Paris express train finally on track

Paris is finally to get an express rail link between the city and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. 

The long-awaited CDG Express rail service connecting central Paris to the airport is scheduled to open on March 28, 2027, offering a 20-minute non-stop journey between Paris Gare de l’Est and Terminal 2, news hub Travel Mole reports.

To be operated by Hello Paris - a joint venture between Keolis and RATP Dev - the service aims to deliver a fast, premium alternative to existing airport transfers.

The current rail links are often slow and crowded, while taxi rides can be slowed by traffic jams. 

During a press presentation at the SNCF maintenance facility in the Paris suburb of Bobigny, Hello Paris confirmed key pricing details. 

A one-way ticket will cost €25, while a round-trip fare is set at €28. 

Holders of the Île-de-France Navigo pass will benefit from a reduced fare of €16.50 per trip. Children under 16 accompanied by an adult will travel free of charge. 

Subscription packages for airport employees are also planned, though pricing has not yet been finalised. 

Tickets will be available via vending machines, online platforms, and a dedicated mobile app.

The new transport will be extremely competitive compared to taxis. 

The typical cost for a taxi ride between central Paris and CDG is around €56–€65 on average. 

CDG Express is expected to appeal to solo travellers and business passengers prioritizing speed and reliability.

The CDG Express will indeed operate every 15 minutes from 5am-midnight. 

Each train will accommodate up to 420 passengers, with flexible carriage configurations adjusted throughout the day according to demand. 

A premium “lounge” area at the front of the train, featuring 12 seats, will offer an upgraded travel experience.

Beyond passenger convenience, CDG Express is expected to ease congestion on the heavily used regional train RER B, which has long suffered from overcrowding, delays, and aging infrastructure.

Wynnsday returns with an impressive collection

It is hard to think of a wine producer that can match Wynns Coonawarra Estate for quality and value across the board.

Winemakers Sue Hodder and Sarah Pidgeon consistently over deliver on both counts - and the new releases for Wynnsday on June 3 do not disappoint.

The new releases are composed, complete and effortlessly stylish.

Wynnsday has been - for several decades - the day Wynns Coonawarra Estate releases its new vintage luxury wines.

I remember attending one at the winery when Peter Douglas was the chief winemaker - so the late 80s or early 90s.

The 2026 Wynnsday Collection features eight wines across three vintages from a range of vineyards.

This year’s release is headlined by the return of the very elegant V&A Lane Shiraz and Cabernet Shiraz blend, along with the debut Cabernet Shiraz, to the stellar Wynns Black Label range.

Wynns senior winemaker Sue Hodder (above) says the three very different vintages in the 2026 Wynnsday Collection - 2023, 2024, and 2025 - are testament to the quality and versatility of Wynns terra rossa vineyards and their ability to produce superb medium-bodied, cool-climate wines year on year.

“From the cooler, wet 2023 vintage we welcome the O’Dea's Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, representing the next gen of Wynns Cabernet vineyards," says Hodder. who has been in charge since 1998.

"Each year our winemaking team selects a premium parcel from a single cabernet vineyard to bottle separately, and that year O’Dea's excelled. This vineyard was originally planted in 1989 and later replanted to a selection of Wynns heritage cuttings and some new and interesting clones. We have been delighted to see these younger vines flourish in wet conditions and to bring this elegant wine to Wynnsday."

The 2024 reds are outstanding.

“2024 was a classic Coonawarra vintage, from which we crafted five stellar reds," says Hodder. "We are thrilled to see our V&A Lane Shiraz and Cabernet Shiraz wines return in superb form.

"Crafted by Sarah Pidgeon, they continue to set the benchmark for fresh, spicy, and naturally moderate alcohol red wine, sitting at only 12.6% each."

It's hard to pick a favourite, but I can't think of a better $45 bottle right now than Wynns 2024 The Original Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.

Coonawarra is synonymous with high-quality cabernets and this one hits the bullseye for composed quality. It has lovely structure, elegant tannins, balanced oak, and impressive length. It is immediately accessible and deadly drinkable.

Youthful inclusions are the 2025 Black Label Messenger Chardonnay and the Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc - both are delicious despite their relative adolescence.

The 2026 Wynnsday Collection comprises: Wynns O’Deas Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, RRP $80, Wynns MacKillop Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2025, RRP $80, Wynns V&A Lane Cabernet Shiraz 2024, RRP $60, Wynns V&A Lane Shiraz 2024, RRP $60, Wynns Black Label The Original Cabernet Sauvignon 2024, RRP $45, Wynns Black Label Old Vines Shiraz 2024, RRP $45
Wynns Black Label Cabernet Shiraz 2024, RRP $45 and Wynns Black Label Messenger Chardonnay 2025, RRP $45

All the wines are released on Wednesday. See www.wynns.com.au and fine wine retailers across Australia.

Small wine innovation proving a big success

Recent wine innovation Poco Vino is proving a success for wine producer Australian Vintage. 

The 175ml bottles have been in market for eight months and are now available in more than 8,000 stores in nine countries, selling the equivalent of 12,000 bottles a day, the company said in a statement. 

The current Poco Vino range of six still wines will more than double in financial year 2027 with the launch of a full sparkling portfolio. Mmoscato, prosecco and a range of flavoured spritzes will add another eight SKU’s to the core portfolio. 

There are also plans for the launch of a premium Poco Vino range to be called ‘Atlas Series’ in travel retail stores around the world. This aims to take the brand into premium wine segment at $25 recommended retail price. 

The company says: "These additions and new market launches will ensure the continued momentum and success of Poco Vino as the sales will exceed $20 million in annualised run rate into FY27."

Poco Vino "offers premium quality, varietally correct wine in a sleek, single-serve bottle made for modern life".

See https://avlwines.com.au/

Meet New Zealand's new gourmet alpine adventure

Flush with cash? How about "an extraordinary new luxury culinary experience set deep within New Zealand's Southern Alps"?

Roki Collection Queenstown has just launched Rees Valley by Roki, which it says offers guests an immersive alpine dining journey accessible only by private helicopter.

Located in the remote Rees Valley near Mount Aspiring National Park, Rees Valley by Roki is a secluded forest sanctuary where "wilderness, refined design and world-class cuisine converge", the media release says.

The experience invites guests to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with nature through exceptional food, warm hospitality and dramatic landscapes.

“Rees Valley by Roki is about creating a sense of stillness and awe in one of New Zealand's most extraordinary natural environments,” said Stephen McAteer, general manager of Roki Collection Queenstown.

“This is not simply lunch in the mountains. It is a deeply immersive experience where guests arrive by helicopter into an undisclosed alpine location and are completely transported by the landscape, cuisine and atmosphere.”

The experience begins with transfers from Queenstown, followed by a scenic helicopter flight into the Rees Valley.

Guests are welcomed with Champagne (pity, as New Zealand has some outstanding sparkling wines) on arrival before settling into a forest sanctuary with crackling fireplaces, sophisticated interiors by New Zealand designer Virginia Fisher, and panoramic alpine surroundings.

At the heart of the experience is a gourmet New Zealand forest lunch created by culinary director Paul Froggatt (above) and his team.

Froggatt, known for his produce-driven approach to refined modern cuisine, crafts menus inspired by New Zealand's seasons, landscapes and local ingredients.

It is billed as an all-weather experience - but I wouldn't get in a helicopter during a snow storm.


Check out https://roki-collection.com/dine/rees-valley-by-roki/

Franchising pays dividends for global hotel giant Accor

Hotel giant Accor has surpassed 150 franchise hotels across Australia and New Zealand, underlining its position as the largest and fastest-growing hotel franchise network in the Pacific region.

The milestone coincided with the annual Accor Pacific Franchise Conference taking place in Sydney, bringing together more than 270 franchise partners, hotel owners, industry leaders and Accor executives.

Over the past decade, Accor's Pacific franchise network has experienced significant expansion, particularly across regional and suburban markets, supported by growing owner appetite for globally recognised brands, strong distribution capability, loyalty-driven demand and operational efficiencies delivered through scale, the hotel group said in a media release.

Chief Franchise Officer for Premium, Midscale, and Economy, Leire Leoz, said the Pacific region has emerged as a strong growth market for franchising.

“Franchising is playing an increasingly important role in Accor's global growth strategy, and the Pacific region is a strong example of that momentum in action," she said.

"We continue to see strong interest from hotel owners seeking flexible operating models that allow them to retain the individuality of their assets while benefiting from the strength, scale and support of a global hospitality leader.”

Accor's franchise-forward strategy is a key driver of the group's long-term asset-light growth model, supporting expansion and strengthening owner partnerships across the Pacific.

Accor Chief Operating Officer in the Pacific region, Adrian Williams, said strong owner partnerships continue to underpin the growth of the franchise network.

“Our franchise network today represents a highly collaborative, performance-driven ecosystem built around owner success," he said.

"We continue to see strong demand from hotel owners who want access to Accor's powerful loyalty, sales and distribution platforms, while retaining the flexibility to run their hotels in a way that reflects their local character and identity. Importantly, many of our existing franchise partners continue to grow with us, with around half now owning multiple hotels within the network.

“At the same time, managed hotels remain strategically important to our long-term growth strategy across the Pacific. Our focus is on providing owners with the solutions that best suit their asset, market and long-term objectives.”

The Group will soon introduce its greet brand to the Pacific for the first time - another hotel brand in an already busy portfolio.

Accor currently operates more than 420 hotels across the Pacific region under brands including Sofitel, MGallery, Pullman, Mövenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Novotel, Mercure, TRIBE, and ibis.

Image: The Sebel Yarrawonga Silverwoods. Supplied.

New beginnings for Lindeman Island in the Whitsundays

After sitting neglected and unloved for 15 years, Lindeman Island in the Whitsundays is to reopen under a new resort brand operated by Marriott International.

Marriott has signed an agreement with Singaporean-based real estate company Well Smart Group to bring Le Méridien to Lindeman Island - marking Marriott International’s entry into the Whitsundays market.

The resort closed in 2012 after Cyclone Yasi and in 2023 was acquired by Well Smart, which is currently undertaking a $60 million renovation.

Expected to open in late 2027, Le Méridien Lindeman Island Resort & Spa will occupy a 70-hectare parcel of land with wide private beach frontage on Lindeman Island - one of 74 islands in Queensland’s Whitsunday Passage on the Great Barrier Reef.

Lindeman Island - once home to Australia's first Club Med resort - is located only a 20-minute boat journey from Hamilton Island Airport.

The renovated resort is expected to feature 200 premium guest rooms and nine suites, two restaurants, lobby lounge and bar, function space, resort pool, fitness centre, Explore Spa by Le Méridien, tennis courts, kids club, and a recreational activities centre offering water sports, along with an archery range and indoor golf facilities.

Le Méridien Lindeman Island Resort & Spa will join Le Méridien Melbourne as the second Le Méridien-branded property in Australia and will be part of the brand’s global portfolio of more than 120 hotels and resorts.

The resort will be operated by La Vie Hotels & Resorts, marking Marriott’s first project with the independent hotel management company.



“Le Méridien Lindeman Island Resort & Spa is expected to be Marriott International’s first in Queensland’s iconic Whitsunday Islands," said Richard Crawford, Marriott International’s vice president for hotel development, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific.

"The resort will join our existing high-performing Queensland assets, located in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Port Douglas.

"Whilst the Whitsunday Islands has been a much-loved destination for Australian travellers since the 1980s, visitation from international markets has been inhibited by a limited offering of international branded resorts.

"We are excited about the potential for Marriott’s leading distribution platforms and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, which now has nearly 283 million members, to elevate the global profile and appeal of this remarkable destination."

See www.lemeridien.com.