Why you need to be very careful when booking budget flights in Europe

There are dozens of budget airlines flying to small airports all over Europe, and further afield. 

If you want to fly to Rodez, or perhaps to Stavanger, there will be options to be found online. And the fares will be cheap.

The trouble is that these airlines go out of business with alarming regularity. 

The latest to go bust is Berlin-based budget airline Germania, which has ceased flying with immediate effect. 

The airline, which carried more than four million passengers a year across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, blamed rising fuel prices and currency fluctuations for its demise.

"We ultimately failed to successfully complete our financing efforts to meet short-term liquidity needs," said managing director Karsten Balke.

"We very much regret that, as a consequence, we had no choice but to file for bankruptcy."

The company said that passengers who had booked flights as part of a package should contact their tour operator to make alternative arrangements. Passengers who booked directly with the airline are not being offered replacement flights. So there goes your money. 

The Icelandic-owned, Danish-based budget airline Primera Air went out of business last October, while the collapse of Germania follows the demise of Air Berlin, which filed for insolvency in August 2017. I still have an Air Berlin frequent flyer card somewhere. Many of its routes were picked up by easyJet.

Hear them roar. Women winemakers make a statement.

Look out for Hear Me Roar, the world’s first wine produced by women to raise funds for women in wine. 

The Australian Women in Wine Awards has announces that the new release will see100% of profits go to assist women to flourish and succeed in their chosen profession in the wine industry.

Hear Me Roar is a 2018 shiraz sourced and blended by four of Australia’s top female winemakers from parcels in the Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Eden Valley and McLaren Vale regions of South Australia.

Those involved come from the highest echelons of winemaking: Sue Hodder, Wynn’s Coonawarra Estate; Emma Norbiato, Calabria Family Wines; Rebekah Richardson, Irvine Wines, and Corrina Wright, Oliver’s Taranga.

The wine will be released on February 21 with quantities strictly limited.

A minimum order of six bottles is required, with free Australia-wide delivery. Irvine Wines have funded the project thus far and are assisting with the sales process.

The brand name Hear Me Roar is a deliberate reference to the iconic Helen Reddy song released in 1971 and taken up more widely as a rallying cry for female empowerment.

All proceeds from the sale of the wine will go towards scholarships, mentoring programs and professional development for women in the Australian wine industry. Information on how to apply and the selection criteria will be made available in June.

“This is an exciting next stage in the way we are able to support Australian women in wine,” said Jane Thomson, founder and chair of the AWIWA.

“While the awards continue to provide an important platform to champion the success of women, we also recognise that more action is needed to retain women in all roles of the industry at greater levels. Releasing this wine is a means of generating the funding we need to make that happen.”

“The amount of support received has been fantastic,” said Rebekah Richardson. “And it’s a great reminder of what we as an Australian wine community can do when we come together.”

The Australian Women in Wine Awards (AWIWA) was founded in 2015 to acknowledge and reward the work of women in the Australian wine industry, and industry leaders who champion equality and fairness for all sexes in the workplace. 

The wine can be ordered here: https://womeninwineawards.com.au/hear-me-roar/

So you enjoy a stroll: Take a walk on the mild side

North-East Victoria is a popular destination for active travellers - and Victoria's High Country has launched a new site - Walk High Country - showcasing more than 100 must-do walks around this spectacular region.

From short village strolls to multi-day mountain hikes for the more adventurous, Walk High Country is a one-stop shop for visitors keen to explore the beauty of Victoria's North East on foot.

Visitors can guide themselves or choose from a selection of new guided walk experiences around the region, including: at Mount Buller, where Ness Hinneberg of Skadi Adventures offers fully supported walking adventures for women, from half-day to overnight hikes.

Bright Adventure Company's new three-hour guided adventure explores Mount Buffalo, while High Country Hikjing Tours  has a guided, multi-day walk in and around Mount Stirling including Craig's Hut, Eagle Peaks and Crosscut Saw

At Falls Creek, the new Trails, Tails and Tucker walk takes in historic High Plains huts and superb scenery on an easy guided walk and picnic, suitable for any age.

Another option is a fully guided and supported pack-horse walking holiday through the Victorian Alps with Parktrek and Bogong Horseback Adventures. 

These new guided adventures are additions to well-established Walk High Country experiences including the Hedonistic Hiking all-inclusive luxury walking holidays including the King Valley and Mount Buffalo and Bright-based Akoine Walking Guides' three- and five-day walks from Mount Hotham to Falls Creek. 

For more details see: www.walkhighcountry.com.au

Calabria family spreads its wings to the Barossa

The Calabria family has been making wines in the Riverina region for 74 years but will this week celebrate the launch of its new base in the Barossa Valley.

Bill Calabria AM, patriarch of Calabria Family Wines, visited the iconic Barossa Valley a decade ago and made a decision that the family should spread its wings to South Australia.

Bill, wife Lena and their four children this week celebrate the opening of their Barossa Valley cellar door in the former Artisans of Barossa facility.

The picturesque Barossa landmark is situated in the outskirts of Tanunda and comprises a modern cellar door, tasting bar, restaurant and 10 hectares of shiraz and cabernet sauvignon vines.

Managing Director Michael Calabria said: “We wish Artisans of the Barossa all the best on their new venture, as they open the doors to their new wine room and bar in Tanunda. They have been instrumental in bringing a new era of wine and food to the cellar door in the Barossa Valley.”

Third-generation siblings Frank, Michael, Andrew and Elizabeth Calabria will work alongside the team from Harvest Kitchen, who will remain in residence.

“We are looking forward to partnering with the Harvest Kitchen team to continue to bring honest and flavoursome food and wine of the Barossa Valley,” said Michael Calabria.

Established in 1945 Calabria will remain based in the Riverina, where their award-winning wines include the Three Bridges label and Italian varietal range: Calabria Private Bin.

Michael Calabria said: “As a family, we saw the Barossa as Australia's equivalent to the Napa or Bordeaux regions which supports our vision of pursuing a more diverse and premium wine portfolio. This is such an exciting time for us and we have to thank our Dad, Bill, for pouring hours into the care of the vineyard and refurbishment of the cellar door. He has an affinity with the Barossa and the whole community has been exceptionally generous and supportive.”

The Calabria Family are owners of three premium Barossa Valley vineyards including the 2012 purchase of The Sophie Vineyard and the 2010 purchase of The William Vineyard, originally planted by the Hahn family in 1914 and the source of their new vintage release, Calabria The Iconic Reserve Shiraz 2014.

Calabria Family Wines Barossa Valley is on the corner of Magnolia and Light Pass roads, Vine Vale will be open daily from 11am-6pm. Harvest Kitchen will be open seven days for lunch from 11:30am and late on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Getting up close and personal with honey producers

If you are one of those travellers who wants immersive experiences then luxury Tasmanian resort Saffire Freycinet has just launched a new option for its more adventurous guests. 

Exclusive to guests of Saffire Freycinet and included in the Saffire rate is new hive-to-honey experience, with a guided tour of a local apiary.

Guided by Saffire's horticulturalist Rob Barker, producer of Wild Hives honey, guests equipped with beekeeping suits get an up-close look at the hone-making process.

Guests can now trade oyster farm waders (one of the resort's most popular experiences) for full-body apiarist suit to witness thousands of Tasmanian bees at work, and extract warm, fresh honeycomb. 

“With up to 60,000 bees per hive, beating their wings 230 times each second, this is actually quite an adrenalin-filled experience,” says Barker, although his calming influence on both guests and bees alike ensures the bees are  not disrupted throughout the encounter. 

 “Such immersion in nature is as fascinating as it is exciting, particularly as bees are the cornerstone of our ecosystem, without which our world would be a very different place.”

The experience was launched mid-December 2018 and creates yet another link between Saffire guests and local producers of premium Tasmanian food and beverage. 

Saffire's culinary policy stipulates that 80% of produce is sourced locally on the island, with the Tasmanian-born executive chef Iain Todd often incorporating raw, wild, unheated and pure honey from the apiary in a variety of dishes on the daily-changing menu.

# Saffire has been recognised as the Best Luxury Hotel in Australia and South Pacific 2019, by the world's largest travel website, TripAdvisor, for the fifth consecutive year in a row.

Scotchmans Hill links up with Sydney Mardi Gras

I've always considered Scotchmans Hill Winery, on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, to be a rather staid wine brand.

It has restrained labels and makes wines in a traditional style. A model of consistency.

Under new ownership since 2014, Scotchmans Hill is now kicking up its heels and will be the exclusive wine and sparkling partner of the 2019 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras through its Swan Bay brand.

Established in 1982, Scotchmans Hill was the Bellarine Peninsula’s first winery and today is the largest in the region.

“We’re extremely proud to be partnering with Mardi Gras,” said Scotchmans Hill CEO Peter Yeoman. “Our brand stands for celebration and integrity, which is what Mardi Gras is all about.”

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO, Terese Casu, said: “Scotchmans Hill Winery is an exciting addition to our line-up of partners and supporters for this year’s Mardi Gras Festival – we’re proud to be profiling exceptional Australian wines to our international audience." 

https://youtu.be/uBLcXQMi3bg

To celebrate the partnership, Scotchmans Hill opted to shoot a light-hearted video, joining forces with local production company Moo Motion and Triple M disk jockeys Tom Bainbridge and Olly Morris.

“The video was created to celebrate the joy of the partnership and reflect the excitement of Mardi Gras itself,” said Yeoman. 

Mardi Gras is this year celebrating its 41st birthday and runs from February 15-March 3 for the benefit of Sydney’s LGBTQI community, the enjoyment of a wider audience and as a beacon of diversity, acceptance and LGBTQI rights.