TV personality Preston to return to the hills

Television star and food personality Matt Preston will return to the Adelaide Hills Wine Region as official ambassador for the 2026 Winter Reds after making his debut last year.

Preston will be joined at select food events by chef, TV personality, and friend Warren Mendes for what is billed as "an unforgettable weekend of food, wine, and camaraderie".

The annual red wine festival is held in the Adelaide Hills annually in late July. It is in its 16th year and will run from Friday, July 24, to Sunday, July 26.

“Winter Reds is one of the best food and wine events in the country," Preston enthused.

"I had so much fun at Winter Reds last year -fantastic wines, brilliant people, and that unmistakable Hills charm - that I wanted to come back. I can’t wait to eat, drink, and celebrate everything that makes the Adelaide Hills region so special.”

Preston's Winter Reds weekend will kick off at Vinteloper on the Friday night. Guests will experience benchmark Adelaide Hill reds wines, food bites, and the vibe of an intimate house-gathering against the backdrop of a brisk winter night. This limited-ticket event will see guests mingle with him and Adelaide Hills producers.

On the Sunday the headline event will be an exclusive Winter Reds long lunch named Preston’s Plates at Golding Wines. Over 150 guests will enjoy the day.

Adelaide Hills Wine Region president Alex Trescowthick said Winter Reds has become a cornerstone event that continues to champion the strength and diversity of the region’s red wines which go well beyond pinot nNoir, for which it is best known.

"Winter Reds is a much-loved annual celebration of Adelaide Hills’ red wines and the vibrant community behind them," he says.

"Cool-climate pinot noir is still the hero, but there’s also shiraz, gamay, nebbiolo, and more. We invite wine lovers to experience our exceptional cool climate wines and the Hills region at its most atmospheric – when we embrace the chilly weather that signifies our cool climate with warm jackets and cosy open fires.”

Across the weekend, 34 cellar doors will deliver a mix of over 40 events.

See https://www.adelaidehillswine.com.au/events/winter-reds

Image: Matt Preston, Eat Media

A bridge to some calm in frenetic Bangkok

Bangkok is not all high rises, canals and traffic chaos. Local resident David Armstrong reveals a local secret, an oasis for walkers and cyclists. 

Bangkok has a long stretch of main road (Ploenchit and Sukhumvit roads) overloaded with high end hotels, shopping malls and luxury apartment blocks.

But running parallel, a little to the south, is the city’s Green Mile – a skybridge connecting central Bangkok’s two big parks, Lumphini Park and Benjakitti Park (with its forest park wetlands extension).

The bridge caters for cyclists, joggers and plain-old walkers.

From the Lumphini Park side, it cuts through the city, crossing a main road and an expressway.

Once it reaches Benjakitti, it divides; one arm allows cycling and the other, branded as the Skywalk, is for joggers and walkers.

The cycle path skirts a khlong (canal) on the border of the park; the Skywalk goes through the wild wetlands before reaching the more-ordered woodlands of Benjakitti Park. 

* David Armstrong is a distinguished journalist and editor, who has been in the media industry since 1969. He currently writes for the Pearls & Irritations public policy journal.

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/