Mornington Peninsula wine pioneer remembered

The Mornington Peninsula wine community is this week mourning the death of pioneering winemaker and industry leader Nat White, who passed away peacefully after a long battle with illness.

Together with his wife Rosalie (with whom he is pictured above), White established Main Ridge Estate in 1975, helping lay the foundations for what would become one of Australia's most respected cool-climate wine regions.

A founding member of the Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association and creator of the region's first licensed winery, he was known not only for his winemaking skill but also for his generosity, mentorship and willingness to support others.

Over five decades, White helped guide countless vineyard owners and winemakers, sharing knowledge freely and helping establish the collaborative culture for which the Mornington Peninsula wine community is known today.

Richard McIntyre of Moorooduc Estate recalled seeking Nat's help when preparing to make his first wines.

"I said, 'I have no idea how to make wine.' Nat said, 'I will hold your hand.' He did for many years."

Garry Crittenden of Crittenden Wines described Nat as the region's "acknowledged technical leader and founding father".

"Whenever I had a problem, I went straight to Nat - problem solved."

Martin Spedding of Ten Minutes By Tractor described Nat as "a giant in the story and development of Mornington Peninsula wine" and credited him with helping create the remarkable collegiate spirit that remains a defining characteristic of the region.

Nat White was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2017 for significant service to the Australian wine industry.

He is survived by Rosalie, their children Dominic and Annalise, and their families.

A private cremation will be held, with a celebration of Nat's life to be announced at a later date.

Fremantle's three days of fungi and games

Fremantle will host three days of fungi and fun next month.

The West Australian port city will host the Fremantle Truffle Festival from July 10-12, showcasing truffle-infused menus, chef experiences, market activations and gourmet events. 

Opening Night will feature a three-course dinner and presentation by Great Southern Truffles. 

Other highlights will include:

Truffle House: A main festival marquee hosted by Great Southern Truffles adjacent to Markets on Henderson Street.

Fremantle Markets: A truffle-inspired culinary showdown of exclusive festival dishes.
Truffle Dog Hunt Demo: Watch a live truffle dog demo at Old Courthouse
Truffles around town: Truffle inspired events and food specials are happening around Freo. Scroll down to the events section.

For detail see https://visitfremantle.com.au/fremantle-truffle-festival

“Western Australian truffles are recognised among the finest in the world and the Fremantle Truffle Festival has become a fantastic platform to showcase that quality." says Adam Wilson of Great Southern Truffles. 

And while you are in Fremantle you might want to check out the recently opened Owston Hotel.

It is located in Fremantle's historic West End, set within the beautifully restored Owston's Buildings on High Street, once home to the Roma Restaurant. 

There are just 11 rooms with options ranging from city views to a corner room with bathtub and sunset views. Guests can also enjoy handmade pasta at Vin Populi and fresh pastries from Common Bakery. 

Air Asia remains upbeat

The airline industry has different positions on the future, but AirAsia X says it remains encouraged by resilient travel demand across key markets, supported by ongoing regional stabilisation. 

The budget airline said this week that it continues to focus on strengthening operational performance and network efficiency, building a more scalable operating model across the network.

The group is progressively restoring aircraft frequencies and capacity across its network, with full capacity expected by August 2026. 

It has announced services to several new destinations, including Busan, Bahrain, London, Batam and other domestic destinations. 

Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Group said: "Over the past several months, we have been reminded that resilience is not built during easy times but through how we respond to challenges. 

"Throughout this period, the group remained focused on strengthening our operations, improving efficiency and accelerating the adoption of AI and data-driven tools to support better decision-making and smarter execution across the business. 

"Today, we are a stronger, more agile and more focused ecosystem because of it."

Giant armchairs mark the spot

A slightly unusual new attraction has appeared in Sweden.

After analysing 20 years of solar data together with the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, IKEA has identified the exact spot in Sweden with the highest statistical chance of sunshine.

The location, on the island of Gotland, is now marked by a permanent monument consisting of two granite IKEA armchairs.

The project draws on Sweden’s long-standing fascination with geographical landmarks and places people travel to simply because they are what they are. 

In Sweden, months of winter darkness have made people obsessed with making the most of every ray of sunshine and the new monument serves as a lasting tribute to Swede’s love of sunshine.

The site is intended to become a new tourism destination. 

“As the seasons change, so do the ways we live," says Linda Vikström, communications manager at IKEA Sweden. 

"When the sunlight and warmth return after winter, people across Sweden move outdoors. At IKEA, we want to help as many people as possible make the most of life outside. 

"Identifying and marking Sweden’s sunniest square metre is part of that ambition.” 

Funny folk the Swedes. 

The scourge of semi-naked silver men

Bali is struggling to find a way of removing half-naked men who are painted silver from its major streets. 

Yes, you read that right.

It's a serious story in the latest edition of Bali Update, the valuable guide to what is happening on the resort island. 

Under the headline  "Bali Ponders Ways to Remove 'Silver Men' from Denpasar Streets",  he newsletter reports the Denpasar Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) is "overwhelmed by large hordes of young men, typically wearing only shorts, whose half-naked bodies are lathered with silver paint, who stand at busy intersections in Denpasar, Bali, holding tin canisters asking passing motorists for “donations”."

Authorities are apparently involved in a cycle of apprehending the “silver men” who are taken to a nearby location, given soap and water, and ordered to scrub off the silver paint. 

A short time later, the men have repainted their skins and are back on the street.

​Quoted by NusaBali, the head of Denpasar City Satpol PP, AA Ngurah Nendra, said his agency is "in the field apprehending violators who disturb public order. Once apprehended, these social violations should be referred to the city or provincial Social Services for guidance.”

​Inage: BaliDiscovery.com

When Champagne trumps whisky

One of Scotland's leading resort hotels has unveiled a new drinks partnership, but it is Champagne, rather than whisky, that will grab the spotlight.

The Gleneagles Hotel and Dom Pérignon have announced a new collab that will see the launch of The Cellar x Dom Pérignon, a private dining and tasting experience, news hubs the drinks business reports.

The experience combines a five-course menu created by Gleneagles’ chefs with a selection of Dom Pérignon cuvées.

The Cellar has served as the hotel’s storage and ageing space for rare wines and spirits for more than 100 years and has now been converted into a private dining room that accommodates up to a dozen guests/

It mow features bespoke Champagne cabinets designed to store Dom Pérignon at its optimum ageing and serving temperature.

Design details reference Dom Pérignon’s home at the Abbey of Hautvillers in Épernay.

The signature Dom Pérignon Experience begins with two glasses of Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017 served alongside King’s Golden Oscietra Caviar and accompaniments.

Guests then enjoy a five-course tasting menu, plus an amuse bouche and pre-dessert, with each course paired with a different Dom Pérignon expression, including Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017, Dom Pérignon Rosé 2010 and Dom Pérignon Vintage 2008 Plénitude 2.

The Cellar also houses a library of more than 40 Dom Pérignon rarities. Guests can book bespoke tastings, including vertical tastings and selections from landmark vintages.

Other experiences available include a Dom Pérignon & Canapé Reception featuring two glasses of Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017 and four canapés per person, a Dom Pérignon Tasting with five Dom Pérignon expressions paired with canapés, and The Cellar Experience, which pairs the tasting menu with wines selected from the Gleneagles wine list.

Guests must reserve the full dining experience at least three weeks in advance, while tastings can be booked up to three days ahead. Prices start from £150 per person, rising to £695 per person ($1310 in Aussie dollars) for The Dom Pérignon Experience.

* Gleaneagles Hotel is owned by Ennismore - the group that also owns Mama Shelter, the Hoxton and Mondrian hotels.