The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) belonged to Viña Errazuriz this year as the 138-year-old Chilean wine producer walked off with two of the top Chilean Trophies, collecting the prestigious IWSC Trophy for Chilean Wine Producer, as well as receiving the IWSC Trophy for Carmenère.
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Fairtrade Fortnight is the perfect opportunity to familiarise yourself with Fairtrade wines and there is no better place to start than with top-quality wines from Thandi, which are delightful on the palate and easy on the conscience! Thandi Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc Semillon and Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot are three delicious award-winning Fairtrade wines ideal for any occasion.
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International Wine Challenge Announces New Vintage Wines Results
Most of us think we know a bit about wine, but how easy is it to identify the best premium wines for special occasions or to cellar away for the future?The International Wine Challenge (IWC) has announced the results of the Library Collection, the first competition to demonstrate the merits of premium wines and their cellaring potential.
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English and Welsh wine enthusiasts are in for a treat. A Guide to the Wines of England & Wales has just been published and is now available in all good bookshops and online retailers. Packed with up to date information and a wealth of illustrations, this new book provides a topical and unique insight in to the English and Welsh wine industry.
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TWO TO WIN! Vinopolis, London’s cavernous wine tasting experience by gastronomic wonderland Borough Market, has five new fabulous gifts ripe for the picking. Easily ordered on-line or over the phone, the all new ‘Vinopolis in a Box’ is a wonderful gift for wine lovers and gives enthusiasts the perfect chance to learn more about their favourite tipple.
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Lee hands over to Gareth Gates
From 9 February 2009, Gareth Gates will make his West End stage debut starring as Joseph in the smash hit production of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre in London. Lee Mead leaves the show on Saturday 10 January.
Gareth Gates became Head Chorister at Bradford Cathedral when he was eleven years old, and he sang for the Queen at the age of 13.  Gareth was runner-up in the first ever Pop Idol in 2002.  He has since had four number one singles and sold 3.5 million records to date.  (more…)

Connie Fisher in the West End production of The Sound of Music
Connie Fisher will return to star as ‘Maria’ in the National UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and The Really Useful Group’s smash hit production of the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music opening at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff on 26 July 2009, where it will play until 29 August 2009.
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An Eastern Feast Awaits Milton Keynes Theatre Goers
Experience China’s awe-inspiring heritage with The Chinese State Circus

The New Season at Milton Keynes Theatre spirals onto stage with an exotic feast of acts from undisputed masters of martial arts, The Chinese State Circus (28 Jan–1 Feb).
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A co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland

Be Near Me
A stage version by Ian McDiarmid. From the novel by Andrew O’Hagan

Cast: Jimmy Chisholm, Blythe Duff, Kathryn Howden, Ian McDiarmid, David McGranaghan, Richard Madden, Helen Mallon, Colette O’Neil, Benny Young, Jimmy Yuill

Director: John Tiffany; Designer: Peter McKintosh; Lighting Designer: Guy Hoare; Sound Designer: Gareth Fry; Musical Director: Davey Anderson

14 – 17 January - The Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock, Press night: Friday 16 January
22 January 2009 - 14 March 2009 Donmar Warehouse, Press night: Monday 26 January

David Anderton, an Oxford-educated Catholic priest, is assigned to a parish in a dispirited Scottish town on the Ayrshire coast. Lonely and adrift he befriends two unstable teenagers from the local school and is drawn into their exotic world. As events spin out of control he is forced to face his greatest trial yet.
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A landmark trail around England’s stunning coastline may be just a step away, following the inclusion of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill in the Queen’s Speech (3 December 2008), which for the first time ever will allow the public to walk from one end of the English coast to the other unhindered.
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We’ve just been through that time of year again… Office parties, tins of chocolates on every desk, after work drinks and mince pies… a time of year when most us gain a pound or two. But that’s just on the negative side.
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New Guides to walking the Camino - A life changing experience for times of profound change
In their search for a deeper meaning to life and to balance the stress and anxiety of western lifestyles, increasing numbers of people today are taking time out to go on a pilgrimage. Findhorn Press is launching three newly revised guides to the Caminos, Europe’s oldest pilgrimage routes, to support the pilgrims.
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ABBA (photocredit: Torbjorn Calvero)

The global love affair with ABBA seems to grow more ardent with every passing day. Now the world has an opportunity to experience ABBA more intimately than ever before.
As the Mamma Mia! movie, DVD and soundtrack album are enjoyed by millions worldwide, there are preparations to take ABBA the Museum – the living story of Sweden’s most celebrated, iconic musicians – on the road in 2009.  A unique touring exhibition filled with music, original costumes, history, images, instruments and never-before-displayed memorabilia from the group’s recording and performing heyday, ABBA the Museum is an interactive experience featuring the latest technology in sound, visuals, multimedia and communications.
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The Next Generation Of Cutting Edge Musicians & Composers -
Spring Season - 19 February & 19 March 2009

Showcasing the best in groundbreaking new music, Bishopsgate Emerging Artists Programme (BEAP) takes place at London’s Bishopsgate Institute. Its aim is to highlight the work of the next generation of cutting edge musicians and composers - those who draw inspiration from a whole host of genres, including contemporary classical, jazz, folk, electronica, world, and drum and bass. The inaugural BEAP shows, which took place in the autumn of 2008, were a huge success with audiences and critics alike and so marked the start of this ongoing series of concerts; the next of which will take place this spring.
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The Musical Museum (Brentford, West London) home of one of the world’s largest collections of automatic musical instruments has published its exciting and packed calendar of events for the Winter and Spring 2009 season, coupled with a reminder that its shop has Christmas gifts galore for those interested in all aspects of music.
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The UK’s record labels body, The BPI, has announced Florence & the Machine as the winner of the Critics’ Choice Award at The BRIT Awards 2009 with MasterCard with Little Boots and White Lies coming in second and third place respectively in the shortlist.
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Over 25 of the country’s best loved music venues have now been confirmed for Red Stripe’s gig series, which is set to run every weekend from January until April 2009. Having worked with live music haunts for over 20 years, Red Stripe has hand-picked some of the nation’s favourite mosh pits to set the scene for the third Red Stripe Music Award. Kicking off on Friday 16th January at Barfly in Cardiff, the gig series will hit Liverpool’s legendary Zanzibar, the award winning Harley in Sheffield and the Box in Glasgow.
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The new 2009 Golf Breaks brochure from Brittany Ferries is now available and features 72 selected courses in France and 11 in northern Spain, all at specially negotiated green fees, along with great value, conveniently situated hotels.
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‘The Australia Way’, a breathtaking new journey through the heart of Australia’s majestic outback, has launched. Based on Baz Luhrmann’s much anticipated epic drama, Australia, the new touring route enables visitors to experience at first hand the dramatic scenery and characters that so inspired the Australian film director. Opening across the UK on Boxing Day, ‘Australia’ tells the story of an English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman), and a rough-hewn cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) who drive a 1,500 herd of cattle across Northern Australia.
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Las Vegas is famous for being the “Entertainment Capital of the World” and each year many travellers are drawn to the bright lights and excitement. Too few, however, are aware of the spectacular desert landscape that surrounds the city in the stunning state of Nevada. Las Vegas is the perfect gateway and after spending time enjoying the sights and sounds of this fun-filled city, why not rent a car and head off to explore the desert? Read on to find out the driving times to hidden gems in the “Silver State” of Nevada within hours of Las Vegas…
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Holiday France Direct announced the release of their new 2009 brochure recently, and in it you’ll find literally hundreds of holiday homes in great locations throughout France, Spain and Portugal - guaranteed to suit all tastes, budgets and party sizes. Each property featured in the 2009 brochure can also be found on their website at www.holidayfrancedirect.co.uk.
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No matter where you travel in Canada you’ll discover record-breaking natural wonders, feats of engineering wizardry and marvels of man-made ingenuity. Explore Canada on a cross-country peak-to-peak tour that includes the world’s most extraordinary gondola, Canada’s highest mountain, its tallest tower and its most powerful tides.
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JJB is the national Sports Store and Fitness Club chain which provides the perfect health and fitness offering for all of you looking to get in shape and feel good.
JJB Fitness, which has recently won an award for the ‘Best Health and Fitness Company 2008’, offers the 60+ a fantastic membership scheme which costs £19.95 per month - that’s just 67 pence per day! (more…)

Hoar Cross Hall Resort honoured by travel industry for 4th year running

Hoar Cross Hall Spa Resort has won the prestigious World Travel Awards as England’s Leading Resort. The award was announced at a glittering ceremony held in Slovakia’s AquaCity in front of an elite assembly of senior travel, tourism and hospitality executives as well as press and broadcast media. (more…)

Kent County Council (KCC) today announced that in partnership with VirtualGym TV it will provide online gym and fitness access to 44,000 staff including those working in Kent Schools. (more…)

The world’s smallest hearing aid has been launched weighing just 1.1 grammes including the battery - this is the equivalent of a £20 note. (more…)

Taking exercise is great for the soul as well as the body, according to a recent poll of fitness fans. The survey, carried out by health club Fitness First, proves the long held belief – taking exercise really does make you happy. More than 96 per cent of those who took the survey said exercise made them happy – with almost as many feeling less stressed after a workout (94 per cent) – the perfect antidote to the stressful approach of Christmas. (more…)

The RSPB’s Homes for Wildlife – 2008 results
More than 25,000 gardeners have done an average of 12 things each to help frogs, toads, bats, insects, hedgehogs and birds in the last year, says the RSPB. Providing seed mixes, growing flowering nectar-rich plants and planting dense thorny bushes are just some of the top actions people have taken as part of the RSPB’s Homes for Wildlife project. (more…)

Cats, squirrels and rabbits are the most troublesome animal visitors to gardens, according to new research from Which? Gardening. While they may be popular pets, 80 per cent of people surveyed* said that they had problems with cats in their garden over the last twelve months. Fouling was the biggest complaint, but Which? Gardening members also reported problems with feline visitors flattening seedlings and plants, killing and deterring birds and digging up plants. (more…)

Restoration specialists from Rok are helping recreate a magnificent lost Elizabethan garden at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire. After archaeological evidence revealed the original dimensions of the 16th century garden beneath the castle’s existing 1970’s garden, English Heritage experts appointed Rok to help recreate the garden in the exact form it was presented for the visit of Queen Elizabeth I in July 1575.
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Minister for Pensions and Ageing Society Rosie Winterton has today welcomed the publication of a review of how the Government currently engages with older people. John Elbourne, former Chief Executive for Prudential Assurance, was asked in May, by the former Pensions Minister Mike O’Brien, to examine whether older people are currently able to inform Government policy and actions at all levels.
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Up to 9 million people, many of them on low and middle incomes, will get access to a workplace pension, or will be able to save more, as the Pension Act 2008 received Royal Assent yesterday. From 2012 workers will either be automatically enrolled into their employer’s workplace pension scheme or entered into the new Personal Accounts scheme, ensuring those who in the past have not had the opportunity build up any savings for retirement can now do so. This landmark piece of legislation represents a key element of Lord Turner’s Pension Commission’s recommendations to help more people save for retirement.
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1.7 Million Pensioners Rely On Property For Retirement
In the last 12 months, these pensioners have already lost almost £45 billion in the property slump.
• Property shortfalls: Almost 1.7 million (14%) pensioners are relying on property to fund their retirement - this increases to 26% of 55-64 year olds and 45% of 25-34 year olds
• Stock market crash: Almost 3 million (24%) retired people are also hoping the stock market will fund their old age (more…)

9 of the 10 most fraudulent areas of the UK fall within Greater London

East London has today been unveiled as the region most at risk of ID fraud in the British Isles, according to a new fraud ranking developed by credit reference agency Callcredit. The news comes as a further blow for East London, which only last month was named as the most indebted area in the UK. Based on data including known fraud cases, house prices, the electoral roll, unemployment data and geo-demographic data, Callcredit has assessed the fraud status of the 121 localities that make up the UK. (more…)

eBay reveals how to beat the credit crunch by turning unwanted items into cash - Never mind the credit crunch, eBay has good tidings for Brits this year: the average household is sitting on an untapped income of £452.29. Research commissioned by the online shopping experts found that there are over 100 unwanted items in the average home, ranging from CDs and books to power tools and toys, that can be sold to supplement the budget. (more…)

HPI offers advice on ensuring it’s a bargain not a banger
According to new research, there’s been a resurgence in retro chic cars from the 70s and 80, with sales of the new breed of classics reported to have risen by 23% in the last 12 months.  This is supported by an HPI survey into dream cars of the eighties which reveals that the Reliant Regal of ‘Only Fools & Horses’ fame is a hot favourite.  Indeed, there are some 8,000 Reliant Robins still on our roads today. (more…)

Will the Colour of Your Car Deter Prospective Buyers, asks HPI?
When it comes to choosing that next set of wheels, following fashion could cost car owners dearly, warns HPI’s valuations experts. Although the fashion conscience driver could be tempted by the latest ‘in vogue’ exterior bodywork shades, this could impact the value of the vehicle when the time comes to sell it. To keep sellers in the pink and to avoid leaving prospective buyers green around the gills, HPI offers some words of wisdom.
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Alayna Salter has broken the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest bracelet! Reaching 85metres long the bracelet wound its way around booths and up onto the stage at the Birmingham Clothes Show Live!
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Get ready to be Chow’d away by the spicy infusion of Bollywood and Martial Arts, co-produced and released by Warner Bros. Pictures, 16th January 2009. (more…)

Alan Coxon’s Historic Vinaigre range has just won two top prizes at the prestigious Excellence in Food and Drink awards hosted by Caterer and Hotelkeeper. The judges were so impressed with the three vinegars that they went straight to the top of the scoreboard and scooped the Innovation award as well as the coveted Gold award, chosen from all of the category winners. (more…)

Talented Welsh TV chef Matt Tebbutt is to be the new face of Collier’s Powerful Welsh Cheddar. Matt, who was brought up in Cwmbran, is one of the UK’s most gifted young chefs and runs the acclaimed Foxhunter restaurant in Nantyderry near Abergavenny with his Wales-born wife Lisa. (more…)

The Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and Humber will host the third Innovation Forum on 28 January 2009 at Thorpe Park Hotel, Leeds. The event, open to food and drink companies throughout the region, will explore issues surrounding innovation: the lifeblood of successful organisations, not least in difficult economic times. (more…)

This Valentine’s Day, the glamorous St Pancras Grand has created a special menu that will set pulses racing. As one of London’s most romantic restaurants it is perfect for Valentine’s Day, exuding the grandeur and exoticism of the Orient with Dutch leaf ceilings and glowing spheres lighting the room. (more…)

An all-new food experience arrives in London direct from South Africa this December - Madame Zingara at Battersea Power Station, from 12th December 2008 for three months. A heady fusion of comedy, cirque and cabaret combine with decadent dining to create an irresistible theatrical experience: welcome to Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams. (more…)

Eric Edis Explains How ‘The Impossible Takes a Little Longer’
A memoir of his epic overland London to Australia expedition in 1957

The year is 1957, the first artificial satellite is launching, Elvis Presley is in the hit parade and the Vietnam War is starting. And intrepid British explorer, Eric Edis, is planning an expedition to drive across the world in a Land Rover… (more…)

A recently published book reveals a remarkable insight into the life of the French Queen, Marie Antoinette. Entitled ‘There were Three of Us in The Relationship: The Secret Letters of Marie Antoinette’ (vol 1), the book, (more…)

Rushing from one appointment to the next? Not getting enough time to read the latest books?
Preloaded with one book, each Mi-Vox audio player will help you enjoy the latest in fiction and non-fiction wherever you go… it’ll be easy to keep up with all the books everyone is talking about. (more…)

A comprehensive, one-stop guide to Office 2007 software, covering the most popular Microsoft applications: Word, Exel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote. Easy to follow, comprehensive, and jargon-free, Office 2007 Handbook is a must-have reference tool for PC users, explaining how to use the essential elements of the revised version of Office 2007. (more…)