A luxe Hunter destination with room for 24 people

Looking for somewhere special to stay to keep a large group entertained in the Hunter Valley?

How about a property on 25 private acres with 12 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms that is capable of sleeping 24 people? 

Hunter Valley Stays has just unveiled new look Lovedale Manor in the heart of the Hunter wine tourism zone. 

The original cottage at the property has been joined by a new residence that is promoted as being "designed for bringing everyone together in extraordinary style".

Think soaring ceilings, well-appointed interiors, plenty of living spaces and room to celebrate or relax. 

There's a pool (top image) for chilling out after some wine tasting. And a billiards table.   

Lovedale Manor is being promoted as being perfect for milestone birthdays, wedding guest accommodation, family gatherings and grand occasions.

To celebrate the launch, guests who book for two nights are being offered a third night free - as well as being gifted a case of Hunter Valley wine on arrival. 

Contact the reservations team on 0477 010 010 or see https://www.huntervalleystays.com.au/hunter-valley-accommodation/lovedale-manor-12-bedrooms-lovedale/

Dunedin to get a new internationally branded hotel

Dunedin is get a a new internationally branded hotel - in a familiar location.

Marriott International has signed a Franchise Agreement with CP Group to bring Fable Dunedin into Marriott’s Autograph Collection.

Fable Dunedin, Autograph Collection is expected to be integrated into Marriott’s global distribution platforms from next month.

The hotel has previously been known as Wains and was once a Mercure.

The signing will mark Marriott’s debut in the Otago city and builds on the company’s continued expansion across New Zealand with CP Group.

It follows the recent announcement of three new property signings in September 2026: Marriott Rotorua and Autograph Collection hotels in Wellington and Auckland, as well as St. Regis Queenstown, currently in development.



"Within a few short years, we will have grown our presence in New Zealand from a single property in Auckland in 2022, to a network of 10 expected hotels spanning Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, Rotorua and now Dunedin”, said Richard Crawford, regional vice president for hotel development.

Fable Dunedin is a five-star hotel offering 50 guest rooms and suites, alongside The Press Club, its on-site restaurant and bar.

Originally built as the Wains Hotel in 1862, the property was renovated in 2021.

A new place to stay in Auckland for those on a budget

 

Looking for a place to stay in central Auckland that won't bust your budget? 

Accor has announced the debut of the greet brand in New Zealand with the opening of greet Hotel Auckland Off Queen.

Located in the heart of Auckland's CBD, the 82-room greet hotel Auckland Off Queen marks the brand's first property in New Zealand.

Formerly known as Ascotia Off Queen, it is situated just a short walk from Myers Park and within easy reach of the city's dining, shopping, entertainment and business districts. The promo material says the hotel offers a "convenient and affordable base" for travellers exploring Auckland.

Launched in 2019 in Beaune, France, the greet brand is built on the belief that feeling good shouldn't cost a fortune. 

With affordability and convenience at its core, the brand champions "a fresh and forward-looking approach to hospitality, focusing on meaningful essentials, positive hospitality and eclectic personality", I am reliably informed.

From comfortable beds and great showers to tasty breakfasts, reliable wifi and friendly service, greet delivers straightforward and satisfying stays that are big on personality and low on budget, the promotional material says.

Adrian Williams, Chief Operating Officer of Accor in the Pacific region, is fired up. 

“We're so excited to introduce greet to New Zealand, bringing a fresh approach to affordable hospitality to the Auckland market," he says. 

"At greet, the philosophy is simple: feeling good shouldn't cost a fortune. The brand focuses on the things travellers value most - comfortable rooms, a great night's sleep, friendly service and genuine value for money. 

"It's about doing the meaningful essentials well, while bringing a sense of personality and positivity to every stay. 

"As we continue to expand Accor's presence across New Zealand, we're pleased to introduce another distinctive brand that responds to evolving traveller expectations.”

Partnering with Accor for his second hotel alongside the neighbouring Mercure Auckland Queen Street, with both properties operated by independent management company 1834 Hotels, owner Dr Bryan Ngoi said: 

“We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Accor and introduce greet to New Zealand for the first time. greet offers a compelling proposition for today's travellers, combining affordability, comfort and personality with the strength of Accor's global distribution capabilities. 

"The brand's flexible conversion model provides an exciting opportunity to give our established property a new lease of life, while continuing to enhance the guest experience. We look forward to welcoming guests to greet Hotel Auckland Off Queen and bringing the brand's feel-good approach to hospitality to the heart of Auckland.”

Since opening its first hotel in 2019, greet's footprint has grown to more than 45 hotels and 3,300 rooms, with an established presence in European markets including France, Germany, Austria and Belgium.

Further development is planned across Europe and Asia-Pacific, including Australia, Thailand, Greece, Spain and Poland. 

To celebrate its opening, greet Hotel Auckland Off Queen is offering room rates from $115 per night. Bookings are available via ALL.com.

Rioja producers have more wine than they can sell

Like Australia, France and many other major wine producers, Spanish region Rioja has too much fruit.

Rioja is set to produce 30 million litres of excess wine this year, say union bosses, despite strident efforts to cut oversupply, news hub the drinks business reports. 

Some vines have been pulled but Rioja has been battling an oversupply of wine for several years. 

“We are on the right path, but it is not enough,” José Luis Lapuente, general manager of the Consejo Regulador de la DOCa Rioja, told the drinks business in 2025.

Despite the DOCa’s efforts, Eduardo Pérez Hoces, president of the Rioja Association of Farmers and Livestock Breeders (ARAG) says the region is expected to produce far too much wine.

“We’re going to have almost 250m litres of wine, with sales of only 220m,” Pérez Hoces told Spanish newspaper La Rioja this week. “That means we’ll have almost 30m litres of excess supply, which will put downward pressure on prices again, even though it hasn’t been a particularly productive year.”

Compounding the situation is the fact that little 2026 wine is able to be released immediately, with much of it bound by the region’s strict ageing classifications – Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva etc. – which require years spent in barrel and bottle.

Are small wine bottles making a comeback?

As Australians drink more moderately, are small format wine bottles set to make a comeback?

The Calabria Family is looking beyond traditional formats with the launch o fits Belene Minis, a new 200ml range designed to offer consumers greater convenience and choice in how they enjoy wine.

Arriving on wine store shelves nationally from January 2027, the Belena Minis will be available in Pinot Grigio, Moscato and Rosé.

The launch builds on the Belena brand's strong growth, with domestic sales up 20.9% despite a declining Australian wine market.

Launched in 2021, the label now ranks #25 in the Australian $15+ wine segment.

The Belena Minis further diversify the brands existing portfolio, which spans a 750mL wine range, ready to enjoy spritzes and personalised bottles.

“There’s no question it’s a challenging time for the Australian wine industry, which makes innovation

and staying relevant to today’s consumers more important than ever,” said Andrew Calabria, sales and marketing director at Calabria Family Wine Group.

“Belena has always done things a little differently, and the Minis are a natural extension of that.

They give consumers more choice in how and when they enjoy wine, while opening up new

occasions for the category.

“Wine has traditionally been built around established formats and occasions, but there is an

opportunity to think more broadly about where it fits. 

“For us, innovation isn’t about changing wine for the sake of it. It’s about understanding how people are living and creating products and experiences that give them more choice."

The Belena 200ml range will be available from select major and independent retailers nationally.

See www.calabriawines.com.au

Fancy joining celebrity chef Massimo Mele for a messy day?

Tasmanian celebrity chef Massimo Mele is inviting home cooks to join him for a day of crafting passata.

The former Peppina executive chef and TV personality is bringing his "Tutti a Tavola" catchphrase to life next April.

"That phrase has guided my cooking for years, and it started long before any restaurant," Mele says on his social media pages. 

"I was born in Hobart but spent my first years in Italy, and some of my clearest memories are of tomato season: the whole family gathered, everyone with a job, turning the harvest into jars of passata to last the year.

"It was never only about the food. It was about passing skills down, respecting what the land gives you, and above all, being together. That kind of time is something I think we all need and crave right now.

"That's the thinking behind Passata Day, a new experience at The Chef's Garden.

"Guests will spend a day in my garden making passata the traditional way, then sit down to a long lunch cooked from produce picked that morning. Small group, hands on, no shortcuts.

"[It will be] a full day in my garden turning ripe tomatoes into jars of passata the old way, by hand, with plenty of laughs.

"As our industry moves faster every year, people are hungry for something authentic knowing where their food comes from, making something with their own hands, and sharing a table with others."

Bookings open soon, so be quick. You can sign up to the chef's newsletter at: https://www.massimomele.com/#subscribe-col