And then there were seven: Artisans of Barossa add new faces

The select group of Artisans of Barossa has welcomed two new labels to the fold.

Mark Slade and Craig Stansborough from Purple Hands Wines and John and James Lienert from Lienert Vineyards join founder members Hobbs of Barossa Ranges, John Duval Wines, Spinifex Wines, Schwarz  Wine Company and Sons of Eden.

  

Each of the seven Artisans of Barossa winemakers is an independent, family-owned business. 

"During discussions with both wineries through 2019, it was plain to see they were obviously aligned to the philosophy that binds the Artisans winemakers together," the group said on its Facebook page. 

"There is a love of all things Barossa, a hands-on approach to making wine and an unwavering commitment to authenticity in the art of small-batch winemaking."

Purple Hands' breakthrough moment came at last year's Barossa wine show where from 11 entries they were awarded eight gold medals and two trophies including the Chairman's Trophy and the Trophy for Best Small Producer.

They source fruit predominantly from the southern Barossa around Williamstown and Lyndoch, and specialise in both traditional Barossa varietals like shiraz and grenache and Italian varietals such as aglianico, montepulciano and negroamaro.

John and James Lienert's family settled on the Barossa's western ridge in the second half of the 19th century, and since 2001 the brothers have been establishing vineyards and supplying a number of Barossa's best winemakers with quality fruit.

In 2016, they decided to begin making wine from their personal selection of some of the best blocks on the estate to sell under the Lienert Vineyards and Jack West labels.

Wines from all seven artisan producers are featured in the Wine Room at the rear of Vino Lokal in Murray Street, Tanunda. The Wine Room is open every day from noon.

Construction on a new Barossa home for the Artisans will start soon.

Qantas cancels its flights to China

Qantas will halt its direct services to mainland China (Sydney-Beijing and Sydney-Shanghai) from February 9 until March 29 in response to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak.

This follows entry restrictions imposed by countries including Singapore and the United States, which impact the movement of crew who work across the Qantas international network.

These entry restrictions pose significant logistical challenges for rostering crew to operate mainland China services, leading to the need to temporarily suspend these flights.

There is no change to Qantas services to Hong Kong as that destination is exempt from current travel restrictions.

Qantas said it is is working to balance high passenger numbers in both directions - including Australian residents wanting to return home from China - with the various travel restrictions being applied.

The suspension may be brought forward if demand levels or other factors change. The date for flights to resume will also be regularly reviewed based on the circumstances.

Qantas said it is liaising closely with the Australian Government on the impact of these changes to citizens currently in mainland China, and continues to take advice from the World Health Organisation and Australia's Chief Medical Officer regarding the Coronavirus in its decision-making.

Customers with bookings between February 9 and March 29 are advised to speak to their travel agent to discuss travel options. 

Customers who have booked directly through Qantas or Qantas Business Rewards should contact Qantas to discuss options. 

Qantas' Sydney-Beijing service was scheduled to end on February 23 for commercial reasons. It will now end on February 9 instead.

The Hunter has a dramatic new wine tasting experience

The Hunter Valley has a spectacular new wine tasting experience with the opening of Vamp by winemaker Lisa McGuigan.

The venue aims to echo McGuigan's post-punk persona, image and style and encompasses her passions: wine, food, art and fashion. 

The cellar door opened in December and there is now also an oyster bar offering bubbles and bivalves. 

In the upcoming months 30 sculptures by Charles Blackman being installed around the property - and there are plans for weekend art tours. 

Starting from next month there will be an Around the World with Pinot tasting, which will need to be pre-booked. 

Vamp has a slick black exterior and the monochrome theme continues through the space, including a painted feature wall.

 The venue folllows McGuigan's decision to move back to the Hunter after more than 30 years in Sydney - and is on Broke Road in Pokolbin. 

"I gave it a name because it's more than just a cellar door," McGuigan said. "I wanted up-market glamorous, a bit Gothic, a lot of shiny black ... because that's me. I didn't want to copy anyone. I think it has a feel and a look all of its own.

"I also want to be there, at the cellar door, to talk to people, build the brand," she said. "I think that's very important for the next couple of years.

"We'll carry a new range called the Velvet Collection that will only be available at the cellar door, as well as our regular silver and platinum ranges.

The Lisa McGuigan wines will range in price at the cellar door from $20 to $50.

"I want it to be classy but still affordable," she said. 

"I've been fortunate that our family have been making wine for so long that I know a lot of the growers, so I've reached out to them.

"We've got some good fruit, both from the Hunter and from outside. With the Hunter Valley Distillery next door and Blaxlands restaurant right here, too, it's a great spot for people to pull up and explore."

The centre of the room contains a circular tasting bar, surrounded by four-semi private tasting rooms and a large group tasting room for up to 30. 

Vamp is open 11am-5pm Thursday- Monday for tastings with the oyster bar open Friday-Sunday. www.vampbylisamcguigan.withwine.com 

# IMAGES: Alexander Mcintyre Photography. 
ARCHITECTURE : EJE Architecture 

INTERIORS : EJE Interiors

As Britain exits Europe; the Maldives rejoins the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth now has 54 member nations after the Maldives' application for re-admission was approved.

The small island nation, known for its many luxury resort, officially re-joined the Commonwealth this weekend.

This marks the end of a process that began 13 months ago, in December 2018, when President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wrote to the Commonwealth Secretary-General expressing the country’s interest in re-joining.

After due diligence, which included country assessment and consultations in accordance with the rules and procedures agreed by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in Kampala in 2007, Maldives has been re-admitted.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: “I warmly congratulate Maldives on its successful application. We are delighted to welcome the country and its people back to the Commonwealth.

“The reform process underway in Maldives aligns with the values and principles of the Commonwealth and we encourage the nation to continue on this path.

“Commonwealth members were pleased to note these developments and are happy once again to count Maldives as a member of the family.

“Together we will support Maldives to realise its ambitions.”

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said: “Today is a happy day for Maldivians as we return to the family of Commonwealth nations.

“As a young democracy, the Commonwealth’s foundational values of the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, multilateralism and world peace remain relevant to us more than ever.

“We gratefully acknowledge the support and help of the Commonwealth to the Maldivian democratic movement, and we look forward to the support of fellow member states to ensure the long term entrenchment of these values in our society.”

The assessment included two site visits to the country followed by positive feedback given by a Commonwealth Observer Group which was present for the Parliamentary Elections in April 2019.

The Maldives ambassador to the UK now becomes its High Commissioner, signifying Commonwealth membership.

Maldives joined the Commonwealth in 1982 and withdrew its membership in 2016 after being threatened with suspension over its human rights record.

Discover some unexpected Munich highlights

Think Munich and you probably think beer, castles and football.

Distinctively different to most of the rest of Germany, the capital of Bavaria is a very attractive blend of old and new.

Stradling the River Isar, a tributary of the Danube, it is the third-largest city in Germany behind Berlin and Hamburg.

A global centre of business, art, technology, science and culture, it is also a magnet for tourists, who flock to its old quarters and squares, many of which are pedestrian-only zones.

Home to institutions like the Deutches Museum and BMW Museum, it is also known as a city whose residents enjoy beer and partying – most notably at the annual Oktoberfest.

With a history dating back to the 12^th century, Munich is also a cultural melting pot with over a third of its residents born in other countries. 

With its trains, buses and trams, Munich is easily explored using public transport. The Schloss Nymphenburg palace and gardens and the former Dachau concentration camp are both just a short drive from the city.

It is a city worth at least two or three days of any European itinerary. 

A Beer or Two

Munich is known as the beer capital of the world and visitors can enjoy a range of traditional beer halls as well as learning all about local favourites lager and wheat beer.

The raucous Hofbrauhaus and the Paulaner Brauhaus are both very popular but a trip to the historic Lowenbrau Keller is de rigueur.

With wait staff in traditional Bavarian costumes, a range of terrific beers and hearty German food, it is a whole lot of fun. 

You can even drop in for breakfast if you wish - and on good weather days the leafy beer garden is a must. Try a giant wiener schnitzel or a pork knuckle.

Even though it is now owned by American brewing giants Anheuser Busch, there is a whole lot of history dating back several centuries. Also try beers from Spaten, Augustiner and Erdinger, from a small brewery just outside the city.

www.loewenbraeukeller.com/en/home/

Sporting Mecca

The Allianz Arena, home to the famous Bayern Munich football team, is one of the highest-tech sporting arenas in the world.

On the northern fringe of the city, it holds 75,000 spectators and is known as the only stadium in the world where the exterior colours constantly change.

Since 2012 it has been home to the museum of Bayern Munich, FC Bayern Erlebniswelt. There is also a merchandise outlet: the FC Bayern Munich Megastore, a bistro and a bar.

The stadium sits above Europe's biggest underground car park and the roof of the stadium has built-in roller blinds which may be drawn back and forth during games to provide protection from the sun.

Several behind-the-scenes tours are available.

https://allianz-arena.com/en

Take a stroll

Munich is largely flat and a great city for exploring on foot. The English Garden, which dates back to 1789 is one of the largest urban gardens in the world.

The park, in the suburb of Schwabing, was given the name Englische Garten because it was laid out in the style of an English country park. Cyclists and joggers train on the 78-km-long network of paths, and a vista of the city is offered from the Monopteros, a small Greek temple which was added to the park landscape along with the hill in 1836.

Also take in the Viktaulien Market, Munich’s oldest open market and a major drawcard for foodies, and the old streets and squares in the area surrounding Marienplatz in the city centre with its city hall with glockenspiel chimes and the new Jewish Centre.

The Gartnerplatz and surrounding streets are full of small shops and trendy bars popular with locals.

www.muenchen.de/

Make a Movie

Bavaria Filmstadt (or Bavaria Film City) is a movie and television studio complex on the southern fringes of the city.

Check out movie memorabilia including the submarine from Das Boot and the Gallic village from the filming of Asterix and Obelix Take on Cesar.

There are also original movie sets where visitors can star in their own mini feature under coaching of a director. Guided tours and 4D rides are also popular.

www.filmstadt.de/en/

Station Pleasures

The bustling Munich Hauptbahnhof is much more than just the major railway station serving the city.

As you enjoy a traditional sausage in a roll with onion and sauerkraut while you wait for your train, you’ll probably be blissfully oblivious to the lower levels of the station.

The subterranean S-Bahn with two platforms and U-Bahn stations with six platforms are also part of the complex.

In recent years, the mezzanine level linking the Hauptbahnhof to the S-Bahn and U-Bahn stations and pathways to tram platforms have been extensively renovated.

There is a bright and lively shopping area with several restaurants and cafes.

The bad news is the station is huge and it is easy to get lost. The good news is 24-hour food options, luggage lockers, paid bathrooms with showers, and free wifi. There are several hotels of varying quality in the streets nearby.

www.bahnhof.de/bahnhof-de/bahnhof/Muenchen_Hbf-1023144

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If you've visited China recently: no cruising for you

Would-be cruise passengers who have travelled in or through mainland China are now banned from all major cruise lines around the world.

 

Cruise Lines International Association - the world's largest cruise industry trade association - has said its members worldwide are to deny boarding to anyone who has recently travelled from, or through,China in a bid to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

The association said: "CLIA members have suspended crew movements from mainland China and will deny boarding to any individual, whether guest or crew, who has travelled from or through mainland China within the previous 14 days.

"The safety and health of passengers is the number one priority of CLIA members.

"CLIA and its member lines maintain close contact with health professionals and regulators around the world, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), and are continually assessing and modifying policies and procedures as developments emerge.

"This includes the modification of itineraries, where needed, in light of evolving circumstances, as well as health, travel and contact screening where appropriate, for guests and crew who have recently travelled from or through the affected area consistent with prevailing guidance from global health authorities.

"Screening protocols allow for informed decisions on a case-by-case basis whether a guest or crew member will be denied boarding."

All CLIA member ships must be fitted with medical facilities with shipboard and shore side medical professionals available around the clock.

Virgin Atlantic, meanwhile, has suspended its Heathrow-Shanghai service for at least 14 days.

"We continue to monitor the coronavirus situation very carefully and following the WHO declaration of a public health emergency of international concern, Virgin Atlantic has brought forward the suspension of Heathrow-Shanghai operations," it said in a statement.

"This decision has been made with the safety of customers and staff at the front of our minds. All passengers booked to travel should contact Virgin Atlantic to discuss their travel plans, with the option to receive a refund."