Flyers warned to prepare for Christmas strikes

Hand baggage only might be the best policy for Australians planning to fly this festive season.

Baggage handlers have overwhelmingly voted to take strike action which could potentially disrupt Christmas travel plans, news portal Travel Mole reports. 

About 1,000 Dnata employees in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia have voted for industrial action.

This is the second time workers have rejected Dnata’s pay offer, which is tied to job security and a change in rostering arrangements. 

“Wages for workers getting Qantas planes off the ground have been slashed and suppressed,” the Transport Workers Union (TWU) said.

Dnata provides baggage handling for airlines at airports in Australia and worldwide.

Workers are demanding better rostering and pay.

The union is due for further talks with Dnata.

“Dnata ground workers are, like many in aviation, struggling to stay in this industry under the current pay rates and conditions,” TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said.

“Dnata must come back to the table with a fair offer.”

But the contract company remains defiant. 

“Should an industrial action go ahead, our robust contingency plans will help us minimise any impact,” Dnata said.

Ground handlers at Dnata have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action after twice rejecting a pay deal.

The TWU says 98% of workers supported the protected industrial action ballot.

The union has previously accused the UAE-based airport services provider, whose customers include Qantas, Emirates, Etihad and Singapore Airlines, of “refusing decent improvements on rostering, job security and pay”.

Tamar Ridge releases new super-premium pinot

Leading Tasmanian wine producer Tamar Ridge has launched a new super-premium flagship pinot noir in time for the festive season. 

The 2022 Grand Assemblage is described as the best red wine Tamar Ridge has made and is a blend of seven parcels selected from over 100 barrels by winemaker Tom Wallace. 

"With Grand Assemblage, we wanted to create a pinot noir that truly showcases the pinnacle of what we can achieve at Tamar Ridge," Wallace says. 

"It's a wine that reflects our deep understanding of this variety, our commitment to meticulous vineyard management and winemaking techniques, and the unique character of our Tasmanian environment.” 

Wallace talks of "alluring aromas of wild strawberries, bright red fruits and subtle spice". 

"This wine is an absolute joy to experience," he says. "The aromatics are captivating, and the palate is a beautiful dance of fruit, spice and earthy complexity. It's a wine that will reward those who take the time to savour it, revealing new layers of flavour and nuance with every sip.” 

The 2022 Grand Assemblage Pinot Noir is available now for $180 per bottle exclusively from the Tamar Ridge cellar door or online at tamarridge.com.au.

It is one of the most expensive still wines made in Tasmania, a list that is headed by Glaetzer-Dixon's limited-release La Judith wines at $220 a bottle. 

A fun festival with a sustainability message

If you like your festivals small and quirky the Tasmania’s ECHO festival should be on your radar.

ECHO, the brainchild of singer and entrepenueur Ange Boxall, combines of activities and experiences in a rural setting on Tasmania's east coast.

The festival, officially launched yesterday, will run from March 14-16 next year, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a celebration of music, local produce, sustainability, creativity, and the natural world.

The festival’s Friday evening signature event: Native Bounty Feast (above) will again showcase Tasmanian produce, this time incorporating elements inspired by the tides.

ECHO Festival is renowned for its hands-on workshops and artisanal demonstrations, and the main day on Saturday will see guests involved with traditional craftsmanship, such as blacksmithing in the on-site 200-year-old forge, where they’ll create unique anchor wall hooks.

Woodworking enthusiasts can craft a boat paddle-shaped spatula from Tasmania’s legendary Huon Pine.

Festivalgoers will also have the chance to explore their creative side at the Writer’s Corner with acclaimed Tasmanian author Robbie Arnott, and dive into the world of bees and pollinators with a special Bee & Honey Workshop hosted by Wild Hives Honey.

Additionally, the festival will feature seaweed activations, highlighting the ecological importance of these coastal organisms.

Throughout the event there will be live music performances and attendees can also enjoy gin, wine, and whisky masterclasses, led by top distillers and producers.

The Trashions on The Field fashion parade, where participants showcase outfits made from recycled materials, will return for another year.

For food lovers, the Farmers Corner will feature a selection of local producers offering fresh Tasmanian products.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.echofestival.com.au.

Images: Dearna Bond

New Zealand wine innovator dies

New Zealand winner innovator Peter Yealands has died at the age of 76.

"It's with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our founder, Peter Yealands," Yealands Wines announced.

"After decades of groundbreaking work and a life dedicated to innovation, Peter leaves a legacy of bold thinking and environmental stewardship. His incredible career spanned construction, engineering, marine farming, agriculture, forestry, and viticulture."

It added: "Peter will be deeply missed, and we’ll continue to be guided by his motto 'Think Boldy, Tread Lightly, and never say it can't be done' in everything we do at Yealands."

I visited Yealands in Marlborough several years ago. He was a force of nature; proud of the use of baby doll sheep in the vineyards, and the use of music to encourage the vines to produce quality grapes.

Yealands, a self-made man who left school at 14, died in Blenheim over the weekend. No cause of death was given.

The winery said: "His curiosity and drive lead him to run many successful businesses in the construction, engineering, forestry, marine farming, agriculture and viticulture sectors.

"Over his extensive career, achievements included obtaining New Zealand’s first marine farming license and pioneering the development of mussel farming in the Marlborough Sounds, setting up Kaiuma Deer Estate, and designing ship buoys and life rafts for the maritime industry.

"In 1998 Peter developed his first vineyard in the Wairau Valley. Two years later, he purchased a block of land in the Awatere Valley and started developing the Yealands Seaview Vineyard.

"At the time, Seaview’s landscape of rugged, undulating terrain and wild coastal winds was considered unsuitable for grape growing, but Peter saw otherwise. 

"In the following years, Peter continued to purchase adjacent farmland to establish what is now one of New Zealand’s largest and most coastal single vineyard sites."

Yealands Estate Winery officially opened for business in 2008 - with a focus on sustainability but Yealands retired in 2018 when the business was taken over Marlbourough Lines.

Yealands Wine Group interim CEO Liam Kelly said: “While Peter hadn’t been involved with Yealands for some time, his legacy lives on in the business built through his inspiring vision and relentless determination.

"A number of our team members worked closely with Peter and still talk fondly about him. We extend our condolences to the family."

Glasses of rosé at $6 make for a very happy hour or two

So your budget is tight, but you still fancy a pre-Christmas treat?

Sydney folk can check out the new Six Til 6 offering at French-accented Armorica in Surry Hills - a happy hour that features $6 glasses of the Dominique Portet Fontaine Rosé along with some budget-priced snacks.

Running from 4-6pm daily, the Six Til 6 also showcases charcuterie items starting from just $6.

The happy hour is billed as "the perfect opportunity for after-work catch-ups, pre-dinner drinks, or simply indulging French style because… why not?"

Armorica, named after an ancient region in what is now France, is a French-style brasserie on Crown Street. 

See https://www.armorica.com.au/ 

Rising star winemaker gets new gig

Rising winemaking star Nicole Brasier has been appointed senior winemaker at historic Langhorne Creek producer Bleasdale.

Brasier, who joins after two years working for Accolade Wines at Tintara in McLaren Vale, will be working with winemaker Sam Rowlands (the pair is pictured above) as Bleasdale undergoes a changing of the guard.

There has been recent turnover at Bleasdale with Paul Hotker exiting earlier this year to work as a consultant, and Matt Laube stepping down to work on other projects. Laube will work with Brasier over the changeover. 

Brasier has over 10 years of experience and a degree in winemaking and viticulture.

She has worked with premium fruit from regions including the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, the Hunter Valley, Tumbarumba, Margaret River, Tasmania and Coonawarra inclding stints at Fourth Wave Wines and at Margan Wines.

Brasier has been a judge on the show circuit and recently completed the coveted Len Evans Tutorial.

Sustainability in the wine industry is also one of her passions.

She will be working closely with Bleasdale’s viticulturist and grower liaison officer, Sarah Keough, the Nuffield Australia 2020 Scholarship winner, who is actively involved in the EcoVineyards projects.

It has been a busy time at Bleasdale with wine industry veteran Iain Riggs AM last week named as the new Chair.   

Budget flights between Sydney and Bangkok resume

Budget airline Thai AirAsia X has resumed direct flight services to and from Sydney, Australia, operating from its main hub in Bangkok at Don Mueang International Airport.

The inaugural flight from Bangkok took off on Friday last week and returned from Sydney on Sunday.

The revived Bangkok-Sydney service offers a total of six weekly flights.

The new route launch makes Thai AirAsia X the only low-cost airline providing direct services from Bangkok-Don Mueang to Sydney, offering connections for passengers traveling from Sydney to a range of destinations across the AirAsia Group network.

These include favourite destinations among Australian travellers such as Krabi, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, as well as popular international destinations including Japan, South Korea, India, China and more.

“The return of Thai AirAsia X to Sydney comes along with an enhanced flight network within the AirAsia Group that will give travellers the much sought-after convenience and seamlessness," said Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia X.

"Guests from Australia will also find the flight schedules between Sydney and Bangkok very favourable and they can choose from six flights per week. As a show of appreciation to our valued guests, we are also introducing a new meal set exclusively for our Premium Flatbed guests.

“Operating from Don Mueang greatly enhances connectivity with AirAsia Group’s extensive network, particularly to destinations in India, where there is a strong and growing demand for travel to Australia.

"Our Fly Thru service also provides a hassle-free experience, allowing guests to travel seamlessly as they only need to clear immigration and collect their luggage at their final destination.”

Thai AirAsia X currently operates a fleet of 10 Airbus A330 aircraft with three seating zones - Premium Flatbed, quiet zone and economy.

The airline now serves eight key destinations from Bangkok, with direct flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Nagoya (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), Shanghai (China), Sydney (Australia) and New Delhi (India).

Meet an airport hotel with a room style for everyone

It is the time of the year when family groups travel together.

There may be young children who need an eye kept on them, or more elderly family members who appreciate being close.

The Moxy Sydney Airport Hotel, which recently celebrated its first birthday, has room configurations that fit just about any family need, along with a location with visibility along both Joyce and Qantas Drive. It offers easy connectivity to the Sydney CBD.

Along with 301 rooms it also houses Moxy Kitchen, Moxy Bar, Little Baxter Café, meeting rooms, a fitness centre, and a guest laundry. 

I've stayed at Moxy properties before - they usually have a fun vibe - and will be checking this one out in the new year. 

There are several different room types, including:

Moxy Queen Sleeper – 228 Rooms
Queen bed, bathroom, AC, safe, wifi, tea & coffee
Airport runway or city views – 18 sqm

MOXY Twin Sleeper – 51 Rooms
Two double beds, bathroom, AC, Safe, wifi, tea & coffee
Airport runway or city views – 20 sqm

MOXY LOFT Airport – 9 rooms
One queen and one single king bed, bathroom, mini fridge, AC, safe, wifi, tea & coffee
Airport runway or city views – 21 sqm

MOXY QUAD BUNKS – 8 Rooms
Four king single beds, bathroom, mini-fridge, AC, safe, wifi, tea & coffee. 

 Airport runway or city views - 21 sqm

MOXY KING SLEEPER – 5 Rooms
King bed, bathroom, mini fridge, AC, safe, wifi, tea & coffee.
Airport runway or city views 39 sqm

MOXY FAMILY ROOM – 5 Rooms
Two queen beds + 1 single king bed, two bathrooms, AC, one mini-fridge, safe, wifi, tea & coffee. Airport runway & city views

MOXY Family Bunkhouse – 4 rooms
Queen bed + four single bunk beds, two bathrooms, AC, one mini-fridge, safe, wifi, tea & coffee. Airport runway and city views.

For details see www.moxysydneyairport.com

On the right track: Vietnam plots a railway revolution

Clunking through rural Vietnam on a slow-moving long distance train may soon be a thing of the past - although probably not soon enough.

I recently spent a whole lot of hours each way on a vey slow train from Hanoi to Hue, and then from Danang back to Hanoi.

I was in a four-berth sleeper cabin and it was an adventure, but not one I'd repeat in a hurry.

While the cabins have been tarted up, they are claustrophobic and the rolling stock rattles and clunks its way up and down the country. How fun your journey is might well depend on who your travelling companions are. Pot luck.

The various classes of travel on Vietnamese trains are soft sleepers, hard sleepers, soft seats, and hard seats, with soft sleepers as the most expensive.

Most tourists opt to journey in a soft sleeper because each berth has a pillow, sheet, a soft quilt, and a personal reading lamp. There are power points - and even wifi most of the time. Snacks are provided and you can buy food from vendors who roam up and down the carriages,

You need to stay on the lower berths in the daytime - and need the agility of a gymnast to scale an upper berth. Make sure to book a lower berth!

But now two sections of Vietnam's north-south high-speed railway - to connect Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City - are slated to begin construction in late 2027, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Vietnam's parliament this week approved a resolution supporting the $67 billion high-speed rail project.

The railway, Vietnam's most ambitious infrastructure project, will eventually run all the way from the capital Hanoi to the southern business hub of Ho Chi Minh City. The 1,541-km (958-mile) project is expected to be completed in 2035.

The Hanoi-Vinh and Nha Trang-HCMC sections will break ground in late 2027, and construction of the Vinh-Nha Trang segment is scheduled to start between 2028 and 2029.

The proposed railway is designed to support trains travelling at 350kph.

Ticket prices will be offered in three tiers, depending on the service class.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has suggested extending the line beyond its current endpoints to include the northern province of Quang Ninh, home to UNESCO heritage site Ha Long Bay, and to the southernmost province of Ca Mau.

It can't come a moment too soon.

Proposed new airport could transform tourism in Bali

The north of Bali remains largely undisturbed by the mass tourism that clogs the southern half of the Indonesian holiday island.

But that might be about to change with construction scheduled to begin in 2027 of the proposed North Bali International Airport.

NBIA will be Indonesia's second-largest airport. To be built on reclaimed sea land, it will comprise two parts: the Aerotropilis complex and the airport itself.

The latter will consist of a main terminal and three boarding satellites and will have two parallel runways, a heliport and a seaport. The site will also include a cargo terminal and maintenance area.

Indonesia’s Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir, spoken to the media this week about how the plans for the major new international airport are rapidly coming together, the Bali Sun reported.

He is anticipating construction to start by 2027 as capacity at the current I Gusti Ngurah Rai International in the south of the island is close to being reached.

'There needs to be a plan to start construction in 2027," he said. "[We can’t] say, ‘oh, it’s still a long time until [we reach] 32 million.'

“[If] we just [begin thinking] to start construction in 2029, it would be too late.”

The Minister echoed President Prabowo Subianto’s comments that the airport would be on par with Hong Kong and Singapore in terms of modern facilities.

The complex will ultimately see a whole new city built at Kubutambahan,in Buleleng Regency, on the far north coast of Bali.

During its first phase of development, the North Bali International Airport will be able to support 32 million passengers annually, with a maximum capacity of over 50 million to be available by completion.

Image: The proposed North Bali International Airport: KUNKUN Visual.

Brisbane gets a distillery with a difference

Lovers of free spirits - and artisan spirits - in Brisbane have a new venue to put on their radar: BY.ARTISANS. 

It sounds like they are shouting, but BY.ARTISANS is billed as a distillery and creative retreat in the inner suburb of West End. 

Opened this week, the Jane Street space is home to tasting rooms, a bar, café, event space, opportunities for interactive workshops and experiences and a retail space with local products.

Co-founder Ginn Lai said BY.ARTISANS was born to bring together brands, artists and creators to craft world-class, Queensland-made products.

“The name BY.ARTISANS reflects our commitment to craftsmanship, shining a light on the artistry and dedication behind every creation,” Lai said.

“There are no shortcuts - each product is hand-made in small batches with carefully sourced ingredients and a focus on quality.”

The opening of the flagship space coincided with the launch of an inaugural product, BY.ARTISANS Signature Gin. 

Co-founder and distiller Alexander Bell said the Signature Gin blended the native botanicals of lemon myrtle, cinnamon myrtle, lavender, wattle seed and the refreshing minty note of eucalyptus, capturing the essence of Australia’s landscape.

Bell, a chemical engineer, designed BY.ARTISANS’ still to use considerably less energy and fewer resources, making the distillery one of the nation’s most energy-efficient.

“This is a first-of-its-kind distillation system, capable of producing not only spirits but also a diverse range of essential oils and hydrosols from local botanicals,” Bell said. 

“What sets our distillery apart is its versatility. We use the same equipment to produce spirits of exceptional quality as we do to craft lifestyle products such as bespoke soaps, candles and natural dye merchandise - all while minimising our energy and resource use.”

BY.ARTISANS Signature Gin’s white bottle (above) is designed by co-founder and brand director Alexander Lotersztain. 

The bottle’s silicone sleeve, custom silicone cap and modern, minimalist white design aim to showcase artistry and collaboration.

“This is a blank canvas because we want this aesthetic to encourage community collaborations," Lotersztain said. 

"There are already strategic partnerships in the works with artists we admire, but we also want to support the undiscovered so would love to hear from emerging local artists too.” 

BY.ARTISANS is at 99 Jane Street, West End. See byartisans.com.au

Images: Florian Groehn