Heavy metal: Calls for airport to be named after Ozzy Osbourne

 

Birmingham International Airport (BHX) in the UK could soon be known as Ozzy Osbourne Airport.

There have been calls for the airport to be re-named to honour the Birmingham-born former Black Sabbath singer, who died this week.

Osbourne never lost his Brummie accent despite spending much of his life in the US and a movement is gaining steam to honour the larger-than-life rocker with a petition launched by fan Dan Hudson after his death.

“Naming our international airport after him would be a fitting tribute to his extraordinary career and contributions to the arts,” Hudson said.

“Together, we can celebrate the legacy of Ozzy Osbourne and the incredible influence our city has had on the world stage, thanks to him.”

He cited examples of British airports named after celebrities including John Lennon Airport in Liverpool and George Best Airport in Belfast.

Family story behind a stellar Coonawarra cabernet

There is a poignant story behind the outstanding Silent Partner Cabernet Sauvignon releases from Brand and Sons/Jim Brand Wines.

The label's founder, leading Coonawarra winemaker Jim Brand, died 20 years ago at the age of just 52, but his wine philosophies still guide his son Sam Brand and team's direction.

"The Silent Partner is a reference to Dad's on-going influence on everything that we do," says Sam Brand.

The Brand family sent me a vertical of the Silent Partner; from the smooth 2013 to the pre-release 2023, and there was a common thread of class and elegance throughout the wines, although the recently bottled 2023 was still a little feisty.

The 2013, 2020, 2021 and 2022 all offer outstanding examples of Coonawarra cabernet quality at a very fair price of $40.

The wines are made in small quantities but are well worth seeking out.

The first vintage was made as a tribute to Jim Brand in 2005.

"All of the fruit comes from our ‘Yates’ vineyard in what we call the ‘Mid-West’ of Coonawarra on a combination of Red Terra Rossa and Brown Redzina soils," says Sam Brand.

"Our winemaker Peter Weinberg spent six years under Dad’s tutelage at Brands Laira and knows well the techniques and style he preferred.

"Oak regime involves predominantly French oak, but only 20-30% new."

That oak is often from cooper Seguin Moreau, whose barrels were a favourite of Jim Brand (below).

"Producing the quintessential Coonawarra cabernet was always the goal," Sam Brand adds "with a wine style that had full flavour, density, recognisable regionality, but importantly that you could have a second glass of."

That's a key element these days, with big, American-oaked reds often so big that one glass is enough. Here there is power, but also impressive balance - and classic Coonawarra characters shine.

The pricing has remained at $40 per bottle for well over a decade - making the Silent Partner outstanding value for money.

The current vintage is 2021 - it is a very complete wine, and my favourite, along with the soon-to-be released 2022, one to look forward to.

See https://brandandsons.com.au/jim-brand/

Yelland & Papps celebrates 20 years bigly with a tribute to family

Barossa winemakers Susan and Michael Papps are celebrating 20 years of Yelland & Papps in style.

The pair is releasing a wine in two large formats in tribute to the local family growers that have been a part of their journey. David and Angela Materne, Pete and Sarah Sonntag, Kevin and Helen Schild and Bob and Sandy Modra, and themselves.

"What has become apparent in the last few years are the business relationships that can enable you to successfully grow," says Susan Papps (Yelland).

"Our Twenty Years Five Growers Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024 Limited Edition (Vale LKY & KLY) is a contribution of all five growers that at the time of vintage 2024 had been either from the start or have joined the train as we have travelled along on our journey.

"A blend of shiraz from sub-regions Marananga, Stonewell, Vine Vale, Dorrien and Greenock reflects the soils and grape growers that make up the beautiful Barossa Valley terroir."

She says Yelland & Papps wanted to "acknowledge this milestone for some time to try and reflect, capture and celebrate 20 years of our business and making wine in a turbulent, slightly fractured and vulnerable industry".

The release is tinged with sadness as Susan's brother Leith and father Kelwyn died within a fortnight of each other in 2024.

"When designing a label for this wine, at the forefront was honouring my father and his unwavering support of our business, over the past 20 years," Susan said.

"Although my father was not part of Yelland & Papps business when this was started in 2005 by Michael and myself, he was an intrinsic monetary part of helping us along the way to start and keep progressing forward.

"The most important part of the relationship was the interest and support and his listening ear to the woes and hardships, and although he never had a magic wand to erase these issues he had the advice and was able to relate to his prior farming business."

The label features the colour of her father's prized procession: a "sky mist blue" 1960 Ford Zephyr Ute.

The special release wine has been bottled under large format only: 239 1.5-litre magnums and 28 5-litre jeroboams at $129 and $399.

See yellandandpapps.com.

Do you have a Burning Love for Elvis?

Calling all lovers of The King. Elvis Presley, that is, not Wally Lewis.

Head to country New South Wales for the 2025 Parkes Elvis Festival, which will run from January 8-12.

The 32nd annual festival will pay tribute to Elvis (Presley not Costello) with a 1960s Easy Come, Easy Go theme, offering fans a program of concerts, dancing, markets, and a few surprises.

The event is expected to attract 25,000 Elvis lovers, more than doubling the population of the town.

Festival favourites like the Evolution Mining Street Parade, Renewal of Vows Ceremony, bustling markets, and performances on the Cooke Park Main Stage and Memphis Stage all return.

A highlight of 2025 will be the launch of the Gates of Graceland, a full-sized replica of the iconic Graceland gates, located at the Parkes Visitor Information Centre.

Jack Gatto, one of Australia’s leading Elvis tribute artists, will perform a live solo show.

This year also introduces six new ticketed shows at the Parkes Services Club, featuring top Elvis tribute artists from Australia, New Zealand, and Scotland (who knew?).

“Each year we work to capture the essence of Elvis, and the 2025 Festival will be no different," says Joel Ulbricht, the festival producer.

"This year’s program offers something for everyone—whether you’ve been rockin’ with us since the early days or are discovering the King’s magic for the first time.”

For details and tickets see www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au

New release a tribute to winemaker's Mum

Experienced winemaker Ben Riggs usually makes wines for his Mr Riggs label that suit his own palate.

For one recent release he's made an exception, however, eschewing his beloved McLaren Vale to make an impressive Adelaide Hills pinot noir for one special person: his mother.

The $35 Mr Riggs Valerie Pinot Noir honours his mother Valerie, the Matriarch of the Riggs family, pictured above.

The name Valerie is of French origin meaning ‘strong, brave, valiant’.

"My mother is over 90 years old and still going strong," says Riggs. "She sees the positive in most things in life, has perhaps kept her youthful."

With over four decades of winemaking experience, the former Wirra Wirra chief winemaker started his own label in 2001 and has a reputation for bold, flavoursome reds.  

 

The 2023 Pinot Noir (above) is part of the Mr Riggs Regional Series and is made from fruit grown on a Woodside vineyard: a cool-climate site planted on heavy clay.

Due to the cooler vintage, the fruit was picked in late April, in the early hours of the morning to help maintain natural acidity. The grapes were crushed directly into open fermenters, with 15% kept as whole bunch to add texture and complexity as well as a little bit of tannin weight.

Pair it with roast chicken or a ripe, soft French cheese, where something a little magical happens.

It is bright, aromatic and very food friendly. I liked it a lot. 

$35. https://mrriggs.com.au/ 

Museum to honour Kiwi soldiers to open in France

A new $15 million museum will open in Le Quesnoy, France, in October, to commemorate the New Zealand soldiers who liberated the town from four years of German occupation during World War One.

The museum will be the first in European for Kiwi soldiers who died on the continent during the war, and will be called the New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata. 

"The museum will be Aotearoa's tūrangawaewae on the Western Front," said Sir Don McKinnon, chairperson of the New Zealand Memorial Museum Trust (NZMMT).

"It will be a memorial that commemorates the approximately 12,500 New Zealanders who died in France and Belgium during World War One."

Te Arawhata will open officially on October 11.

Its name means "the ladder" in te reo Māori, after the way Kiwi soldiers used a ladder to scale the town's walls on November 4, 1918.

It also refers to a "pathway to higher things, which enables learnings from the past to be used to reflect on the price and value of freedom and the importance of friendship to support a better future", a statement announcing the museum's opening said.

"It will be a place that honours our past, highlights the importance World War One continues to hold, and tells the extraordinary stories of Kiwi men and women who served in Europe," McKinnon said.

He said allied nations including Australia, Canada, India, South Africa, and the US built commemorative museums in Europe after the first World War, but New Zealand has never had one.

The museum will feature an "immersive storytelling experience" from Wētā Workshop to highlight those stories.

"Visitors will experience a mix of cinematic, sensory, and emotive environments," said Andrew Thomas, senior creative director at Wētā Workshop.

"They will be able to immerse themselves in the dramatic storytelling, sculptural artworks, soundscapes, and projections to connect on an emotional level and remember the people involved in what is a hugely significant event."

Among the exhibits will be a giant "hyper-realistic" soldier.

A number of place names in the town are inspired by the connection between Le Quesnoy and New Zealand, including the Place des All Blacks and the Avenue des Néo-Zélandais.

Le Quesnoy is in northern France, less than three hours from Paris near the Belgian border. 

The town railway station is a one-hour train journey from Lille TGV train station. Lille is a one-hour TGV train ride from Paris and less than 1.5 hours on Eurostar from London.

The New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata is located in a renovated mansion house which was the former mayoral residence and later the headquarters of the local Gendarmerie (French Police). The NZMMT purchased the building in 2017 and have been renovating it over the past two years.

Full details of the museum project and fundraising efforts can be found at nzliberationmuseum.com