread of the Omicron variant in Germany, Wolfram N. Diener, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf – the organisers of ProWein – said that both the fair’s “partners and associations involved” regard the early summer “as the ideal period”. 

London Wine Fair director Hannah Tovey told Drinks Business that she was “confused, bemused, and angry” at the date clash, describing the move as “an extremely aggressive assault on both the London Wine Fair and the UK drinks market.”

Exhibitors, including wine producers from around the world, will have to choose one fair over another, while buyers will be faced with a similar choice. 

ProWein is expected to return to its usual March schedule in 2023.

In the meantime, it appears that all is fair in love and wine. 

Dogs are valued guests at a Tasmanian beachfront hideaway

 

There is something special about sharing a holiday with the whole family - including furry friends. 

It is even more special when you are staying in a beach shack just 50 metres from the ocean, waking and falling asleep to the sound of the waves. 

For the past two days the three of us have been enjoying our own delightful beach shack right on the ocean on Tasmania's East Coast. 

That's my wife and I and dog Albi; who usually has to be left at home when we travel. 

Dog lovers living in, or visiting, Tasmania should jot down the name of Sandpiper Ocean Cottages, where well behaved dogs (sit Albi!) are not only allowed but welcome. 

Albi has raced up and down deserted Denison Beach (above), sat on an enclosed veranda overlooking the ocean and snuffled around the bush. And slept. A lot.

Sandpiper Ocean Cottages are located just 8km north of Bicheno on the East Coast of Tasmania right on Denison Beach, which is often completely deserted. 

You are a 30-minute drive to Freycinet National Park and iconic Wineglass Bay, while the Bay of Fires is an hour to the north. 

Set on four acres of coastal gardens, each cottage at Sandpiper is private, spacious and well equipped for a stay of however long you wish.

There are some lovely touches like tea, coffee, biscuits, breakfast provisions (including eggs from the family hens and local jam). 

There is also a mini bar with wines from McLean Bay (grapes grown just down the road) and Thorne Clark “Sandpiper”.

Think fully equipped kitchens, laundry facilities and decks on which to wile away the hours with a book. There are spacious lounge and dining areas, wood fires in most cabins and covered rear decks with gas barbecues.

A private trail takes you the two minutes down to the beach, where you can walk barefoot for miles on the white sands, swim safely or fish from the beach.

The two-bedroom cottages are called Sandpiper, Beachcomber and Driftwood and can sleep up to five people. 

Hanalei is wheelchair/elderly friendly with walk-in shower, ramp access and extra wide doors.

We stayed in Ocean View (below); modern, fully self-contained and designed for couples. There are views of the ocean and Albi made himself very much at home on a specially provided blanket on the couch. 

"We love dogs, as we have two of our own, and we want them to enjoy themselves just as much as their owners," say owners John and Annette Hughes. "A lot of he time we find dogs are better behaved than children." 

For those wanting a bit more space and seclusion, The Beach House is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with ocean views on 40 acres with its own beach access. It sleeps six people.

Now the nitty gritty. Sandpiper Cottages charges a flat $10 fee for each dog, and each cottage has its own gated deck. Pooches are welcome inside (though not on the beds) but are not allowed to roam free on the property due to the local wildlife. The beach, however, is a different matter. Seagulls beware.

Sandpiper Cottages have beach gear (chairs, umbrella, boogie boards) to share. Dusk and dawn bring out the local pademelons, quolls, devils, wombats and deer.

Just down the road the delightful holiday village of Bicheno has shops, community garden galleries, the "must visit" Farm Shed East Coast Wine and Gin Centre, Blue Edge Bakery, Food and Brew, the Sea Life Restaurant or the Beachfront pub.

Wander over the the Gulch (above) and enjoy fish and chips or crayfish from Tasmanian Coastal Seafoods or the Lobster Shack.

Take a glass-bottom boat ride or fish from the pier, take a Bicheno Penguin Tour or Devils in the Dark Tour. Or just explore the many coves and beaches.

There are several cellar doors close by: Pop into Freycinet Vineyard for a bottle of delicious dry riesling, Devil's Corner, Spring Vale, Gala Estate, Milton or Craigie Knowe, with its own on-site patisserie.

I've saved the best news for last. Low-season tariffs at Sandpiper Ocean Cottages start from just $170 per night. And if you stay for three nights or more, mention Gourmet on the Road and get a free bottle of wine. Deal!

Book direct on www.sandpipercottages.com.au/ for guaranteed best deals. See https://eastcoasttasmania.com/ for holiday ideas.

# The writer was a guest of Sandpiper Ocean Cottages and East Coast Tasmania but plans to return as a paying guest.

Americans and Europeans warned: Stay away from Australia

Oops. Despite assurances from Crime Minister Scott Morrison that everything is going "according to plan", the rest of the world is being told to stay away from Australia because Covid-19 is "rampant". 

From the Wall Street Journal to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, reports are encouraging potential visitors to stay away. 

"Australia Had Covid-19 Under Control- - Omicron Changed That," The Wall Street Journal reported this week, adding "frustration among citizens is mounting as test kits run low, vaccination programs stumble and labour shortages bite". 

Not the image Mr Morrison and his henchman Greg Hunt want for Australia globally. 

It may also have slipped under your radar that the US Government has told its residents to “avoid travel to Australia” after the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention upped rating of the Covid-19 levels globally. 

Australia joins a long list of nations deemed to have “level four: very high” levels of coronavirus by the CDC. 

“Because of the current situation in Australia, even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading Covid-19 variants,” the CDC website says. 

“Travellers should follow recommendations or requirements in Australia, including wearing a mask and staying 6 feet apart from others.”

Australia was one of 22 countries to be added to the “very high” levels of coronavirus list this week.

Authorities in Europe, meanwhile, have designated Australia, Canada and Argentina as Covid “danger zones,” advising member states to adopt tougher restrictions on arrivals such as new testing and/or isolation requirements, regardless of vaccination status. 

Belgium has placed Australia on its “red list”, meaning visitors must present a negative test less than 72 hours before departure and get a PCR test on the first and seventh day after arrival. 

Image: Michele Princigalli, Scop.io 

Cruise company in deep waters

With its parent company Genting Hong Kong in financial dire straits, luxury line Crystal Cruises is suspending operations.

The ocean cruise business will be initially suspended until April 29, with river cruise vessels laid up until the end of May, Travel Mole reported.

Genting Hong Kong this week announced it will wind up operations as cash reserves will soon run out and it has not been able to secure funds.

"This was an extremely difficult decision but a prudent one given the current business environment and recent developments with our parent company, Genting Hong Kong," said Jack Anderson, Crystal’s president.

"We look forward to welcoming back our guests when we resume our operations. We wish to thank our guests and travel advisors for their support during these ongoing challenging times."

Genting HK, which purchased Crystal Cruises in 2016, also owns Asia-based cruise brands Star Cruises and Dream Cruises.

"Suspending operations will provide Crystal’s management team with an opportunity to evaluate the current state of business and examine various options," Crystal said in a statement.

Crystal’s three ocean ships will complete their current sailings.

The company says it will will offer a full refund for bookings on cancelled cruises.

Update: The Crystal Symphony was this week re-routed to the Bahamas rather than Miami after an arrest warrant was issued in the US over unpaid fuel bills. 

Remote luxury for wine-loving tourists

Visitors to the Fleurieu Peninsula, one of South Australia's top wine and wilderness regions, will soon have a new accommodation option

ESCA will open in late April and is the first of a range of pod suites that will eventually be rolled out nationally.

The launch property, an ideal base for anyone wanting to explore the many wineries of McLaren Vale while staying in a remote location, contains two luxury stand-alone suites, self-contained and suitable for couples in the Inman Valley, just one hour from Adelaide between Victor Harbor and Yankalilla. 

The suites are architecturally designed and crafted to appeal to high-end tourists and are off-grid without compromising on luxury. They sit in a rural location on 200 acres with sweeping views.

Each 60sqm suite includes an al fresco area, separate stone outdoor terrace, open-plan kitchen, dining, lounge and bedroom with double-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Inman Valley to the Southern Ocean

Think automated blinds and energy-efficient design. 

Each suite will offer a selection of complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with a coffee pod machine and Italian percolator, provided with freshly ground coffee and recyclable pods, as well as a selection of teas.

There will be breakfast goodies and provisions for an aperitivo (sunset drinks and nibbles) as well as built-in outdoor barbecue, outdoor soaking bath, firepit and fully stocked firewood supply. 

The team behind ESCA, formerly known as Esacpod, features several Adelaide-based trailblazers in the tourism, architecture and construction industries, headed by Steve Kernaghan, who is ex Tourism Australia, Qantas, South Australian Tourism Commission, Journey Beyond, and Great Southern Rail. 

Further Clare Valley and Fleurieu locations are in the pipeline. 

Advance purchase rates start from $480 per night at esca.com.au