Calling Australian lovers of fine Bordeaux wines

 

Calling Australian lovers of fine Bordeaux wines blessed with deep pockets. 

Wines from the 2022 vintage from the Bordeaux wine region have landed in Australia though auction house and importers Langtons, with one of the largest and most comprehensive allocations of the vintage. 

The offering showcases both regional stalwarts and up-oand-coming producers.

Available via the Langtons website, the wines on offer will include Château Lafite Rothschild; Château Figeac; Château Pontet Canet; Château Cos d’Estournel and Château Canon with pricing starting at $50 all the way to rare investment-grade wines for $2,000 a bottle. 

“Bordeaux has been an integral part of our portfolio for many years here at Langtons, and we are so thrilled to be welcoming its latest 2022 vintage into our extensive collection from the French region,” says Langtons head of Wine & Spirits Ramon Gunasekara. 

“The 2022 vintage has already been hailed as one of Bordeaux’s best in recent history, and we are proud to be Australia’s destination to get access to these very special and iconic wines.”

The benchmark 2022 vintage saw extremely hot and dry conditions throughout the region, but despite the extreme weather, many producers crafted wines possessing power, ripeness and vibrancy akin to vintages such as 1961 and 1982, the Langtons team says. 

“Irrespective of fluctuations being seen in the market, it's a wonderful time to buy Bordeaux, both new and old,” says Langtons head of auctions Michael Anderson.

“Brilliant vintages in Bordeaux like 2022 make for an excellent investment opportunity with savvy investors finding the top wines of the vintage and squirreling away their share to watch their value rise in the secondary market.

"It's a great time for those looking for both younger and older examples of Bordeaux to add to their cellars with the market very well-priced across a range of vintages, with my top picks to look out for being 2000 and 2005.

"Bordeaux remains a cornerstone of global fine wine collecting and a long-term luxury investment."

New Air India technology to track baggage

Air India has rolled out a real-time baggage tracking tool on its website and app.

Launching ahead of many competitors, the app comes in response to many complaints about delayed and mishandled baggage, Travel Mole reports. 

The airline says it is a comprehensive tracking system that only a few other airlines globally can match.

It enables passengers to track the location throughout the journey.

It will provide status updates at various stages like check-in, security clearance, loading the aircraft, and when it arrives at the baggage claim area.

“The status coverage includes all important baggage touch points where baggage tracking technology is available,” the airline said in a media statement.

Air Canada says its chatbot has a mind of its own

Air Canada, whose baggage handling and customer service failings have been canvassed regularly (GoTR passim, ad nauseam), are at it again.

The airline made a laughing stock of itself in a small claims court in Vancouver during the week.

In what is believed to be a first of its kind ruling, Air Canada was ordered to pay compensation to a customer after its chatbot supplied bogus information, CBC reported.

The airline had admitted wrong information was given to customer Jake Moffatt but Air Canada then tried to brush it off, claiming, hilariously, that the bot was responsible for its own words and actions.

The airline tried to argue the bot was a 'separate legal entity' and it should not be liable for its mistakes.

The chatbot advised Moffatt he could claim a bereavement fare refund within 90 days of the date the ticket was issued.

Air Canada later denied the refund request, saying bereavement rate differences cannot be refunded for completed travel, which is listed on the bereavement section of the Air Canada website.

The chatbot had used "misleading words" Air Canada admitted.

“There is no reason why Mr Moffatt should know that one section of Air Canada’s webpage is accurate, and another is not,” the court heard.

Air Canada was ordered to pay Moffatt the difference in the fare he paid and the bereavement fare, as well as interest and legal fees.

"This [was] a remarkable submission," Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) member Christopher Rivers wrote.

"While a chatbot has an interactive component, it is still just a part of Air Canada's website. It should be obvious to Air Canada that it is responsible for all the information on its website. It makes no difference whether the information comes from a static page or a chatbot."

Moffatt provided the CRT with a screenshot of the chatbot's words: "If you need to travel immediately or have already travelled and would like to submit your ticket for a reduced bereavement rate, kindly do so within 90 days of the date your ticket was issued by completing our Ticket Refund Application form."

Based on that assurance, Moffatt had booked full-fare tickets to and from Toronto to attend their grandmother's funeral.

Wine writer wants to "re-imagine" online purchasing

 

One of Australia's most experienced wine writers wants to help you make the best of your next purchase.

Jeremy Oliver, author of 30 books, says it is time for a re-imagination of online wine retail.

The critic has launched his new online platform, Oliver’s Wines, which includes a website and an App (iOS and Android) which he says will "transform the way wine enthusiasts discover and buy".

‘We’re using world-leading tech to try to give our users an old-fashioned wine experience in which each customer and their own preferences are recognised’, says Oliver.

"Developed locally in Melbourne, the world’s leading wine recommendation engine is able to treat every single user as an audience of one and suggest wines for them based on their very own favourites.

"Customers can create and manage their own lists of favourite wines, buy the wines our system recommends and then give feedback to help the system do its job even better.

‘I’m excited to be going back to my old day job as an independent critic. I’ll be rating and commenting on all the major wines in Australia, regardless of whether or not they’re for sale on this platform. My opinion is not for sale, just as it never has been."

It is said that Oliver’s Wines will feature a comprehensive database of ratings, tasting notes, articles and videos that he has assembled over four decades as one of Australia’s most respected writers.

There’s no subscription charge for users to access the resource, which Oliver updates regularly.

"We’re providing wine enthusiasts with a place to learn, research, engage with and buy from," he says.

"We’re not at all interesting in discounting wines; we just want to ensure that people enjoy the wines they are buying online.

"Once they start to trust the IT, we’ll take them on a journey that will introduce them to an entire spectrum of wine they might never have heard of. That’s the exciting thing about the system we’ve developed."

When I entered Chablis into the search engine I got the response: "No products were found matching your selection". 

So some refinement is still needed.   

See https://olivers-wines.com.au/

Sydney gears up for New Year's Eve

There is nothing like being prepared.

The City of Sydney this week sent out a press release on its preparations for New Year's Eve.

That is fully four months away, but hey.

Apparently, Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations are coming back with a bang, with free access to many vantage points around the harbour and ticketing scrapped for all City of Sydney sites.

Restrictions introduced during the pandemic will be dropped, giving more people the opportunity to view and enjoy Sydney’s iconic celebrations.

The official New Year’s Eve website - sydneynewyearseve.com - has launched with details of all the City of Sydney’s vantage points, as well as key viewing locations extending from Cockatoo Island to Dover Heights and Manly.

The website includes details about each location’s entry points, opening and closing times, alcohol policy, capacity, food and beverage options and accessibility services.

More vantage points, location information road closures and transport details will be added to the website in the coming weeks.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the website and resources would help people to make a plan for the big night and explore the many ways to celebrate and watch the fireworks.

“Sydney New Year’s Eve is an iconic event and a wonderful celebration of our safe, harmonious and vibrant city,” Moore said.

"With Covid restrictions lifted and more parkland access available we anticipate there will be large crowds across the city keen to see the fireworks. I encourage everyone to check out sydneynewyearseve.com and plan ahead.

“Whether you’re watching at home or coming to join us along the foreshore, the event is a great way to reflect on the year past and look with hope to the year ahead. I hope locals and visitors alike enjoy the show!”

While the majority of sites around the harbour will be free, some will be ticketed to manage crowd numbers including the Cahill Expressway (which is balloted), Clark, Goat and Shark islands, Strickland Estate and Bradley’s Head (Mast Precinct, Athol Lawn, Amphitheatre).

Separate paid events around the harbour include at Taronga Zoo and the Royal Botanic Garden’s Foundation & Friends NYE Picnic.

Some sex advice with your holiday research

Travellers looking at booking a trip to Lord Howe Island got a surprise earlier this week when a tourism website was hacked and items linking to dating apps and porn sites were uploaded.

The naughty hackers flooded the website with x-rated links, ads and articles.

Anal sex is not the image the tranquil island off the coast of Port Macquarie in Australia's New South Wales state normally tries to promote.

The hackers also posted adverts for "get rich quick" schemes, somehow breaching the website's security. There was also advice on "How to date an older woman".  

The hack gained widespread international coverage - which was probably not a bad thing.

The Travel Mole website - which has global reach - reported that site administrators regained control and deleted the fruity content.

Mortified Lord Howe Island Tourism officials reported that their investigation showed only 11 visitors saw the hacker's work before the website was cleaned up.  

Should you wish to know more about lovely Lord Howe Island, here is a link: https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/lord-howe-island, and here is another one: https://lordhoweisland.info/

Is Thai food also the world's tastiest medicine?

Many Thai dishes combine deliciousness with healthy ingredients - making them perfectly in tune with the current fashion for wellness awareness.

Thailand's Department of Cultural Promotion is promoting Thai foods as being both medicinal and beneficial for one's health through the website Thai Taste Therapy – an online Thai cooking space showcasing 50 recipes and their health benefits.

The website also contains information on raw ingredients and Thai herbs.

Thai gastronomy takes centuries-old local wisdom to a new level in health, well-being and medicinal care, the department says.

"Thailand is honoured to share its knowledge of local dishes from throughout the Kingdom that not only appeal to the taste buds but have healing properties for a number of ailments."

Chai Nakhonchai, director general of the Department of Cultural Promotion, said the attractions of Thai food go beyond taste.

"While Thai food is an intangible cultural heritage praised worldwide for its diverse flavours, the wonder of Thai cuisine doesn't end with great taste," he says.

"Nearly every dish is bursting with vegetables, herbs and spices containing nutraceutical properties [food containing health-giving additives and having medicinal benefits] which in turn can aid the body to fight off diseases and help maintain a level of health and vitality.

"It's not an overstatement to refer to Thai cuisine as 'The World's Tastiest Medicine'."

Sample dishes from the website include immune system-boosting chicken soup with turmeric and five-spice jungle curry.

For more details visit www.thaitastetherapy.com.

Image: Suparerg Suksai, Scop.io

Rutherglen readies for a tourism revival

Rutherglen is a small. laidback town in north-east Victoria that's known around the world for the quality of its fortified wines. 

The local tourism authority goes so far as to say it is a "buzzing, chic and contemporary getaway destination".

What is not in doubt is that Rutherglen has been given a zhuzh as it readies to emerge from the Covid-19 tourism cocoon.

 

There’s a brand new website offering visitors a new way to explore the region with a selection of tailor-made itineraries. 

For some ideas, check out explorerutherglen.com.au and then take a quick six-question quiz which generates a suggested bespoke itinerary. 

The new site is also a great place to get to know the people behind the wines of Rutherglen. Some of these Faces of Wine trace their lineage six or more generations back to the 1860s when pioneering grape growers first planted. 

It’s also the place to discover a bunch of very new arrivals in the region, including:

●      Grace, a brand new restaurant/deli/bar now open for breakfast, lunch, aperitifs and dinner from the team behind Milkin’ Kitchen  gourmet caterers.

●      Much-loved local foodie institution, The Pickled Sisters, now at a new Main Street location with chef Stewart Gilchrist still at the helm and now offering dinner Friday and Saturday nights as well as all-day brunch and lunch menu Thursday to Sunday

●      New at Cofield Wines (former home of The Pickled Sisters) is Footsteps, a cafe and restaurant highlighting fresh locally sourced produce to match the estate-grown wines. 

●      The Pavilion, overlooking the century-old Calliope vines at Buller Estate, for a long and leisurely winery lunch or a cellar door graze

●      The beautifully restored historic landmark, The Convent, now available for group accommodation.

Other accommodation options include historic Mount Ophir and a tiny house in the vines at Jones Winery. 

# Images: Rowly Milhinch at Scion Wines and Mount Ophir.