Impress your date and explore Sydney in a pink Mercedes

When times are tough in the travel writing world, the smartest cookies in the box find a way to pivot. 

That's certainly what Sydney-based Katrina Holden has done. 

Love pink? Love vintage vibes? 

Summer in Sydney has seen the launch of a brand new, unique ride service built around a very cute 1975 baby pink Mercedes Benz complete with its original interiors, called That Pink Merc.

That Pink Merc is hireable by the hour, with a driver, and takes up to four passengers who are encouraged to create their own memorable moments. 

There are no hard rules other than you get a pink Merc, a driver and any add-ons that you want -  the hire is yours for the duration to go wherever you want. 

Passengers could hire the car for a scenic route lunch drop-off, a wedding car moment, a drive to watch a pretty sunset against the bonnet, a romantic picnic or a ride through the Cross to stare at the plebs. 

Add-ons are also available for each booking as an extra surprise or touch point. They include a picnic kit and glassware; a gourmet cheese pack, half a dozen boxed #RideTheMoment cupcakes, a posy of florals with a hand-written card, event/wedding ribbons on the front of the car and personalised monogram lettering on the rear window.

All these items are pre-set-, pre-arranged and ready when That Pink Merc and driver arrive at your pick-up destination. 

“That Pink Merc is all about throwing traditional hire car rules out the window and letting people make up their own moments, exactly as they want them to be,” says Holden (who is a friend of mine and a retro lifestyle expert). 

“We have had so many rules the last two years, we just wanted to remove all layers of restriction and let people create the level of fun, sophistication or style that they want on this experience."

That Pink Merc is a Covid-safe business with a fully vaccinated driving team. As per current NSW Health regulations, riders will need to be vaccinated to enjoy their moment. 

Ride the Moment experiences in That Pink Merc start from $300 + GST and can be easily booked online at www.thatpinkmerc.com

That Pink Merc is also available for events, activations, photoshoots and creative collaborations.

"It's been a whirlwind few months," Holden says. "But I'm bringing my two great passions for travel and vintage culture together in a brand new entrepreneurial chapter.

"This represents something quite different to anything I’ve done before and looking back at the past few months, I’ve really had to challenge myself to step outside of my comfort zone and back myself and my vision. 

"I’m feeling proud about launching and also the personal growth I’ve experienced in taking a road less travelled."

How much water would you like in your Bordeaux wine?

There have been numerous incidents of dodgy wines sold at auction in the past and now Vincent Lataste, the owner of Bordeaux wine company Sequoia, has been sentenced to a year in jail for multiple mislabelling offences.

A court in Bordeaux found his company “attempted deception on the substantial qualities of wines,” among other offences.

Lataste’s sentence constitutes the first of its kind for a prominent figure in the Bordeaux wine industry. His family has been making wine in Bordeaux since 1850, 

Sequoia, which has since been renamed (rather ironically) as Awesome, was fined €100,000, €50,000 of which was suspended, while he himself was fined €30,000 with €20,000 suspended.

He has, however, appealed to France’s highest court, local media reported.

The case, as reported in Le Monde newspaper, started when inspectors from the wine regulator, Institut national de l’origine et de la Qualité, carried out a “routine check” on wines sold by Sequoia, which is based in Cadillac, near Bordeaux.

The inspection showed levels of sulphur dioxide (SO2) which were above the authorised limits, being 90 micrograms per litre over the 150 milligram per litre cap.

Sulphur dioxide is used in the winemaking process as an antioxidant and an antimicrobial additive that stops harmful bacteria, and kills yeasts that might spoil the wine.

After this finding, further tests were carried out and authorities found evidence of further fraud, including wines from different producers being mixed, water being added to wine and wine labels displaying the incorrect years (good years, of course, rather than poor vintages).

Back in 2016, another Bordeaux château owner, François-Marie Marret, was fined after he was found guilty of selling cheap wine as more expensive Bordeaux to a number of major supermarkets. 

Lataste was also found guilty of assisting in that crime and given an 18-month suspended sentence and a fine.

It's official: Calabria is a Riverina wine legend

 

Bill Calabria AM is one of the nicest men in the wine industry. 

Second-generation winemaker has been recognised as the 2021 Riverina Legend at this year’s Riverina Wine Show following his namesake winery’s sweeping of the competition with a total of six trophies and the award for Most Successful Exhibitor for the third consecutive year.

 

Calabria, who once fought as a professional boxer, has been a notable figure in the Riverina since first working for the family’s winery (formerly known as Westend) at the age of 14. 

He has long held that the region can produce outstanding, premium wines, in addition to creating notable value drops. 

 

In 2013, he as made a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to the industry. 

 

NSW Wine Industry Association president Mark Bourne said: “This deserved recognition of Bill’s accomplishments are borne from his passion, innovation and commitment to the Riverina, New South Wales and Australian wine industry over many years. 

“We look forward to the exciting future for Bill and the entire Calabria family as they continue to play a significant role in the prosperity and growth of the Riverina for generations to come.” 

 

Regular readers will know I am not a huge fan of wine shows but these were exceptional results. 

“What an honour to be the recipient of the Riverina Legend award,“ Calabria said. 

“I am grateful to my distinguished peers and Riverina neighbours for continuing to support our family, even through the most challenging times in our 76-year history. 

 

“I have always believed the Riverina to be incredibly underrated, both locally and globally, but through our consistency of quality wines from year to year, the region continues to be the heart of the NSW wine industry. 

“One thing that stands out is the incredible sense of community and camaraderie found in the region and I send my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the ongoing success of our family winery over the past seven decades.”

 

The Riverina Legend award first launched in 2019 as part of the Riverina Wine Show. Bill Calabria joins Les Worland (2019) and Jim and Keith McWilliam (2020).

Discover mature wines from the back of a ute

UPDATED

Following months of closure and renovations as a result of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend storms, boutique Yarra Valley winery, Mandala, is holding a huge ‘Ute Load of Wine’ sale next weekend at its remodelled cellar door.

Wine lovers will be able to snap up mature single vineyard and estate releases, as well as cleanskin bottles direct from Mandala’s Dixons Creek premises between 11am and 5pm on both December 11-12.

The sale was originally scheduled for this weekend but has been pushed back because of a computer issue.  

Sales will also be made available online for those who are unable to get to the Yarra.. 

Cleanskin estate wines will be available at a heavily discounted price as well as back vintage wines, museum stock, and a handful of run-out cellar door wines. 

Wines with an RRP of $60 will be sold for $240 a case.

Those who purchase a dozen pack from the Ute Load of Wine Sale will also go into the draw to win a mystery case of wine, curated by Charles Smedley, the owner at Mandala.

Keep an eye on Mandala’s website and Facebook and Instagram pages for more information on the online sale.

Raffles Hotel to open in London

Raffles is one of the most famous names in the hotel business and now Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced Raffles London at The OWO will start welcoming guests from late 2022.

Raffles London at The OWO will be housed in the landmark Grade II-listed former Old War Office on Whitehall - a wonderfully imposing building.

Following a major transformation it will feature 120 rooms and suites, 85 branded residences and 11 restaurants and bars.

Britain's first Raffles hotel will also have an extensive wellness space featuring spa and fitness partners and will be home to a rooftop restaurant and bar with panoramic views across Whitehall, The Mall and Buckingham Palace, Travel Mole reports.

The Old War Office interior has classic Edwardian architecture and the building’s key features have been completely restored.

Raffles and owner Hinduja Group have brought together a team of industry talent including interior design by Thierry Despont.

Stephen Alden, CEO of Raffles Hotels & Orient Express said: "The launch of Raffles London at The OWO is a singular moment for the London hospitality scene as the Raffles brand arrives in the city. 

"We are so proud to be part of the magnificent five-year transformation of the historic Old War Office building."

The original Raffles Hotel is a colonial-style luxury hotel in the downtown core of Singapore. 

It was established by Armenian hoteliers the Sarkies Brothers in 1887.

The hotel was named after British statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the founder of colonial-era Singapore.

Crisis looms for lovers of Burgundy wines

Wine lovers should prepare for shortages of their favourite Burgundies with yields down dramatically in the 2021 vintage.

The latest figures released by the Burgundy wine marketing bureau, the BIVB, point to a crop of around 900 to 950,000 hectolitres of Burgundy grapes in 2021. 

That volume equates to “about 50 % of a normal year”, and “2/3 of the average in recent years”, Vitisphere reports.

The survey of winegrowers paints an “extremely varied picture across the wine region,” said Frédéric Drouhin, chairman of the BIVB.

“Generally speaking, the white wines from the Côte d'Or and the Côte Chalonnaise were particularly badly affected," he said. 

"The reds fared slightly better. In terms of yields, the range this vintage is between 30 and 31 hl/ha. “In the Côte de Nuits, it’s not bad. But in Chablis, the crop has been halved.”

The frosts that occurred in in April are the major cause of the shortfall, but there was also hail in some areas. 

The figures are higher than the top-end range of post-harvest estimates, but they are still particularly concerning for the industry. 

“You have to revert back to 1985 to find volumes below 1 million hectolitres in Burgundy, and 1981 to find lower yields,” said Drouhin.

The situation is compounded by a succession of “small” vintages in the region over the past 10 years, with only 2017 and 2018 considered “normal”. 

Consequently, inventories are dwindling. 

"With a pretty low 2021 crop, we will have to manage markets smartly,” said Drouhin.