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Tuesday 19 March 2024

Well we can all dream, can't we?


Pondering where to stay on your next European trip if money was no object? 

That's what I was doing when a press release landed that certainly grabbed my attention. 

Casa Angelina, which sits high on the cliffs of Praiano on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, reopens for an extended European summer season from March 28 to November 4. 

It looks the goods, and has the right pedigree. 

A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Casa Angelina has announced a "Spring Revival Offer" to celebrate re-opening and new guest accommodation and experiences. 

I haven't stayed here, but they have good PR operatives and it certainly looks enticing. 

Casa Angelina’s Spring Revival Offer is available for a minimum two-night stay from March 28 until May 15 and represents a 10% discount across Romantic, Relaxing and Terrace categories and 15% discount across Deluxe Corner, Grand De Luxe and Suite categories.

Inclusions are full buffet breakfast for two people, a bottle of Casa Angelina Champagne and in-season fruit platter in room on arrival, plus a free upgrade to next room category on availability as well as early check-in/late check out on availability. 

This luxury doesn't come cheap. The lead-in rate is 750,00 plus + 10% VAT per night for two people. 

The summer accommodation options include new suite Vermarine, with sea views over Positano and Capri. 

This suite is part of an ongoing project to craft more spacious accommodation for Casa Angelina’s guests, reducing the total room inventory to 36 rooms and suites.

Coming soon is the property's second yacht, Lady Angelina. 

Designed in collaboration with local boat company Apreamare, it is billed as "a floating sanctuary tailored for those seeking a romantic escape along the breathtaking Amalfi Coast" 

In other news, executive chef Leopoldo Elefante from Un Piano Nel Cielo at Casa Angelina reopens having gained as Michelin star in the MICHELIN Guide Italy 2024. 

Chef-led classes, squid fishing and reservations at the finest restaurants both on and off property are available through the concierge. 

For more information visit www.casangelina.com. I'll be checking my Lotto numbers very carefully. 

Thais to turn from marijuana to gambling



Thailand flirted with marijuana and then did a quick reverse ferret.

Now the Asian tourism hostpot is considering allowing casinos to boost international tourism.

The Thai government is considering legalising casinos to draw investment and tourism, a study submitted to the House of Representative has shown, but previous proposals have failed because of unease among the public, the Bangkok Post reports.

State-sanctioned horse race betting is currently the only gambling officially sanctioned, but insiders believe Thailand could rival the world's biggest gambling hub, Macau: the only place in China where citizens can legally gamble in casinos.

Many travel industry leaders believe legal casino resort gambling would be a major attraction for overseas tourists, and successful, even if it remained illegal or heavily restricted to Thai citizens.

Legalisation of gambling has been discussed in the past but no government has gone ahead due to public opposition. In a 2021 opinion poll, 46.51% opposed legalised gambling due to moral and crime concerns. Only 21.25% supported the idea.

The previous parliament approved a similar study last year but the house was dissolved before the cabinet could consider it.


Monday 18 March 2024

The vigneron with the Midas touch

Meet Jean-Claude Mas, the wine marketing genius who parlayed one small family vineyard into a wine empire with a global reach. 

Mas created his tongue-in-cheek alter ego, The Arrogant Frog, to spearhead growth that now sees Domaines Paul Mas control over 20 domains across the south of France. 

Mas once dreamed of being a big wheel in the motor racing industry - and will be in Australia for this week's Grand Prix in Melbourne.

But he also has wine in his DNA, and has made a huge impact since taking over that small Languedoc vineyard from his father a quarter of a century ago. 

Multilingual and technically minded, Mas first created a brand that struck a chord with casual drinkers around the globe. 

The Arrogant Frog - featuring wines that offer spectacular value - started as a light-hearted piss-take on a standard French stereotype but has blossomed into a huge business selling millions of cases of wine worldwide

The self-deprecating Arrogant Frog wines became a worldwide hit and helped boost the image of wines from the Languedoc. 

Mas now owns around 20 domaines around the south of France (at the latest count), has launched premium wine brands, is dabbing in biodynamics and has planted disease resistance grape varieties under his new "La Resistance" label.

As part of an eco-minded philosophy "the use of chemicals has been banned from our vineyards", Mas is using grape varieties like souvignier gris and floréal as part of a program to future proof the the industry with disease-resistant hybrid varieties.

Under Mas, Domaines Paul Mas has undertaken a 10-year project working with disease resistant hybrids that are genetically disposed to withstand issues like oidium and mildew in the vineyards.

Hybrid varieties are the product of European vines (vitis vinifera) crossed with hardy American vines, producing grapes which are significantly more resistant to disease. This means less spraying of copper sulphite fungicides on the vines, in turn reducing their carbon footprint.

“The varieties we’ve planted we need to spray only once,” Mas says.

“The project is about developing self-immunity with the vines - by having a clever approach and respectful approach in our vineyards we have managed to get the vines more resistant themselves."

While Mas is organic focused, he is also a master of reading the market.

If you want a bottle of wine between $12 and $100 there is almost certainly something in one of the Mas ranges to meet your needs.

He's a man who never sits still, is obsessed with quality and still has big plans.   

At school and later at university, he studied economics and advertising, hence his savvy business approach, which includes a distribution deal with Dan Murphy's in Australia. 

He lived in England and the US before returning home to make his first wine in France in 1995. He founded Domaines Paul Mas in 2000 - and has been on an upward trajectory ever since. 

Look for names including Chateau de Cres Richard (Terrases de Larzac), Chateau Martinolles (Limoux), Domaine de la Ferrandiere (Languedoc) and his showpiece wines under the Astellia label, named after the first names of his four daughters: Astrid, Elisa, Apolline and Estelle. 

All the standout Astellia wines are farmed organically according to biodynamic principles.   

Nowadays he is described as "a pioneer from the New Languedoc" and part of the "new wave" of producers from a region where wine production goes back more than 2000 years.

Recognising Occitanie has many microclimates, soils and growing conditions, he started to produce a wide range of wines in sufficient quantity to supply overseas markets. 

From Chateau Martinolles in the cool hills of Limoux, where bottle-fermented sparkling wines are crafted, to Domaine Ferrandière planted on old saltwater marshes close to Carcassonne, each estate produces its own wine, in its own vinery and matured in its own cellars.


But as well as owning many estates stretching from Nimes to the south of Perpignan, he is also the largest purchaser of grapes across the region, utilising over 50 varieties in total.

Mas has repeatedly created more labels, expanded the range of grape varieties and promoted the wines of the Languedoc to the world.

And he also has big plans in the pipeline with more small-batch high-end releases, as well as a plan for a Languedoc take on wines like Penfolds Grange; a blend of grapes from right across the south of France reflecting the best of each vintage, regardless of site. 

Stay tuned. 

Meet two wines crafted by an AI bot

 


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Can an AI bot make a better wine than seasoned winemaking professionals? 

That was a question posed at the recent ProWein trade event in Dusseldorf, Germany, where wine professionals were asked to taste a red wine and a white wine made by the Chelaris bot. 

The product of a collaboration between Moldovan winemakers, tech professionals and marketers, the two wines were presented for the first time at the Wine of Moldova stand.

The unveiling was part of a masterclass led by consultant Robert Joseph at which attendees were given a potential glimpse into the future of oenology - and the fusion of human and artificial intelligence. 

Participants invited to cast a vote after comparing the AI wines to their man-made equivalents. 

The audience were surprised to learn that the preferred white wine, a blend of feteasca alb, feteasca regala and viorica grapes had been made and blended under instruction from the bot.

The two AI wines were also packaged using AI-generated labels. 

“Moldova has proved it has not only terroir and traditions but also a vibrant wine sector that embraces innovative technologies," said Joseph."It is becoming a leading wine nation.” 

The innovative project was headed in collaboration with the National Office of Vine and Wine (ONVV), using sophisticated algorithms to support human decisions when planning - and executing - every aspect of the production process: harvesting, vinification, blending, labelling, and communication. 

Diana Lazăr, AI Wine project lead, said: “Additional content for this project, including the marketing materials, were generated with the support and guidance of AI tools.” 

Chelaris is described as "an AI meta human winemaker used to personify the technology behind the groundbreaking artificial intelligence". 

Wine of Moldova is the national brand of Moldovan wines, representing a diverse range of wine styles and producers. For more information, visit www.wineofmoldova.com.

Sunday 17 March 2024

A new Abode for visitors to Canberra

 

Abode Hotels has unveiled somewhere new to stay in the Australian capital of Canberra.

Abode Phillip will be the ninth accommodation option in the Abode portfolio.

With 54 self-contained apartment-style rooms, Abode Phillip accommodation is equipped with modern amenities including kitchenette facilities, a washer/dryer, and STAYCAST streaming.

Located just "a stone's throw" away from major shopping and dining precincts, entertainment venues, parks, and public transport hubs, Abode Phillip is billed as being suitable both leisure and business travellers.

"We are thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of Abode Phillip," said Brett Walker, general manager of Iconic Hotels by Geocon.

"Our aim is to provide our guests with a comfortable and convenient home away from home, offering a blend of modern amenities and prime location."

Bookings are now open for stays starting Friday, June 7. See https://abodehotels.com.au/hotels/phillip/.

Adelaide Hills icon springs back to life



It is all change in the Adelaide Hills with a major revamp of the former Maximilian’s site.

Leading chef Kane Pollard and artisan distiller Full Circle Spirits are the new guardians of the iconic 1850s property at Verdun with a tasting experience showcasing luxury spirits paired with food offerings in a setting with vineyards, gardens and sweeping views.

Initially, four tastings are being offered including a white spirit tasting; liqueur tasting; whisky tasting; and a non-alcoholic tasting.

All the drinks are made by Full Circle Spirits, which has winemaker Rose Kentish as its award-winning head distiller.

Chef Pollard, who is also the chef and owner of Topiary and Tasting Australia’s 2024 food curator, will showcase guests to a small-plate menu which has been inspired by the property, its surroundings and the seasons.

To be known as Ondeen, the new project aims t give visitors an appreciation of the journey of flavours from farm to table.

So think produce from local growers, botanicals foraged from nearby gardens or forests to use in spirits, or wild fennel and river mint enlivening a plate.

The initial offering of tasting plates to complement Full Circle Spirits will be housed in a newly renovated part of the homestead, which is just 25 minutes from the Adelaide CBD. 

This is part of longer-term plan to turn this heritage site into an experiential destination.

“Visiting Ondeen will be an immersive learning experience for guests, who will be given a close-up
view of makers, whether they’re in the kitchen or distiller’s apothecary,” Kentish says.

“In tastings and workshops, visitors will be guided to use their senses to recognise flavours and aromas, and in some, they will be able to create their own cocktails using spirits such as Full Circle’s Honey Malt Liqueur or Orange and Bay Gin.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming guests and encouraging them through aroma and flavour to
explore the abundance and beauty of the 35 th Parallel South. Stop in for a drink with friends, or stay 
a while and enjoy a guided tasting or a deep dive masterclass.”

Ondeen will act as a lighthouse for local producers and artisans, says Pollard. 

“This will be sustainable, personalised tourism that sits in harmony for and within the local landscape and community.”

See https://www.fullcirclespirits.com.au/cellar-door