Discover a wine show with a major point of difference

PULP is a wine show/tasting with a difference. 

The Yarra Valley-created event is billed as "The People's Wine Show", where wine lovers become wine judges. 

You can help choose 'Bougiest Bubbles' and 'Most Chillable Red'. 

So if that sounds like your bag put Saturday, February 15, at the Music Market, Collingwood Yards in Melbourne in your diary. 

The highlights will include "small-batch creations, unique blends, alternative tasting experiences, and bold collaborations that define the next generation of wine".

It might be an event that rewards popularity rather than traditional excellence. 

But that is a welcome change from the overloaded calendar of events where judges are supposed to choose the best of, say, 150 shirazes.

Participants at PULP get to sip, swirl, and savour dozens of wines created by the young and hip among Yarra Valley producers.

That might well mean a stinky, cloudy, "natural" offering is a winner in one of the six categories.

So be it. 

PULP tasters can sample dozens of wines, vote for their favourites, meet the makers, take home a wine cup and enjoy canapés while tasting.

Get Tickets Here

Individual tickets cost $59 with dual tickets $110 and tickets for a group of six $295. The evens runs from 3.30-6pm. 

PULP is organised by Wine Yarra Valley, the peak industry body representing the Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association. 

Big-selling [yellow tail] on a sustainable wine journey

If you think about [yellow tail] as an industrial wine brand then you might need to think again.

Affordable, popular around the world, and with a sweet, people-pleasing accent, [yellow tail] is a divisive brand.

But [yellow tail] producer - Australia’s largest family-owned winery, Casella Family Brands (CFB) - has just earned Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification for its wineries, vineyards, and grape supply.

Starting with the 2025 vintage release, wines from [yellow tail], Peter Lehmann Wines, Brand’s Laira, Morris of Rutherglen, Baileys of Glenrowan, Casella Family Wines, and Atmata will carry the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification.

Sustainability Manager Joey Sergi said the certification was a significant step in the company’s sustainability journey.

“After investing in installing our large-scale solar farm last year, we’ve focused on achieving Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification across our wineries and grower base," he said.

"Consumers are increasingly choosing brands that prioritise sustainability, and with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification, they can trust our wines are produced with environmental care.”

Mardi Longbottom, general manager Industry Development and Support at the Australian Wine Research Institute, which manages the technical aspects of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, says: “We are encouraged by the momentum and increasing ambition of our growing membership and are confident we will achieve world-leading recognition.

"By purchasing wines from a certified producer, consumers can feel confident that they’re supporting sustainable-minded growers and winemakers, who are on a journey to shape the Australian wine community for good.”

Jade Rogge, viticulturist and winemaker at Peter Lehmann Wines, said: “We recognise the time and investment in the training and auditing process; however, it is an important future step for all of our brands as we progress our sustainability journey.

"At its core, the program is about adopting innovative, sustainable practices to safeguard the land we depend on and ensuring that it remains healthy, productive, and valuable for future generations.”

Austria rides organic wine wave

 

Austria, known for some stellar white wines, is one of the nations leading the way in terms of environmentally-conscious viticulture. 

Around 12,000 hectares of Austrian vineyards are now cultivated in compliance with the independently controlled viticulture program Sustainable Austria (Nachhaltig Austria), corresponding to 27% of Austria’s total area under vine. 

That's big progress given the certification program was only launched 10 years ago. 

Austria has impressive figures when it comes to organic viticulture, with 25% of the country’s area under vine being certified as organic, as of November 2024.

The figures were issued this week by the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine). 

More than 1 in 10 organic vineyards are also cultivated using biodynamic methods. 

“The Sustainable Austria certification is a recognised sustainability label on the global wine stage," says Chris Yorke, CEO of Austrian Wine. "It plays a significant role in Austrian wine being perceived as particularly environmentally friendly. 

“It’s not just the environment that benefits from this. Environmentally conscious certification is a key selling point in many markets, including Scandinavia, Canada and the USA. Some of our wineries even hold several certifications, e.g. ‘Sustainable Austria’ and ‘organic’.”

The global organic wine market has been gaining traction in today’s health-conscious society. 

A recent report by InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd showed the market was valued at US$9.84 billion in 2021 and is set to reach an impressive US$25.07 billion by 2030. 

Sustainable Austria was launched in 2015 after being developed over a number of years by the Austrian Winegrowers’ Association (Österreichischer Weinbauverband) in association with a group of scientists.

Image: Ried Heiligenstein, Kamptal. © ÖWM/Robert Herbst

Discounted fares - and a new way to fly to China

Vietjet has just unveiled a new sale on fares - and a new way to get to China.

The Vietnamese budget airline this week unveiled 50% off flights between Vietnam and Australia from now until February 7.

The deal is available on flights every Friday for travel between February 10 and March 31.

In addition, Vietjet is also launching four new direct routes connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Beijing and Guangzhou, starting from March 30.

Tickets are now available for bookings through all sales channels, at promotional fares. The new routes further extend Vietjet's growing Vietnam-China service - making it easy for Australian travellers keen to explore China conveniently and affordably via Vietnam.

With these additions, the airline will add 24 weekly round-trip flights to its growing flight network between Vietnam and China.

Bookings can be made www.vietjetair.com or the Vietjet Air mobile app.

The availability of discounted seats varies depending on the route and travel dates.

Vietjet boasts one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient Airbus fleets in the Asia-Pacific area and has been recognised once again as one of the world's safest airlines for 2025 by AirlineRatings, a leading airline safety and product rating organisation.

Airline a global laughing stock after perhaps the most stupid advert ever

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has become a global laughing stock after posting a grossly insensitive advert - and declining to take it down.

The airline is under investigation, the country’s prime minister said, after showed an image a plane flying in the direction of the Eiffel Tower.

The image was posted by the airline on social media on January 9 to announce that it would be resuming flights to and from Paris this month. 

The advert clearly shows a plane heading towards the iconic French monument with the slogan, “Paris, we’re coming today.”

The colours of the French flag are shown in the background. At the bottom of the photo, it reads: “Resuming flights between Islamabad and Paris from January 10, 2025.”

The image is eerily reminiscent of the 9/11 attacks that took place in the United States in 2001 when terrorists hijacked a total of four commercial planes, two of which were flown into New York City’s Twin Towers.

The country’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry into the ad, Pakistan news channel Geo News reported.

Pakistan Airlines stood its ground: another insane marketing blunder. 

"Unfortunately, this was blown out of proportion with connotation and perceptions that were not intended," PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan told the AFP news agency. "It might have triggered some negative emotion, for which we truly apologise."  

But the advert was still posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, as of Saturday morning (AEST).

Many social media commentators noted the ad's resemblance to the 9/11 attacks.

"Pakistan air needs a new graphic designer,” Ian Bremmer, a political scientist, was reported as saying by BrandEquity.com. 

The image has been viewed more than 21 million times on X since it was published last week. 

PHOTO BY @OFFICIAL_PIA/PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES /X

Carnival cruises into Asian ports

Carnival Cruise Line has announced plans to set sail for the Asia-Pacific region, with Carnival Adventure and Carnival Luminosa (above) poised to explore Asian ports for the first time.

Asia has long been a favourite holiday destination for Australians.

On sale now, Carnival Adventure will offer two itineraries in 2027, exploring Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The program includes a Sydney to Singapore voyage, stopping in Indonesia and a round-trip cruise from Singapore, featuring ports in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Carnival Luminosa will introduce a 14-day voyage in 2026, sailing from Tokyo to Singapore. This itinerary will visit Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Carnival Luminosa will also sail on a 14-day voyage from Singapore to Brisbane via Bali and Darwin.

“We're so excited to bring Carnival's fun to Asia for the first time,” said Kara Glamore, Carnival Cruise Line vice president for sales and marketing.

“This is going to give Australians a new, affordable and thrilling way to visit multiple destinations across Asia, all while enjoying the unparalleled fun of a Carnival cruise.

“Asia has bustling cities, breath-taking scenery, ancient temples, and world-famous beaches, and we can't wait for our guests to explore this magical part of the world.

“These itineraries mark a new chapter in cruising for Carnival, just as we prepare to embark on an exciting expansion to four ships in Australia, when P&O's Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter join the Carnival family in March, and are renamed Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter.”

See www.carnival.com.au.