Japan to end all Covid border control measures

Japan - which has imposed some of the toughest pandemic crackdown measures in the world - will end all Covid border control measures next month.

That means proof of vaccination or a test will no longer be required as of May 8.

From that date Covid-19 will then be classified in Japan as a common disease, Travel Mole reports.

Currently, all arrivals must present proof of at least Covid vaccination jabs, or a negative test taken within 72 hours of departure.

The move is expected to help boost Japan tourism, which is in recovery mode.

In November, 2021, Japan tightened border controls by barring the entry of all non-resident foreigners and by requiring returning Japanese nationals and foreign residents to quarantine at designated facilities.

Initially implemented for a month, the control measures were later extended, sparking protests from foreign exchange students and business people.

The country started gradually easing the daily entry cap in March 2022 before completely lifting it in October of that year.

Meet the airports where it is fine to carry liquids on board

The world is changing fast.

The 100ml liquid rule for air travellers is now history at London City Airport.

The rollout of high-tech CT scanners means travellers are no longer required to limit liquids to 100ml in carry-on bags.

London City and Teeside, in the north-east of England have both officially launched CT scanners for passenger screening.

The scanners allow for clearer 3D imaging, although what happens if the machines go on the blink remains an unknown.

The British Government wants all major UK airports to have installed the machines by mid-2024.

London City Airport travellers no longer have to remove liquids, laptops and other electronic gadgets from their hand baggage when passing through security, Travel Mole reports.

The liquid limit is now up to 2 litres in hand baggage, and does not have to be placed in clear plastic bag.

Trials of the machines have been taking place at British other airports including London Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham.

Expect them at Australian airports in around, say, 10 years.

The inside scoop on Australia's craziest wine deal

 

# Australians only

If a deal sounds too good to be true, then it usually is.

I'm not quite sure what the guys in the Devil's Corner marketing department were thinking, but an offer this week has to be the best deal that wine lovers have seen for some time.

Here's how it works.

The new recommended retail price for the very decent Devil's Corner core table wine range is around $27.

At participating Cellarbrations liquor stores - and associated outlets - you can buy six wines for $125, which works out at around $20.85 a bottle.

But wait.

After spending your $125, you then go online and claim a free $100 Blundstone Digital Mastercard.

This is delivered within two or three days; my wife's arrived within 24 hours, mine within 12 hours. It is now sitting in my Apple Wallet ready to use. 

 
So you effectively get six bottles of Devil's Corner's core range (the 2022 Pinot Noir is a standout) for $25.

Which is ridiculous.

OK, you do have to go online and fill in a form - and you have to wait a couple of days to get your $100 digital Mastercard. But if you are getting six bottles of wine for $25, who cares?

Understandably, the offer is limited to one six-bottle deal per person until Sunday, or while stocks last. Which might not be very long.

I'm in Tasmania right now, and I know the Cellarbrations stores at Eastlands and Huonville are involved. It might be worth a call to your local outlet.

Welcome to our city. Now pay up.

Going to Thailand? Be prepared to pay a new "entry tax".

Bound for Italy? Get ready to pay up to enter Venice from next year.

New taxes on tourists are a trend right around the world, whether you cough up to enter a country, pay a bed tax, or are hit for an exit payment.

Now the British city of Manchester, known for Coronation Street, the Manchester Ship Canal and a couple of decent football teams, has become the first city in the UK to impose a separate levy on visitors.

The City Visitor Charge will be £1 ($1.85 AUD) per room per night for guests at all accommodation providers.

Not a lot, but enough to be annoying.

The city expects it will raise about £3 million a year, much of which will no doubt be devoured by administration costs.

Travel Mole reports that the Manchester tourism tax "will help fund various tourist initiatives".

This will include running large events and conferences, street cleanliness and tourism marketing.

It will generate "new events and activities", says Manchester City Council Chief Executive Joanne Roney, who rather bizarrely described the slug as an "innovative initiative".

MCC says 73 hotels and serviced apartments have so far signed up to impose the City Visitor Charge and other UK cities are reportedly looking closely at how the system works.

Edinburgh is planning to impose a £2 tourist tax subject to Scottish Parliament approval and Wales also has plans to introduce a tourist fee.

Accidental winemaker makes a big impact

Tim Pelquest-Hunt is the accidental winemaker who made good. 

He was a classically trained singer working in a wine store for extra cash when his employer discovered he had a great palate for both whisky and wine. 

Fast forward a few years and the science-minded musician is in charge of the Orlando wine brand that is owned by global giant Pernod-Ricard. 

After studying viticulture and oeonology at Lincoln University in New Zealand, Pelquest-Hunt roamed the globe making wine, including in Germany and California, with two stints at sparkling house Nyetimber in the UK and in roles across the length and breadth of Australia from Tasmania to the Hunter Valley. 

"Being a travelling winemaker really appealed to me back then," he said. "I really wanted to get as much global experience as I could.

"It was important to get experience across a range of regions and climates and that has stood me in good stead given the breadth and depth of regions that we source fruit from. The learning never stops."  

Pelquest-Hunt joined Orlando a decade ago, when Bernard Hickin was in charge, and filled a range of roles before being appointed chief winemaker just over 12 months ago. 

Orlando has released the first wines finished under his  custodianship, many of which he had a role in making. "I'm fortunate to be making wines that I really love," he said.

Some are familiar favourites, others evolutions of wine styles that respect Orlando’s 176-year-old winemaking history. 

"With beginnings dating back to the founding families of South Australian wine, it is an honour to take the reins on these legendary wines, and a brand that has been synonymous with innovation and leadership," Pelquest-Hunt says. 

"Alongside a talented team in the vineyard and winery, we are working to pay respect to regionality and terroir, whilst continuing the evolution of style to create modern expressions on classics that will excite palates everywhere. 

"Whether it’s selectively harvested whole berries or carbonic maceration to drive brightness and freshness in our grenache, cold-soaking and extended maceration to add depth and power to our cabernets, or whole-bunch pressing to promote purity and freshness in our chardonnays, we are seeking to drive thought provoking wines of impeccable quality that display a sense of place."

I did a recent Zoom tasting with Tim, taking a look at some of his favourites among the new releases, which are divided into two brackets: The Legends range and the New Heoes. 

The Legends range includes some of Australia's benchmarke wines: the 2020 release of Steingarten riesling and the 2018 iteration of the Jacaranda Ridge 2018 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. 

The New Heroes range features "modern interpretations" of wines including a the Hillary Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills, and a grenache, shiraz, and cabernet sauvignon from the Barossa Valley - all priced at under $35. 

The 2020 Steingarten, deliberately released at three years of age, is beautifully pale and delicate with a core strength and intense acidity. It will reward several more years in the cellar for those who like their rieslings mature.

The 2018 Jacaranda Ridge is absolutely outstanding - an excellent value given the price of some of Australia's top reds. Pelquest-Hunt describes it as "a stunning regional expression from a near-perfect vintage". I noted that it was super stylish with an impressive combination of power and grace".

The New Heroes are designed to "modernise the interpretation of regional classics". 

A shining light here is the Cellar 13 Barossa Valley Grenache, joyous, supple and charming. It is medium bodied and could even handle a few minutes in the fridge on a warm day. 

"We want to challenge the status quo and evolve our stylistic interpretations to stimulate palates," Pelquest-Hunt says. 

Here are the two ranges: 

Legends: 2020 Orlando Steingarten Eden Valley Riesling RRP $49.99; 2021 Orlando Lyndale Adelaide Hills Chardonnay $49.99; Orlando Lawson’s Padthaway Shiraz $74.99; 2015 Orlando Centenary Hill Barossa Valley Shiraz $74.99; 2018 Orlando Jacaranda Ridge Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon $74.99.

New Heroes: 2021 Orlando Hillary Adelaide Hills Chardonnay; 2020 Orlando Printz Shed Northern Barossa Shiraz $34.99; 2019 Orlando Bungalow Lane Barossa Valley Cabernet $34.99 and  2020 Orlando Cellar 13 Barossa Valley Grenache - all are $34.99 RRP. 

Flying from Australia to South America is about to get a lot easier

LATAM Airlines is to resume flying directly between Melbourne and Santiago, Chile.

From Santiago, passengers can connect to more than 144 destinations in LATAM’s network across the Americas.

LATAM will recommence the Melbourne - Santiago route with three weekly services operated on a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, enabling passengers to fly to Santiago in under 13 hours.

LATAM Airlines Australian operations were paused in April 2020 due to the pandemic, with flights from Sydney via Auckland to Santiago restarting in March 2022.

"We are extremely excited to work with the Victorian Government and Melbourne Airport to resume LATAM’s direct flights to South America," said Chris Ellis, Country Manager for LATAM.

"There has been a huge demand for travel to the region and we are thrilled to be able to meet the needs of travellers, starting with over 900 seats a week on our Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

"For the past year, we have been building our capacity in Sydney and it's a pleasure to be taking up residence again in Melbourne Airport as we expand our footprint in Australia.

“LATAM has the largest network in Latin America with connections to 144 destinations, including some of the greatest bucket list destinations in the world."

The first LATAM Airlines Melbourne flight will take off from Santiago on September 1, 2023, arriving in Melbourne on September 2 and taking off on the same day.

To make a booking, visit latam.com or contact travel agents.