Wine industry icon honoured

One of the leading figures in the Australian wine industry was recognised by his peers today - and named a Legend of the Vine.  

Alister Purbrick from Tahbilk was named a Victorian Legend of the Vine in front of a large crowd of his wine industry associates at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards Lunch. 

The award recognises his lasting contribution to the industry.

His roles have included president of the Winemakers Federation (1999-2001, now called Australian Grape & Wine), being the inaugural chairman of Australia’s First Family of Wines (2006-2010). 

He was given the Len Evans Wine Industry Leadership Award in 2012 and has been chief executive of his family-owned wine business, Tahbilk Group, since 1978. He stepped down as CEO last year. 

He helped make Tahbilk one of the most environmentally sustainable wine producers in the world.

“Alister has played an integral role in the Australian wine industry for so many years," said WCA national executive chairman Angus Barnes. 

"He has helped shape the industry at many different levels and the fact that he continues to give his time to organisations like Australian Grape and Wine shows his true passion and dedication to Australia’s wine industry. 

"Alister is well known throughout the industry and today’s award will be celebrated across the country.”

Purbrick is the seventh person to be awarded Legend of the Vine status in Victoria, and the first since 2019, joining a national list that includes the likes of Ross Brown, Jeni Port, Brian Croser AO, Pam Dunsford, Tony Love, Brian Walsh, the late d’Arry Osborn, and Steve Flamsteed.

Catch a new-release movie in the vineyards

It sounds like a lovely summer treat: watching a new-release movie in a lovely vineyard setting.

Tokar Estate Winery in the Yarra Valley will host a movie program every Friday and Saturday night throughout December.

It is being billed as a fun, family-friendly event under the stars.

Think Frosty's Kitchen a gourmet food truck, drinks including estate-grown wines, watermelon Frosé, cocktails and local beers, and even a candy bar selling classic choc tops and other cinema snacks. There will be lawn games for the kids, and sunset vineyard views for the adults.

I had a glass or two (well, three or four really) of the excellent Tokar Estate 2023 Shiraz Rosé the other evening - and it would be a delightful sundowner.

The screenings are a joint venture between Tokar Estate and local business Offshore Cinema.

The program includes action films like The Flash, and Top Gun: Maverick, movies for a girls night out including Barbie and No Hard Feelings, and comedies including Home Alone 2, and Tropic Thunder.

Gates will open at 6:30pm with movies screening from 9pm. BYO picnic rug, bean bag or camping chair.

For more info or to book tickets visit https://www.tokarestate.com.au/pages/cinema-in-the-vines

A whisky collection for the aficionado who has serious cash to splash

So you are looking for a present for the drinks aficionado who has everything?

Or maybe you are silly rich and can buy whatever you fancy?

How about a curated whisky collection worth $58,000?

The Cask Curation Series Sherry Edition marks the first release in a series that will celebrate The Dalmore’s whiskies - and the role rare casks play in the creation of an iconic Single Malt Scotch.

The Dalmore brand was featured here last month, and has just unveiled the 2023 release - The Sherry Edition - which features whiskies made using casks from fifth-generation winemakers González Byass, of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

The collection comprises three aged-statement whiskies finished in fine sherry casks.

The sets are limited to just 150 collections globally, with only three available in Australia,

The Sherry Edition is presented in a bespoke leather-finished travel case hand-crafted in Florence, Italy, and each bottle will have a matching collar.

The collection comprises:

# The 26 Year Old, finished in rare Gonzalez Byass 2002 vintage Cask No.4

# The 28 Year Old, finished in a Gonzalez Byass 30-Year-Old Matusalem Sherry Cask

# The 43 Year Old, finished in a Gonzalez 30-year-old Apostoles Sherry Cask

The whiskies were all created at The Dalmore distillery - which was established in 1839 - by Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE.

In 2024, the second release in Cask Curation Series will shine a light on the brand's partnership with a famous Port wine maker. The third release arrives in 2026, followed by the fourth and final release concluding the series in 2027.

The Sherry Edition will be showcased at Dan Murphy’s Martin Place, Sydney, in case you have a lazy $58,000 lying around.

Who wouldn't want to enjoy a drink or two here?

Another press release, Another rooftop bar. Meh.

But then I took a look at the images.

Chiang Mai is one place that I have not yet visited and I have added Meliá Chiang Mai’s 360-degree rooftop bar to my list of has "must dos" next time I am in Thailand.

The highest bar in Chiang Mai, named Mai the Sky Bar, is perched on the hotel’s 22nd floor, with views of the Ping River to the city’s east and Doi Suthep Temple on the mountain top to the west.

Drawing on the Meliá hotel group's Spanish roots, it has a new menu showcasing a variety of tapas and pinchos, grazing boards and desserts under sections dubbed “Para Picar”, “Tableros” and “Postres” respectively.

The menu features dishes underpinned by local sustainable and organic farming.

Crafted by Jartisann’s Original Thai Cheese, from locally sourced raw cow’s milk from Chiang Mai, the new menu’s artisan cheese board options include ‘Forest Tail’, ‘Palazzo di Palma’, ‘Ricotta Affumicata’, ‘Saltara Machima’ and ‘San Paquanburie’ paired with coated nuts, dried fruit, grapes and other morsels.

Dishes such as the seasonal fruit platter, and ingredients including the tomato and basil used for the platter are sourced from nearby gourmet organic farm SEED as part of the hotel’s ‘360° Cuisine’ program.

 


In addition to cold cuts, the menu also features mixed grill skewers, croquetas, fresh summer rolls with vegetables in fresh spring roll wrap and sweet tamarind dip, and salmon tiradito with mango/passionfruit dressing, avocado mousse and pickled onion.

The dishes are designed to be accompanied by the bar’s spirits, cocktails, mocktails, wines, beers, coffees, signature teas, smoothies and shakes, fresh juices, and soft drinks.

“Mai the Sky Bar may be one of the loftiest venues in town, but we have a ground up approach when it comes to working with sustainable farmers, cheeseries, honey makers and more in Chiang Mai to ultimately support sustainable agriculture and healthier eating,” said the hotel’s general manager Marc Selinger.

As part of its “Sunset Chill and DJ Live Sessions” held every Thursday to Sunday until December 31, the bar will host a live music band from 6-8pm and a resident DJ from 8-11pm.

Call +66 52 090 600 or visit https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/thailand/chiang-mai/melia-chiang-mai/index.htm

The spice is right. Sichuan Airlines back in Australia

Air travel to China from Australia is back to normal after Sichuan Airlines this week returned to Sydney Airport, marking a full complement of eight Chinese carriers operating between the two countries.

Sichuan Airlines returned to Sydney Airport after an absence of 45 months - just short of four years.

All eight Chinese airlines that flew through Sydney pre-Covid have now returned.

Sichuan Airlines links Sydney with Chengdu.

The airline’s inaugural flight into Sydney Airport was in December 2013, with services pausing from early February 2020, when Covid travel restrictions began in China.

At the start of the year, there were just three Chinese airlines flying a total of four return services between Sydney Airport and mainland China.

From November, eight Chinese Airlines and Qantas will have a total of 85 return services a week between Sydney and the Chinese mainland.

Sichuan Airlines is the only carrier offering direct flights between Sydney and Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province in south-western China.

The city of Chengdu is the fourth largest by population in China and a strategic economic and financial hub in the region.

The airline is currently running three weekly return services, increasing to five per week from November 19.

 “A decade ago Sichuan Airlines first flew into Sydney Airport, and to welcome them back again after an almost four-year break due to the pandemic marks an important milestone in our recovery journey,” said Sydney Airport CEO Jeff Schubert.

“The return of Sichuan Airlines comes at a time when capacity to China is nearing pre-Covid levels, something that seemed impossible at the start of the year.

“We started the year with very few flights from China, but by November we’ll be 86% recovered, with more flights coming online in the coming months.

“The pace at which this market has returned has exceeded our expectations and will play a crucial role in supporting the recovery of tourism, business and student travel and the broader New South Wales economy.”



Airlines now flying direct services from Sydney to mainland China are Air China, Beijing Capital Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Qantas, Sichuan Airlines, Tianjin Airlines and Xiamen Airlines.

Wine cocktails? Yes, maybe

 

A press release about wine-based cocktails? 

My finger hovered for a moment over the "delate" button. 

But then I gave it some thought. 

I enjoy a kir royale, which is certainly a wine cocktail. And a Bellini? Yes please, and also a wine cocktail. 

So why not some cheap and cheerful cocktails made from affordable Aussie wines? 

Tony Allen, the wine and grape commercial manager at Rewild Wines has put some thought into a couple of drinks that any wine-loving mixologist can put together at home. 

Here are a couple of his favourites: 

Mimosa with Rewild Prosecco – serves eight 

# 1 bottle (750 ml) chilled Rewild Prosecco

# 2 to 4 cups chilled pulp-free orange juice 

Method: While holding your wine flute at a slight tilt, fill the glass about halfway with Prosecco. Fill the rest of the glass with orange juice and serve. Or swap out the OJ for freshly squeezed watermelon juice and add some fresh mint leaves. 

Red Sangria with Rewild Merlot

# 1 bottle (750ml) of Rewild Merlot

# 1 lemon, cut into wedges, 1 orange, cut into wedges, 1 lime, cut into wedges

# 2 tablespoons sugar

# Splash of orange juice or lemonade

# 2 shots of gin or triple sec 

# 1 cup of raspberries or strawberries 

# 1 small can of diced pineapples (with juice)

# 4 cups ginger ale

Method: Pour wine into a large jug and squeeze the juice from the lemon, orange and lime wedges into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds) and pineapple, then add sugar, orange juice and gin or triple sec. Chill overnight then add ginger ale, berries and ice just before serving. 

The Rewild range includes pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, moscato, rosé, merlot, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, fiano, prosecco and a red blend and is available from Dan Murphy’s stores and select BWS stores for $9.99. 

See rewildwine.com.au/