So you’d like to own some of Australia’s rarest wines?

Fancy owning a bottle of the very first vintage of Penfolds’ flagship wine: the Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1951, released as Bin 1? 

The bottle is expected to fetch more than the current price record - and that of the country’s most expensive wine - of over $150,000 (including buyer’s premium).  

It is one if the lots in the upcoming Penfolds Rewards of Patience auction to be hosted by fine wine purveyors Langtons.

The auction launched on the Langtons website this week and will close on Sunday, June 29, at 9pm.

The auction will be a chance for avid Penfolds fans to bid on the largest collection of rare, collector wines from the prestigious Australian winery including special, early vintages from the 1950s and large-format bottles. 

Notably, the auction will feature a bottle of the very first vintage of Penfolds’ flagship wine the Penfolds

In addition to the Bin 1, the auction also features one of the world’s very few full Bin Grange Sets from 1951 to 2018, which was last seen up for bidding at the 2022 Penfolds Rewards of Patience Auction going for a record-price of $430,000.


The Penfolds Rewards of Patience auction has been hosted by Langtons since 1996, with the auction’s name a nod to the seminal book Penfolds: The Rewards of Patience by Master of Wine Andrew Caillard.

“As the auction market begins to warm to an interest rate cut, it’s the wines of Penfolds, the most represented wine in the Langtons Classification, that savvy wine enthusiasts and investors are reaching for,” says Michael Anderson, Head of Auctions and Wine Consignment at Langtons.

“This may be one the last chances to bid on a complete set of Penfolds Grange. These unicorn pieces
become rarer each year as bottles fail, wines are consumed and verticals are split.


“This is an incredible version of a Penfolds Grange Set - one of the finest we have seen.”

Other highlights in the Penfolds Rewards of Patience Auction include a g-series set of the g3, g4 and g5
bottles and early vintages of the Penfolds Grange from 1955.

Sue Bell has some big wine news

Winemaker Sue Bell is now the outright owner of Coonawarra standout Bellwether Wines. 

Bell today released an innovative video press release announcing she had bought out her business partner Andrew Rennie’s share of the business.

Bell and Rennie bought the historic Glen Roy shearing shed, built around 1868, back in 2008.

Located on six hectates of Australian bush, the facility now boasts a winery and cellar door space to that hosts food, wine and music events, as well as a camping area.

“It’s a big week for my career and Bellwether,” she said on the video.

Former Stonehaven chief winemaker Bell said she was “equally excited and terrified” to be the sole owner of the business.

She makes a range of excellent wines using fruit from local growers and as far away as Tasmania. 

Discover Japan’s roads less travelled - on foot

World Expeditions, which specialises in less-visited locations, has unveiled a new self-guided walking adventure along the remote and rugged Michinoku Coastal Trail in Japan.

This seven-day journey offers travellers an opportunity to explore Japan’s wild north-east - a part of the country still largely untouched by mass tourism. 

World Expeditions promises an experience where “the pace is slower, the landscapes raw, and the cultural encounters refreshingly unfiltered”.

The Michinoku Coastal Trail, stretching over 1,000 kilometres through the scenic Tohoku region, was developed as part of Japan’s reconstruction efforts following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. 

The trail now stands as a symbol of renewal and resilience. 

World Expeditions’ new itinerary cherry-picks the trail’s most spectacular sections, guiding travellers through coastal shrines, remote fishing villages, forested headlands and hidden bays between Hachinohe and the cliffs of Kitayamazaki.

Unlike Japan’s better-known walking routes, the Michinoku Trail remains largely untouched by over tourism. 

The self-guided trip is designed for experienced walkers who value both independence and support. 

Travellers receive clear daily route notes, reliable local assistance and luggage transfers, ensuring a seamless journey while maintaining the freedom to walk at their own pace. Accommodations are in locally run inns and small hotels, where regional hospitality and fresh seafood meals bring each day to a perfect close.

"This trail offers travellers the chance to connect deeply with nature and local traditions while enjoying the freedom of independent exploration,” says World Expeditions CEO Sue Badyari.

“Importantly, this initiative supports sustainable tourism by directing vital income to communities along the trail - many of which are still recovering from the 2011 tsunami.

“By choosing this walk, our travellers contribute directly to the revitalisation of these quiet coastal towns, helping preserve their heritage and support a resilient future for the people who call this remarkable region home."

View the Michinoku Coastal Trail itinerary

For more information on World Expeditions, visit www.worldexpeditions.com 

Opening up Suzhou to tourists

Shanghai is a global tourism magnet, while neighbouring Suzhou is much less well known. 

That is why China Eastern Airlines has partnered with Suzhou city to launch the "Suzhou Pass" Co-Branded Card, exclusively available when booking international flights to China through the airline's official website.

Suzhou and Shanghai, two of eastern China's most beautiful cities, are just a short train ride apart. Suzhou city is known for its natural landscape, rich cultural heritage, and modern urban spaces.

The Co-Branded Card is the official benefits programme that provides travellers with access to Suzhou's cultural institutions and exclusive benefits to memorable experiences.

Specifically, it offers free access to Suzhou classical gardens including Humble Administrator's Garden, Tiger Hill, Lion Grove and a total of 14 renowned scenic spots across the city. 

Travellers can also access discounts on over 100 restaurants and hotels and get special prices for events and on public transport.

The tap-and-pay Co-Branded Card allows travellers to pay across multiple platforms. 

Travellers can book flights from overseas to Shanghai via the China Eastern Airlines official website, app or WeChat mini-programs by selecting the "Suzhou Pass Premium Product" package, which includes both the flight ticket and "Suzhou Pass" Co-Branded Card in a single order. 

Once in China, visitors can easily collect their physical card at either Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) Terminal 1 or the Suzhou City Terminal.

See https://pass.jsjfsz.com/suzhoupass/v1/#/

Anyone for a seriously aged whisky?

Glenfarclas, one of Scotland’s few remaining family-owned and managed distilleries, has this week announced the release of its oldest whisky to date.

Distilled on November 20,  1953, the Glenfarclas 70-Year-Old has been matured in the distillery’s traditional dunnage warehouses in Speyside. 

This release was laid down in first-fill sherry casks. The whisky has been overseen by six distillery managers over the past seventy years and will now be available to purchase internationally.

The 70-Year-Old is an exceptionally rare Glenfarclas. When it was distilled back in 1953, the malt barn would have been a hive of activity at the heart of the distillery, with barley being hand-turned on the malting floors. 

There will be only 262 bottles available globally.  

John Grant, chairman and fifth generation of the Grant family to have owned and run Glenfarclas distillery, said: 
"As chairman of a family-owned distillery I am committed to overseeing the production of our exceptional malt whisky, just as my forefathers did before me. 

“We take great pride in maintaining complete control over every aspect of production, preserving our time-honoured traditional methods - most notably, the use of direct-fired stills, which creates a robust and full-bodied spirit.

"Remarkably, this particular cask has been maturing almost as long as I’ve been alive. Releasing it now marks a true milestone.”

The new release is the oldest in the Glenfarclas Warehouse Series, surpassing the 30-, 35-, and 40-Year-Old expressions. 

Callum A. Fraser, distillery manager at Glenfarclas, is proud of the whisky. 

“This is true Glenfarclas and this expression captures the very DNA of the distillery, he said. “What we did 30 or 40 or even 70 years ago is very much what we still do today. The warehouses are still here, holding decades of stories in their walls. At the heart of it all, tradition remains key.

“This whisky has waited 70 years to be enjoyed. Through wars, the reign of a queen and now a king, the world has changed - but this spirit has endured, and it stands as a rare and timeless testament to patience and craft.”

The recommended retail price is £20,000 (UK). Ouch! 

The Yarra celebrates winter

The Yarra Valley celebrates winter over two weeks in late June and early July. 

Fireside Festival - Yarra Valley, running from June 27 to July 13, features a series of events over one of Australia’s most celebrated wine regions. 

Events range from open-fire feasts and bold winter reds to immersive masterclasses and fun tastings. 

Fireside Festivalbrings together 20+ Yarra Valley wineries and venues in a two-week winter celebration of wine, warmth and regional hospitality.

Whether you're looking to highlight regional food and wine experiences, emerging trends in cool-climate wine, or the growing visitor appeal of winter in Victoria’s wine country, Wine Yarra Valley promises something for every taste. 

The full program is live at: wineyarravalley.com.au/fireside