FIRST May 2022

ISSUE 333 MAY 2022

A CAPSULE OF THE WORLD

GATEWAY TO THE SEA “IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONVEY THE LIFE-SENSATION OF ANY GIVEN EPOCH OF ONE’S EXISTENCE – THAT WHICH MAKES ITS TRUTH, ITS MEANING – ITS SUBTLE AND PENETRATING ESSENCE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.” JOSEPH CONRAD

EDITORIAL

“Your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others.”

Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness.

HEART OF DARKNESS

T

his is the first image of Sagittarius A* (or Sgr A* for short), the supermassive black hole at the heart of our own Milky Way galaxy. It’s the first direct visual evidence of the presence of this black hole, and yields valuable clues about the workings of such giants, which are thought to reside at the centre of most galaxies. It was captured by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), an array which linked together eight existing radio observatories across the planet to form a single “Earth-sized” virtual telescope. The telescope is named after the “event horizon”, the boundary of the black hole beyond which no light can escape. Although the black hole itself cannot be seen, because it is completely dark, glowing gas around it reveals a telltale signature: a dark central region (called a “shadow”) surrounded by a bright ring-like structure. The new view captures light bent by the powerful gravity of the black hole, which is four million times more massive than our Sun. Because the black hole is about 27,000 light-years away from Earth, it appears to have about the same size in the sky as a donut on the Moon. The image of the Sgr A* black hole is an average of the different images the EHT Collaboration has extracted from its 2017 observations.

THIS PAGE: The first image of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of The Milky Way. Image Event Horizon Telescope.

ON THE COVER: Gate to the Bosphorus, Dolmabahçe Palace, Istanbul, Turkey. Built between 1843-1856, the Palace served as the main administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire until 1922. Photograph Meriç Dağlı.

EDITORIAL CONTENT AND SALES MANAGER SEAN ELLUL SELLUL@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT DESIGNER CONRAD BONDIN CBONDIN@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PRODUCTION MANAGER ANDRE CAMILLERI ACAMILLERI@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PUBLISHER STANDARD PUBLICATIONS, STANDARD HOUSE, BIRKIKARA HILL, ST JULIAN’S. TEL: 00356 2134 5888, WEB: WWW.INDEPENDENT.COM.MT FACEBOOK FIRSTMAGAZINE INSTAGRAM FIRSTMAGAZINEMALTA PRINTER PRINT-IT. FIRST IS PUBLISHED AS A COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE WITH THE MALTA INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY AND IS NOT TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY. NO PART OF THE PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PRIOR AGREEMENT OF THE PUBLISHER. FIRST MAGAZINE SINCE 1993. ISSUE NUMBER 333.

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CONTENTS

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16 AUCTION. A Vision of Arcadia. Claude Monet, Vétheuil, 1880. Estimated at £10,000,000-15,000,000 at Sotheby’s. Photography Courtesy Sotheby’s.

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LA DOLCE VITA. Inside Taormina and the Belmond’s Grand Hotel Timeo. Photograph © Belmond/ Tyson Sadlo.

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Istanbul’s Dolmabhçe Palace – “that last imperial gasp of Ottoman grandeur”. Photograph Mert Kahveci.

THiS IS WiNE 7th chapter in this issue

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LA DOLCE VITA

A House in Sicily.

Taormina and Grand Hotel Timeo.

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AUCTION

A Vision of Arcadia.

Monet, Degas, Silver and more.

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CULTURE

Crystal Palace.

Dolmabhçe on the Bosphorus.

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INTERIORS

Timeless Classic.

Hubert de Givenchy - Collectionneur.

62 EXCLUSIVE SERIES: THIS IS WINE. PESSAC-LÉOGNAN TO THE BEWILDERED. Vineyard in the mist at Smith Haut Lafitte. Photograph courtesy Château Smith Haut Lafitte.

ENVIRONMENT DAY. Natura 2000 Protected Habits.

Photograph Reuben Spiteri, courtesy ERA.

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CONTENTS

78 ECLECTIBLE. Lego’s long awaited 3D Starry Night.

Photograph the LEGO Group.

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Seafood Antipasti with Mediterranean Culinary Academy.

Photograph Robert Pace.

CONTENTS [ISSUE 333. MAY 2022]

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THIS IS WINE

Pessac-Léognan to the Bewildered.

The 7th Chapter in This is Wine: Its Storied Place and Taste.

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ANTIPASTI

Easy, Breezy, Seafood Antipasti with Mediterranean Culinary Academy.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

Linking Obesity, Type-2 diabetes, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s.

ENVIRONMENT

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Environment Day.

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Natura 2000 Protected Habits.

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Eco Thinking Econetique.

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A Green Office Campus. Trident Park.

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Eco-Discounts and Green Initiatives at Citadel.

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Activate Change. How Your Choice of Transportation Makes a Difference.

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Mind Your Step. A Move Towards Carbon Neutrality.

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ECLECTIBLE

Lego’s long awaited 3D Starry Night.

2,316 Pieces of Van Gogh.

INTERIORS. Givenchy’s homes and the upcoming auction: Givenchy – Collectionneur. Photograph © Christie’s Images Limited 2022, François Halard.

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LA DOLCE VITA

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LA DOLCE VITA “We are all pilgrims who seek Italy.”

Goethe

ITALIAN JOURNEY

A House in Sicily One could say that the modern fascination with Taormina was sparked by two Germans, the author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and the artist Otto Gèleng. Following an extended Grand Tour through Italy, Goethe’s successful 1816 book Italian Journey would inspire countless Germans to travel to Sicily. But it might have been Gèleng’s paintings of Sicily and Taormina in particular that perhaps had an instant effect on buyers and artists back home. In 1863 Otto Gèleng, then 20, visited Taormina and took residence in a private house owned by Don Francesco La Floresta called “Timeo”. Geleng’s watercolours of Taormina created enormous interest in Berlin and Paris, resulting in a series of artists visiting and staying at “Timeo” house. This would create an avalanche effect with more tourists visiting from the north, in search of the idyllic spots pictured. The rest is history as they say. Photography Tyson Sadlo and Mattia Aquila, courtesy Belmond.

This page: Aerial view of the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo at dawn. Photograph © Belmond/ Tyson Sadlo.

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LA DOLCE VITA

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n 1786, Goethe, already a famed author, slipped away from his duties as Privy Councillor in the Duchy of Weimar and in essence ran away on an extended Grand Tour through Italy. By spring 1787 he had reached Sicily and Taormina and was enchanted, writing that “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is to not have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.”

While away Goethe wrote many letters to friends back home, which he would later use as the basis for his successful book Italian Journey. Following its publication in 1816, the book inspired countless Germans to follow Goethe’s example. But it might have been Gèleng’s paintings of Sicily and Taormina in particular that perhaps had an instant effect on buyers and artists back home.

This page: The hotel’s entrance under a canopy of bright pink bougainvillea. Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo.

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LA DOLCE VITA

Above: Views of the hotel’s gardens. Below: Panoramic views from the hotel. Photography this page © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo.

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LA DOLCE VITA

Above: Family Room at Villa Flora, the adjacent private villa to Grand Hotel Timeo. Photograph © Belmond/Mattia Aquila. Right: Inside Grand Hotel Timeo. Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo. Bottom right: Interior at Grand Hotel Timeo. Photograph © Belmond/Mattia Aquila.

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n 1863 established artist Otto Gèleng visited Taormina to paint watercolours. Artists had been painting views of Italy and sending them home for years, but his choice of Southern landscapes was unique. He took residence in a private house owned by Don Francesco La Floresta. Don Francesco had been renting rooms for a decade and had named his house “Timeo”, after the founder of the Greek city “Tauromenion” in 358 BC. Geleng’s watercolours of Etna, the area’s Greek ruins, and the spectacular views and Sicilian light across the sea created enormous interest in Berlin and Paris, resulting in a series of artists visiting Taormina and staying at “Timeo” house. This would create an avalanche effect with more tourists visiting from the north, in search of these idyllic spots.

In 1874 Don Francesco sold an orange field and bought a house right below the Greek Theatre. Here he continued his business with five guest rooms on the spot where the Belmond Grand Timeo stands today. By 1883 Don Francesco and his son Giuseppe enlarged Timeo to 12 rooms - at the time it was the only hotel in Taormina. In 1896 Giuseppe La Floresta inherited Timeo after the death of his father and over the course of ten years, until 1906, added 60 rooms.

By this time Timeo was already a grand hotel - European royalty would regularly visit to escape their harsher weather back home, to spend winter in a warmer and much brighter climate. At the time Timeo was a winter resort which closed between May and October.

In 1896 Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany stayed at Timeo, and when he returned in 1904 and 1906 he rented the entire hotel for a month for his family and entourage. The Belle Epoque saw a huge increase in luxury tourism across southern Europe until the First World War and from 1920 to 1929. Taormina continued to draw glitterati from across Europe and in 1920 D. H. Lawrence famously lived at Timeo for four years when he wrote Lady Chatterley’s Lover.

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LA DOLCE VITA

Above: Dreamy sea views from an Executive Junior Suite. Photograph © Belmond/Mattia Aquila.

O Above: Gardens encircle the panoramic pool. Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo.

Below: An exterior view from the Michelin-starred Otto Geleng Restaurant on the Literary Terrace (one of just a handful of Michelin-star restaurants in Sicily).

Photograph © Belmond/Tyson Sadlo.

n Giuseppe La Floresta’s death, his son Francesco inherited and continued to manage the hotel. During the Second World War, the Timeo was requisitioned by the British Royal Air Force, and in July of 1943 heavy bombing damaged large parts of Taormina and parts of Timeo. After the war, by 1947, things quickly returned to normal and picked up their pace, with tourists flooding in. Artists, actors, and authors all flocked to Taormina and the hotel, including Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Audrey Hepburn, Marcello Mastroianni and Elizabeth Taylor.

When Francesco died, his daughters took over Timeo, running the hotel for 15 years. Then in 1981, the Floresta family sold the hotel to Gaetano Graci, who totally refurbished and modernised the hotel, who in turn sold it in 1998 to the Franza family who added the grand panoramic pool. Just 12 years later the family sold the hotel to Orient-Express Hotels and when in 2014 the company changed its name to Belmond Ltd, the hotel was renamed Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo.

Today the Grand Hotel Timeo remains distinctive in its stunning location adjacent to the Greek Theatre, surrounded by a six-acre park, with gardens encircling a panoramic pool. Things and little comforts have come a long way since the late 1800s, and a complimentary shuttle whisks you down to Taormina Mare, where on the secluded Bay of Mazzarò Timeo’s sister hotel, Villa Sant’Andrea, sits overlooking the sea - you can imagine the artist Otto Gèleng capturing the same views and peaceful energy with his brush as the shuttle rocks you to sleep after a day at the beach.

You can only envisage the treks Gèleng would have had to have made in hilly Taormina to get to his painting spots. Although you would be forgiven for not being familiar with his name, it is in fact a name you are unlikely to forget after a visit - on Timeo’s astonishing Literary Terrace you can enjoy a unique view of Mount Etna whilst dining at the aptly named Michelin-starred restaurant Otto Geleng (one of just a handful of Michelin-star restaurants in Sicily).

ABOUT BELMOND: Belmond has been a pioneer of luxury travel for over 45 years with a portfolio of one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the world’s most inspiring destinations. Since the acquisition of the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has continued to perpetuate the legendary art of travel. Its portfolio extends across 24 countries with properties that include the illustrious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train and Italian hideaways such as The Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina and Splendido in Portofino.

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AUCTION

A Vision of

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This page: Claude Monet, Vétheuil, 1880. Estimated at £10,000,000-15,000,000 at Sotheby's.

f Arcadia

AUCTION

An Important English private collection is set to be auctioned across eight sales at Sotheby’s London this Summer, led by an exquisite landscape by Monet and a jewel-like ballet scene by Degas. ‘A Vision of Arcadia’ follows in the tradition of the grand and great collections of the 19th century, bringing together museum-quality works, from Victorian and Impressionist masters to exceptional English silver and wonderful furniture from across Europe and the golden age of cabinetmaking. Many of these pieces come with a fascinating provenance, their life associated with the great houses and families of England, historic figures, magnificent European collections and the revered gallerists of La Belle Epoch in Paris. Photography Courtesy Sotheby's.

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AUCTION

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Above: Mimage 2: Edgar Degas, Danseuses, circa 1880-87. Estimated at £4,000,000-6,000,000 at Sotheby's. Below: A pair of George III Royal silver wine coolers by John Parker and Edward Wakelin. Estimated at £150,000-200,000 at Sotheby's.

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ith around 70 lots in total, at the core of the collection is a group of Impressionist and Modern works by the major artists of the movement - Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Degas and Boudin - which will be offered in Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction on 29 June.

Leading the collection is Claude Monet’s Vétheuil, 1880, with an estimate of £10,000,000-15,000,000.

Executed on an impressive scale and saturated with a sunny light and fresh colours, it is the quintessential Impressionist landscape. The small village of Vétheuil, situated along the Seine, was the home to Monet and his family from September 1878 until December 1881, and the picturesque location fascinated him well into his late career. Monet's paintings from Vétheuil evidence a critical development in the evolution of his style, and set the scene for the way he would work for the rest of his life. This small stretch of the Seine provided innumerable opportunities for Monet to observe the same, or similar, views in different seasons and at different times of day and to explore the resulting nuances of light and colour.

One of the very best examples of its kind ever to have appeared at auction, Edgar Degas’ Danseuses, circa 1880-87, perfectly showcases the artist’s effervescent style, full of delicate details and drama. At the heart of the radiant composition is a group of six ballet dancers, a motif that was the most famous and celebrated of his career, shown here with a lovely sense of movement. The technique of using a monotype as the base for a fully worked pastel here achieves a remarkable chromatic intensity and sense of light.

It is estimated at £4,000,000-6,000,000.

Among the silver highlights is a pair of George III silver wine coolers, by John Parker and Edward Wakelin, 1763, an extremely rare example of mideighteenth-century Rococo wine coolers, which will appear at Sotheby’s prestigious Treasures sale on 5 July. The elaborate decoration follows that of a print found in a publication of silver designs by Pierre Germain, a preeminent silversmith of the Rococo.

Applied with the Royal Arms, they were used as ambassadorial plate by Henry Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire, and are estimated at £150,000-200,000.

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CULTURE Design Paradise: Dolmabhçe on the Bosphorus

Crystal Palace

“If the earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.”

Napoleon Bonaparte

Istanbul, the massive metropolis that bridges Europe and Asia, has quite literally witnessed the rise and fall of great empires – Roman, to Byzantine, to Ottoman, each of which left their mark on a city which is an Aladdin’s cave of incredible palaces and mosques. Many visitors will head to Topkapı Palace, originally built in the 15th century, often overlooking it’s more ‘modern’ counterpart Dolmabhçe Palace on the Bosphorus, built in the mid-1800s, when the sultan wanted a more luxurious and comfortable palace in keeping with palaces of other European monarchs. English crime author Barbara Nadel sets her Inspector Ikmen crime novels in Istanbul and has visited the city countless times – she describes Dolmabhçe Palace as “that last imperial gasp of Ottoman grandeur”.

Main photography Mert Kahveci.

D

olmabahçe Palace was commissioned

by Sultan Abdülmecid I, and built between 1843 and 1856 as the Sultan looked to build a new palace that would impress – a goal he achieved – Dolmabahçe is the largest palace in Turkey, with an area of 45,000 square metres it includes 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths (hamam) and 68 toilets. The Sultan and his family had lived at Topkapı Palace, but it was felt that the medieval palace lacked contemporary style and comfort in comparison to the more modern palaces of European monarchs.

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Left: Facade of the southern wing – Mabeyn-i Hümâyûn, or Selamlık, the quarters which were reserved for the men.

Photograph Colours of Turkey.

CULTURE

Above: While Topkapı Palace has fine examples of Iznik tiles and Ottoman carving, Dolmabahçe palace is extensively decorated with gold and crystal. Fourteen tonnes of gold were used to gild the ceilings, and over 100kg of gold was used to decorate the palace. Photograph Mert Kahveci. Below: Gate of the Sultan. Photograph Mert Kahveci.

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CULTURE

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rom the very beginning, Dolmabahçe implemented the highest technical standards with modern household luxuries including gas lighting and water-closets imported from Great Britain. This was impressive at a time when palaces in continental Europe were still lacking these commodities. Later, electricity, a central heating system and an elevator were installed. The construction cost five million Ottoman gold lira, equivalent to 35 tonnes of gold, or about 1.8 billion euro today. The palace would serve as the main administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1887 and from 1909 to 1922.

Left: Gate to the Bosphorus. Photograph Meriç Dağlı. Below: Dolmabahçe has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world. The famous Crystal Staircase has the shape of a double horseshoe and is built of Baccarat crystal, brass and mahogany. Photograph Mert Kahveci.

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CULTURE Left: Dolmabahçe’s design contains eclectic elements from the Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles, blended with traditional Ottoman architecture. The décor reflects the increasing influence of European styling on Ottoman culture and art during the Tanzimat period. Photograph Color Art Ist. Bottom: The palace is separated structurally in a southern wing (the quarters reserved for the men) which contains the public representation rooms, and a northern wing (Harem-i Hümâyûn, the Harem) serving as the private residential area for the Sultan and his family.

The two functional areas are separated by the big Ceremonial Hall with a floor area of 2,000 square metres and a 36m high dome. The Ceremonial Hall is home to the world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier. Originally thought to have been a gift from Queen Victoria; the chandelier was paid by the Sultan. It has 750 lamps and weighs 4.5 tonnes. Photograph Ahmet Demiroglu.

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INTERIORS

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INTERIORS TIMELESS CLASSIC

Hubert de Givenchy – Collectionneur A major figure in the world of haute couture and fashion, Hubert de Givenchy's name embodies the quintessence of elegance and the Grand Gôut français. In the decoration of his homes, Givenchy always considered the furniture in constant dialogue with the works of art, both ancient and modern. Over the course of his life, he assembled an exceptional collection of furniture and classical and modern art, which he arranged in his homes according to the same exacting standards, exquisitely refined sensibility and passionate creativity that he applied to his work as a couturier, as Christie's upcoming auction of his collection of art and objects clearly illustrates.

Photography François Halard, courtesy Christie’s.

Facing page: The Empire living room at Hubert de Givenchy’s 18th-century Hôtel d’Orrouer, in Paris.

Below: The courtyard lounge on the ground floor, Hôtel d’Orrouer.

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INTERIORS

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INTERIORS

B

orn in Beauvais in 1927 into an aristocratic family of Venetian origin, Count Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy moved to Paris at the age of 17 to study at the Beaux-Arts. He rigorously assembled his collection with great care and a demand for excellence throughout his life. His eye was refined from an early age, growing up with a great-grandfather who designed stage sets for the Paris Opera and a grandfather who was the administrator of the Beauvais tapestry factory, as well as a great collector in his own right. Hubert de Givenchy’s family and cultural heritage nourished his creativity, taste for materials, colours, and décor. He was passionate about artists and craftsmanship, and the interiors he created were imbued with a purified classicism that celebrated his passion for the 18th century. He once remarked, “Fashion changes, but the 18th century style will endure, as it is of exceptional quality. [Such style will endure] on the condition that it is not restrained within a fully period atmosphere… that it is given a breath of fresh air by Delaunay, Arp, and Giacometti, and above all, that it is not weighed down by pompoms and trimmings.”

In 1952, Hubert de Givenchy opened his own fashion house on rue Alfred de Vigny in Paris. He was immediately noticed for his innovative style, creating the “Bettina blouse,” a simple white cotton blouse named after model Bettina Graziani, and the iconic concept of “separates” that firmly established his fame. Hubert de Givenchy demonstrated that women could mix and match separate pieces skirts and light tops – allowing them to express their personal style. Another defining aspect of his career was his work with Audrey Hepburn, whose wardrobe he designed for both the city and the cinema, including films such as Sabrina (1954), Funny Face (1957) and Breakfast at Tiffany’s(1961). He also created Givenchy’s first perfume, “L’Interdit” for Hepburn. He went on to dress the most elegant and iconic women of the late 20th century, including Jacqueline “Jackie” Kennedy Onassis, the Countess Mona Bismarck, the Duchess of Windsor, the Duchess of Devonshire, and Marella Agnelli. In 1995, Hubert de Givenchy retired from his fashion house.

Left: In the courtyard lounge, Picasso’s Faun With a Spear takes centre stage, Hôtel d’Orrouer. Top right: In the courtyard lounge. Right: The first floor landing.

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INTERIORS

Above: The lounge, overlooking the garden. Top left: Details in the lounge on the garden. Bottom: The facade and exterior of Hôtel d’Orrouer, on Rue de Grenelle, Paris.

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tireless worker, constantly energized and inspired by new projects, Hubert de Givenchy always considered his passion for art, decoration and gardens as an extension of his work as a fashion designer: “I try to achieve harmony between architecture, decoration, and colour.” Using his favourite palette: green, gold, white and black, he designed his interiors in a very structured style, assigning each object a well-defined place.

His exceptional taste will soon be on display when Hubert de Givenchy: Collectionneur hits the market at Christie’s in Paris on 8 June with a dedicated online sale from 8 to 23 June, and live auctions from 14 to 17 June. Featuring more than 1,200 lots dating from the 17th to the 20th century, this collection features a remarkable gathering of nearly 800 pieces of French and European furniture, including many masterpieces of classical furniture from the French Regency period to the Neoclassical period and onwards, and works of art, including sculpture and paintings from Old Masters to Modern and Contemporary works. Each object was chosen with Hubert de Givenchy’s meticulous eye and reflects his exquisite taste. Drawn from two of de Givenchy’s most iconic and elegant homes - the Hôtel d’Orrouer in Paris and the Château du Jonchet in the Loire Valley - the collection includes many exceptional objects unseen on the market for decades as well as more recent works acquired towards the end of his collecting journey.

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INTERIORS

Above: ‘Atelier’ Studio at Château du Jonchet, in the Loire Valley.

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INTERIORS

Above: The 'Bunny Mellon' Bedroom at Château du Jonchet.

Left: Château du Jonchet's grand living room.

Bottom: The entry at Château du Jonchet.

“T

hrough this sale, we are very pleased to be able to celebrate the exceptional taste of Hubert de Givenchy and his lifelong companion Philippe Venet”, says Givenchy’s family. Givenchy and his partner, fellow couturier Philippe Venet, had known each other since the early 1950s, when both worked for the avantgarde designer Elsa Schiaparelli. Their relationship lasted more than 65 years - Givenchy died in March 2018, aged 91, and Venet last year in February 2021, also aged 91. “We wish to share the elegance and aesthetic heritage that they have passed on to us in order to inscribe their vision in the history of art and interior design in a universal way.”

“Hubert de Givenchy was for many years a member of the international board of Christie’s and entrusted the house twice during his lifetime with the sale of objects from his collection”, says Charles Cator, Deputy Chairman of Christie’s International, who was a close friend of Givenchy’s. “This summer the auctions are an opportunity to celebrate Hubert de Givenchy as one of the greatest ambassadors of French taste and to tell his story of the art of living, collecting and the elegance he sought to capture in all things.”

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INTERIORS

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n the decoration of his homes, Hubert de Givenchy always considered the furniture in constant dialogue with the works of art, both ancient and modern.

Alongside numerous major sculptures and paintings by old masters such as Hubert Robert, the collection includes several masterpieces of modern art: from the couturier’s friend and collaborator Alberto Giacometti’s Woman Walking, a key painting

by Joan Miró never before presented on the market, several works by Alberto’s brother, Diego Giacometti and more contemporary works by Claudio Bravo and François-Xavier Lalanne.

Audrey Hepburn was Givenchy’s confidante and muse, for whom he created the wardrobe for her major film roles. Hepburn’s natural elegance, combined with the simplicity of his designs, made the Givenchy style legendary.

“Hubert is like a tree” said Audrey Hepburn.

“Tall, straight and handsome, he creates and recreates beauty in spring, summer, fall, and winter. The roots of his friendships are always deep and strong, the broad branches of his affection shelter those he loves.”

All photography © Christie’s Images Limited 2022, François Halard.

Top: Château du Jonchet's dining room, detail.

Left: A garden view.

Below: Entry facade to the 16th century Château du Jonchet.

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THIS IS WINE The seventh chapter in This is wine: its storied place and taste.

“Fruit of the earth, work of human hands, blessed be God forever”

FRANCE - BORDEAUX - LEFT BANK - GRAVES - PESSAC-LÉOGNAN

PESSAC-LÉOGNAN TO THE BEWILDERED

The earliest plantings of vines in the Roman times and the succeeding export of wine under English rule in the Early Renaissance all focused on the city of Bordeaux itself and its immediate surrounding territory of Graves due to its gravel-rich soils. The Romans were the first to recognize Graves’ potential as good vine-growing terroir and the English would follow suit in recognizing its quality by importing Graves wine for their tables. When most of the left Bank was still swampland and when the English spoke of claret they usually meant that of the Pessac-Léognan kind and more specifically Haut Brion, writes Kris Bonavita.

This page: Château Olivier, one of the oldest estates in Bordeaux, in the precinct of Léognan. Photograph courtesy Château Olivier © Francois Poincet Occit Media.

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PESSAC-LÉOGNAN

n the 5th June 1305 Bertrand de Got archbishop of Bordeaux was elected to the papacy as Clement V. Being neither a cardinal nor Italian, his elevation was a compromise between equally split French and Italian cardinals vying to control Christendom.

However things would move clearly in one direction when Pope Clement immediately moved the papal court to Avignon from a destabilized Rome; and, in a series of legal bulls, relinquished papal supremacy over secular rulers. In a dark moment in church history, this allowed his childhood friend Phillip the Fair of France free reign in his all-out suppression of the Knight Templars, who he was substantially indebted to, and their cruel dissolution.

This would all seem inconsequential but Clement liked wine and as a result the Babylonian exile of the papacy to Avignon would lead to the discovery and fame of the otherwise landlocked Burgundy wines which supplied the lavish papal court; and the plantings of vineyards near Avignon that gave rise to Châteauneuf du Pape as the self-explanatory Pope’s New Castle. Upon his elevation, Clement would gift his own vineyard which bears his name back home in humble Pessac to the succeeding archbishop of Bordeaux; remaining in the Catholic Church right up to the French revolution. This may seem obscure but Château Pape Clément is the oldest established vineyard in Bordeaux having just surpassed its 700th vintage, and it is situated in the oldest wine exporting region of Graves or specifically in the newly coined sub-region of Pessac-Léognan near the all-important trading city of Bordeaux, whose limelight has been stolen by its more recent and upcoming Left and Right Bank country cousins further north.

The birthplace of claret

T

he earliest plantings of vines in the Roman times and the succeeding export of wine under English rule in the Early Renaissance all focused on the city of Bordeaux itself and its immediate surrounding territory of Graves due to its gravel-rich soils. The Romans were the first to recognize Graves’ potential as good vine-growing terroir and the English would follow suit in recognizing its quality by importing Graves wine for their tables.

When most of the left Bank was still swampland and when the English spoke of claret they usually meant that of the PessacLéognan kind and more specifically Haut Brion.

At least 169 bottles of Hobriono are recorded in wine ledgers of King Charles II, who in his reestablishment of court and court culture leaned towards the luxuries of the day. In the first recorded instance of a wine being known by its chateau and likewise, of a

wine being made specifically with English customers in mind, the owner of Haut Brion at the time Lord Arnaud III de Pontac and his son went even so far as to open a tavern in London selling exclusively their wines and becoming the first fashionable eating house of the time. In what could be considered the world’s first tasting note; Samuel Pepys in his fabled diaries mentions having drank ‘a sort of French wine Ho Bryen that hath a good and most particular taste I never met with’. John Locke the English philosopher would corroborate in his visit to the chateau "...The wine of Pontac, so revered in England, is made on a little rise of ground, lying open most to the west. It is no thing but pure white sand, mixed with a little gravel. One would imagine it scarce fit to bear anything..." The chateau’s fame was set as the gold standard and that fame was intimately linked with that of the region it presided over.

The benchmark of Bordeaux

H

aut Brion is a bit of an outlier in being the only chateau outside of the Medoc to be included in the 1855 Classification and to be given first Growth status at that.

But rather than show the calibre of what it was up against; its fame was such that ignoring Haut Brion would have been tantamount to delegitimizing the very Classification itself. Haut Brion for much of the last few centuries commanded prices well above its Medoc peers. Yet while Haut Brion would be classified, the rest of the Pessac-Léognan remained below the radar as part of the wider

Graves region. Despite its calibre of chateaux it was the last to receive recognition in recent years as a separate region of particular terroir. This is not for want of good terroir because the region; made up of a number of villages including those of Pessac and Leognan; is distinctly recognizable even though it is the only winemaking area within proximity to the city of Bordeaux itself.

Deep levels of gravel, ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, but equally mixed soils of clay, that allow for the growth of Merlot, whose multi-faceted expression result in balanced wines distinct from the rest of the left bank.

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THIS IS WINE

When he purchased Château Haut-Brion in 1935, Clarence Dillon restored it to its former glory and to the elite circle of the most legendary wines in the world. This extraordinary, bold, courageous vision is now continued by the fourth generation of the family, represented by Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Chairman since 2008. Located in the town of Pessac, just a few kilometres from Bordeaux, Château Haut-Brion – the first of the three estates acquired by the Dillon family – is the oldest winegrowing property in the region.

This page: Château Haut-Brion. Photograph © Domaine Clarence Dillon, courtesy Château Haut-Brion.

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THIS IS WINE

Château Pape Clément is the oldest established vineyard in Bordeaux. The first harvest took place in 1252, meaning that for more than 750 years Château Pape Clément has been producing fine wines on the same terroir. Photograph courtesy Château Pape Clément, © Philippe Dacquin.

At Château Smith Haut Lafitte, an island of greenery surrounded by forests, hedges and beehives, the 87-hectare estate in one piece is located on a hill – Lafitte – in old French. Covered with “Günzian” gravel, the vines draw their resources from more than six meters deep, and the grapes benefit from the mirror effect of the sun on the pebbles for optimal ripening. Photograph courtesy Château Smith Haut Lafitte, © Deepix.

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PESSAC-LÉOGNAN The standard of taste

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antamount to all this is the anomalous standard of taste. Wine can and is categorized on the grounds of taste being something that in so far as it is subjective is also objective enough to reach consensus in a collective manner. The French system has this assumption at the basis of all its classifications. Market forces play their part in showing the popularity of wines and hence their legitimate value as a product of restricted supply and consumer demand. This is not just a collective or social construct but one which despite the myths is reducible to an individual, however expert, being able to ascertain the calibre of wine. Yet, no scientific blind test with experts or amateurs has shown that wine tasting is ever entirely objective, but this is precisely what it should not be. The beauty of wine is that it is alive and so are we, and in so far as there is life then it is equally not objective but rather very subjective, and with that subjectivity is emotion and judgment for better

or for worse.

This may seem bewildering but there is no such thing as having a talent for taste or smell. Some of the best chateaux are owned and even run by people who just like wine; they were not born with a superior sense of taste and smell. Rather, taste and smell are senses most of us are endowed naturally with. Thus it is more the case of informing or forming one's judgment based upon precepts and memories of what is considered good wine and down to very personal opinions of enjoyability, over and above culture and experience. Within that subjectivity, we can discern certain elements which up and down the wine world are held in esteem as components of good wine. While there is a constantly evolving terminology and methodology of what is considered good practice in wine tasting, many of these terms, through common usage and social media, have been adopted by the general public without much pretence as a way of describing wine, even in a recreational manner.

The sensory perceptions of wine

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t the heart of all this is finding definite ways of describing the sensory perceptions of wine that start with looking at the wine; going on to smelling the wine in varying degrees of detail; and finally tasting and feeling the wine. All the time through this process adjourning oneself in describing the subjective feeling of sight, smell and taste with terms that are common to our memory of other

foods we see, smell and taste. This is no coincidence but indicative of the fact that grapes have exactly the same molecular components, or polyphenols, that the rest of the natural world possess and are thus intimately linked in conveying the same sensory feelings. Wine is believed to have hundreds of these complex molecules comparable in complexity to human blood and we fortuitously can determine a huge array of them.

So what should we be looking for in wine?

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irstly the appearance and colour are indicative of freshness, fruitiness, clarity and condition with which experience will help us differentiate different blends or varieties from each other. The viscosity gives an idea of alcoholic and sweetness levels. But as such it is more about taking the time to appreciate visually what we often take for granted in our fast culture.

Secondly, good wine smells good and from a distance, which again requires time to contemplate and discern. The bouquet or scents of a wine can be broken down into discernible aromas. These range from dark black, blue and red fruit to lighter green and yellow fruit with varying degrees of freshness or preservation which are often called primary aromas or flavours indicative of the weather conditions of the vintage and the ripeness of the fruit and the processes such as the pressing and maceration of the grape itself. Other scents such as wood and spicy aromas, such as vanilla, coffee, tobacco leaf and cedar, often come from secondary processes of winemaking in the fermentation and oak barrelling. Other families of aromas are also discernible such as earthy truffle and wet undergrowth indicative of the tertiary process of wine aging or a result of the terroir where the grapes are grown.

Other characteristics still, such as a vein of minerality of elements like lead shavings or stone, may also be detected as signature markers of specific terroir accentuated by grape varieties and even wine-making style.

Overall a vast array of aromas and their correspondence in taste as flavours give a sense of the complexity of a wine. The more complex a wine is, the stronger the bouquet of scent, the more these aromas translate to recognizable and intense flavours, and the longer and more concentrated these flavours remain present to the drinker even long after imbibing. Wine tasting is about the initial experience known as the attack; the mid-palate or mouthfeel of how wine sits in one’s mouth and the finish or aftertaste that a wine leaves after swirling and imbibing.

Good wines often have all these characteristics smoothly and effortlessly interlaced even to the point of finding it difficult to discern one single

element or process. Over and above concentration and weight, the very ethereal nature of a wine can defy description.

Within the drinking experience, other important elements can be detected and contribute to our enjoyment. The backbone of a wine is dependent upon the sweetness or dryness of the wine; the levels of alcohol with its characteristic burning sensation; the acidity of the wine or levels of mouth-puckering tartness; the amount of tannins detectable and with what sort of texture and mouth-watering sensation; and the weight or mouthfeel of a wine from light to medium to full-bodied; and levels of intensity, concentration and boldness. The balance between all of these elements as corresponding parts and their intensity in coming across as one harmonious feel is known as the structure of the wine.

However, wine is not just about specific analysis of various parts; even if this is often a preparation for better wine tasting and an education in itself to further appreciation; but rather what one feels in terms of enjoyability and emotional satisfaction. In this sense, wine is also about intimate expression or multifaceted complexity. How a wine comes across with seamless finesse and elegance or linearly, precisely or even one-dimensionally. In drinking a wine, experts have terms such as integrity to explain the level at which a wine feels well blended in all its parts, almost as if it were difficult to separate its elements because they feel so wholesome or organically connected. And the more abstract term connectivity, as the feeling that the wine expresses beautifully and in a coherent manner the terroir, winemaking style and chateau and typicity of the locale and vintage in which it was made. Wine is above all else about drinking a drop of art, culture and history in the making. These are just some of the characteristics but ultimately grading and rating and describing wine can be as subjective as one wishes in so far as the ultimate goal of wine is its enjoyability in as complex or simple a manner.

In this sense wine is an encounter that both forms thoughts and conjures up memories in the very drinking and in this sense it is best appreciated with good food and with good company above all else.

Coming Next: A new series on Burgundy Reds.

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THIS IS WINE Rooted firmly in Bordeaux’s history, Château Olivier is located 11 kilometres from Bordeaux, in the middle of a 220 hectare estate made up of grassland, century-old oak trees, pine woods and 55 hectares of vines planted over two outcrops of different types of gravel. Château Olivier is surrounded by moats and an immense forest, and historians estimate the first building at Olivier to date back to around the 11th or 12th century. It was very probably quite a solid, fortified building of which the remains can be seen in the lower parts of the eastern pavilion. It is claimed that the presence of a large number of “wild, biting beasts”, wolves, deer and wild boar, attracted the Black Prince from England to hunt the game in the forests of Léognan and to transform the first Château d’Olivier into a hunting lodge.

This page: Château Olivier. Photograph © Francois Poincet Occit Media, courtesy Château Olivier.

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THIS IS WINE

Cassis and resin, smoke and tobacco – Pessac-Léognan Wine Guide

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essac-Léognan forms part of a larger region eponymously named Graves, due to its predominantly gravel soils, to the south of the city of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Garonne River. It is often considered the birthplace of claret or Bordeaux red wine as we know it, in having the first Roman plantings, and the first established chateaux that exported heavily to England. The Medoc became more significant when Dutch traders in the 17th century drained the embankment of the Gironde Estuary. PessacLéognan has the distinct accolade of having only one chateau (Haut Brion) included in the 1855 Classification and a First Growth at that.

The large Graves region was made an AOC in 1937, its red wines were classified in 1953 and whites in 1959. However all the chateaux worthy of mention (16 in all were awarded Grand Cru Classes de Graves status) were actually situated in this specific sub-region centred around ten villages or communes centred around the two axis of Pessac and Leognan. As late as 1987, after decades of lobbying, Pessac-Léognan received its own appellation status as worthy of a terroir rich and distinct enough in itself. It is the last of the great regions to receive official recognition and the only one practically within a city’s boundaries. This was mainly due to pressure from winemakers in Pessac-Léognan wishing to distinguish their deeper gravel soils and better quality wines from the more alluvial sandy soils of the Graves region further south. In all Pessac-Léognan has 1200 hectares of vines with around a third of its production considered of classified status.

Similar to the Medoc, the principal grape grown is Cabernet Sauvignon but with a greater proportion of Merlot. Some Cabernet Franc is also grown and in smaller quantities, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The region is also famous for its incredible white wines. Being the furthest south it has the hottest climate of the 42

Left Bank with harvests often happening earlier. However the micro-climate varies even from village to village allowing differences from one vintage to another. Vintages have been good in the last two decades with only 2013, 2007, and 2003 being difficult for the reds in contrast to the whites. The best of the last few years are 2018, 2015, 2009, 2010, 2020, 2016 and 2014. Further back 2000 and 2005 are still going strong.

Pessac-Léognan has the best soils of Graves, having well-draining gravel soils of varying depths similar to the Medoc appellations further north. The gravel is more variable and some of its best chateaux are on elevated hillsides around the village of Pessac, like Haut Brion (which means high mound) and Pape Clement V, squarely intermingled within the urban suburbs of Bordeaux itself. Further south another cluster of renowned chateaux are centred around Leognan, such as Haut-Bailly and Malartic-Lagravière, and are surrounded by dense pine forests which have a moderating effect on the vines and are believed to give the wines some of their distinctly possibly resinous character. The terroir as such is predominantly gravel and sandy pebbles, and quartz stones with varying proportions of clay and sandstone especially further south.

Pessac-Léognan wines are known at their very best for their rich, heady almost savoury quality with flavours ranging from lush ripe fruit like cassis and dark cherry to spicy tobacco, cedar, leather, smoke, resin, even red brick. Wines from the sandier clayey soils of the south tend to be lighter and fruitier and more approachable in their youth. Overall the region is known for its high-quality wines with a good range of styles, silky tannins, dense concentrated flavours, and firm structure that can age well for decades. Some of the more exciting wines at good value vying with the best are now coming out of the region. In fact, Pessac is Bordeaux’s best-kept secret.

This is PessacThese wines have been chosen for their popular ratings, acclaim among wine critics, superb value quality ratio, rich terroir and/or great vintages. Our team have been given complimentary bottles from local suppliers to illustrate how best they express and characterize the appellation.

Pessac-Léognan is chiefly a middling blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with smaller quantities of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot or even Malbec. The kind of gravel and its mix with limestone, clay and sand as well as its southernmost position and distance from water result in a more equal expression of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Its proximity to wooded lands may explain some of the pithy resinous undertones while the sand does its part in the wood spice, and smoke aromatics, where the limestone and clay help in the mid-palate fleshy tones and saline touch. Indeed, Merlot grown in Pessac offers some of the most complex flavours and luscious depths unique amongst the Left Bank heavyweights, while the Cabernet Sauvignon has an intensity and profile flavour which is equally specific to the region and complements the other grape varieties almost seamlessly. The Cabernet Franc and Verdot add aromatics and mid-palate textures and notes to the finish aiding an already rich brew of dense flavours and concentrated aromas around textures and full-bodied wines of good heat and a signature mineral/savoury finish.

Typical notes are dark currants, plum, smoke, leather, tobacco leaf, liquorice and resin. However, the defining forte and secret of Pessac is the intimate layering of closely related flavours, aromas and textures all neatly knitted into a treacly web of dark and red berries and stone fruit with a density and precision for the most part at a discount to other

Top left, from left to right: Château MalarticLagravière, Château Olivier, Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Château Le Thil, Le Dauphin d’Olivier.

Top centre: Château Smith Haut Lafitte’s thousandbarrel underground cellar ages several red wine vintages.

Photograph courtesy Château Smith Haut Lafitte, © Jean Barge.

PESSAC-LÉOGNAN

-Léognan Left Bank wines. Some believe there is a slight gradation towards redder fruit in the more southern commune of Léognan versus plumier notes near Pessac and more dark currants in Martillac, however, I believe all the chateaux have a very pronounced flavour profile over and above the regional minerality with many offering a cross between a Pauillac and a Pomerol with a touch of smoke in the mix.

Vintage is important in terms of personal taste with some preferring the more structured or classical 2010 or 2015 to the fruit-driven 2016 or the purer 2017. In terms of price, Pessac-Léognan wines are often in the middle range since quality is synonymous and quantity is restricted both in terms of yield and small number of chateaux operating in the appellation. Within that scope they are better value for money than cheaper mass-produced wines and can age gracefully for decades. Overall an average between the Vivino popular ratings and the wine critic scores gives a close assessment of the value of a wine, especially in relation to price.

Young to medium aged red wines should be decanted for a few minutes to a few hours (depending on personal preference and age and type of vintage) to increase aeration and allow the wine to soften and unfurl its character and bouquet (it can be well worth the wait, especially with full-bodied wines). Older wines need decanting according to type of vintage (check Instagram postings for specific vintages). Red wine should be served at around 15 degrees.

The tasting notes are deliberately by a team of wine aficionados not by professional sommeliers. If wine is good it should be distinguishable to amateurs otherwise there would be no public interest.

FOR OTHER TASTING NOTES ON WONDERFUL WINES JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM/FIRSTTHISISWINE

Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2017

Château Malartic-Lagravière 2018

Grand Cru Classé de Graves €120.52 from Farsonsdirect Vivino popular rating 4.3/5 Jeff Leve 96/100 60% Cabernet Sauvignon 35% Merlot 4% Cabernet Franc 1% Petit Verdot Terroir: 40-year-old vines (some much older) planted in deep gravel with quartz pebbles, limestone, sand and clay in a single parcel estate around woods on an elevated plateau (hence the Lafitte) north of Martillac.

Grand Cru Classé de Graves €69 from Farsonsdirect Vivino popular rating 4.2/5 Jeff Leve 95/100 Wine Enthusiast 96/100 57% Cabernet Sauvignon 36% Merlot 4% Petit Verdot 3% Cabernet Franc Terroir: 30-year-old vines on deep gravel, clay and limestone soils and elevated slopes near Léognan.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2017 is dense crimson red. The sweet aromatics are toast brioche, raspberry and cassis, barnyard smoke and dry autumn petals and leaves to name but a few. The attack is marshmallowed red cherries and plumy dark currants with full-bodied satiny textures of more fruit wrapped in soft intimate tannins, fresh acidity and a balancing dryness to a remarkably well-ripened bevy, ending in a treacly wood embers cigar wrapping long finish. There are savoury notes along the way and a darting minerality which speak of a complex mix of pithy deep gravel balanced by a limestone weighting and sandy aromatics filling the mouth with elegant aplomb.

Château Malartic-Lagravière 2018 is brushed velvet blush red. The bouquet is dark cherries both fresh and candied, slight undergrowth, toast brioche and cedar with a dash of smoke and animal. The attack is full-throttle red fruit, stoned and berried, with a medium-plus palate of raspy acidity ending in a menagerie of more textures of liquorice and fresh herb, cola, spice and cherry pie filling. Upon decanting for three hours a newly evolved fragrance of fresh flowers has turned more dry-petal like, the woods have come through in the tobacco and smoke spectrum, and the fruit have condensed into layers of a sunny complexion with resinous depths resonant to the region.

Upon a three hour decant the smoke and leather waft along true to Pessac form; wood flavours and textures hint at the varied rich blend; and all this with lofty dense layers of plum pudding molasse-coated textures and accents that speak volumes of well-drained deep-rooted vines which almost all but ignored the clement weather of 2017 if it were not for the acidic precision, providing a seductively racy purity and giving the wine an edge over fatter years.

This is the best of 17 but don’t expect light tones or shallow red fruit but rather the very opposite a classic vintage of great and fortunate terroir that luxuriously stood the test of bad weather. The year can be characterised by its mild winter descending into a frost blighted spring considerably reducing yields moving into a sunny but cool and rainy summer producing grapes of concentration but with a lift and purity that is a signature of the vintage. Certainly, Smith Haut Lafitte encapsulates this but in a very indulgent way. A strong contender for an 1855 reclassification.

I suggest decanting this wine to give more slack to its youthful expression even if it is absolute fun from the word go. As such, you can drink this now to get a full holographic image of what 2018 is all about in the brightest sense but buy and cellar at will. 2018 in Pessac is looking more like a cross between 9 and 15/16. A wet hail-struck spring switched to a dry hot summer with cool nights resulting in small intense berries leading to a complexity built for the long haul.

Yet a phenolic maturity still allows for early drinking in the fresh fruit driven category. At this point, this is all about vintage impressing its generous mark of rich aromatics of fresh flowers, raw spice, and plump s un-bursting fruit with ripe seeds and stems. But dig deeper into the wine and the gravel clay pedigree comes basking through with glimmers of where this is gloriously going over the next few decades. Very good value; similar calibre wines, unfortunately, cost in the above 100 euro mark. This will only get better.

Supplier details: Farsonsdirect has a wide range of Bordeaux wines with a number of Pessac-Léognan wines including Haut-Brion, La Mission Haut-Brion, Pape Clément, Domaine de Chevalier, Carbonnieux and Haut-Bailly. Farsonsdirect, The Brewery, Mdina Road, B’Kara. Tel 00356 2381 4444. Web farsonsdirect.com

Supplier details: Farsonsdirect has a wide range of Bordeaux wines with a number of Pessac-Léognan wines including Haut-Brion, La Mission Haut-Brion, Pape Clément, Domaine de Chevalier, Carbonnieux and Haut-Bailly. Farsonsdirect, The Brewery, Mdina Road, B’Kara. Tel 00356 2381 4444. Web farsonsdirect.com 43

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Château Olivier 2015

Château Le Thil 2015

Le Dauphin d’Olivier 2016

Grand Cru Classé de Graves €65 from Mirachem Vivino popular rating 4.1/5 Overall Critics 91/100 55% Cabernet Sauvignon 40% Merlot 5% Petit Verdot Terroir: 25-year-old vines on gravel with clay, limestone and sand on elevated hillsides on the northern outskirts of Léognan.

€48 from from Vini e Capricci by Abraham’s Vivino popular rating 4.1/5 Jeff Leve 91/100 100% Merlot (subsequent vintages also have Cabernet Franc) Terroir: 20-year-old vines on gravel, clay and limestone soils near Smith Haut Lafitte in the commune of Martillac.

Second wine of one of the oldest estates in Bordeaux Chateau d’Olivier Grand Cru Classé de Graves €30 from Mirachem Vivino popular rating 4/5 Overall Critics 87/100 70% Merlot 30% Cabernet Sauvignon Terroir: 25-year-old vines on gravel with clay, limestone and sand on elevated hillsides on the northern outskirts of Léognan.

Château Olivier 2015 is scarlet red. The bouquet is ripe candied raspberries and red cherries with side notes of tobacco leaf, cedar and liquorice stick. The attack is more red fruit, stoned and berried, and cassis with mouth wrapping dry svelte tannins and a medium-bodied mouthfeel leading to a reserved smoke and wood ember, slight game and a treacly tar finish. Upon leaving the bottle to breathe for three hours the cherries turned darker and woodier with layers of bold baked spice; mint and chocolate undertones to the already coherent gravel and sand minerality; and a stronger grip prolonging the flavours in the finish.

I suggest opening this wine and leaving it for a generous while to gently breathe in the bottle for a fuller and more resinous expression of an incredible blend and vintage that need time to unfold their arching structure. The greatness of 2015 comes through in the ripened fruit, silky tannins, serene reserve and powerful precision. However, the beauty of this wine lies in its coherent rendition of terroir orchestrated by grape varieties that have made it their noble task to best express where this is coming from and with a tiered depth and panache that is one of the secretly endearing elements of what Pessac has best to offer at a fraction of other Bordeaux wines of the same calibre.

Supplier details: Mirachem has a vast range of French and Italian wines with a focus on Bordeaux and Burgundy amongst others. Mirachem, Mira Building, Triq Kan K Pirotta, B’Kara. Tel 00356 2148 8590.

Web wine.mt

Château Le Thil 2015 is velvety scarlet. The bouquet is smoked plum, brambly cassis, veal, walnut wood and feint leather. The attack is full dark berries leading to mediumbodied textures of ripe fruit with a sherbet acidity ending in a resin, vanilla and tarry liquorice stick finish. Upon decanting for three hours the wine blossomed to reveal a rose petal, tobacco, fig Newton almost Turkish delight confection of aromas and flavours to boot.

I suggest decanting this wine for an hour at minimum on the grounds of a stellar vintage with enough verve but a quantum of restraint requiring time to muster forth. 2015 in Pessac Leognan was of equal calibre to Margaux’s own version of a fairy tail vintage with a fecund winter aided by a sun-kissed spring unfolding into a searing summer, all wrapped up in a photo-finish diurnally- conducive full phenolic ripeness of a fall harvest with volume and structure. Le Thil’s vines in deep clay seemed to have coped admirably with the heat and this comes through in the dimensionality of the ripeness. However, the coup de grace of this wine is really its incredible rendition of Merlot grown on Pessac soils, whose expression is consistently and benevolently complex and layered enough to forget that this is not a left bank blend and equally offers an intimacy and familiarity that is a signature note of the region.

I would define intimacy as the ability of a wine to allow its aromas, flavours and textures to more or less express the same notes in tandem through different senses without any one sense overpowering or underruling the others and in that measure; with a reserved density; inspire a familiarity that inextricably links the whole experience to more full-blown and candid memories. I suppose all good wine does this but this is certainly a feather in Le Thil’s cap.

Le Dauphin d’Olivier 2016 is dark grenadine red. The nose is smoke, resin, cassis and red berries, slight leather and cigar box. The attack is crushed berries well-ripened and fresh with a mid-palate lightness of more fruit ending in an elegant bittersweet marzipan and cocoa nib lyrical finish. There is an acid lift to the ripeness and tannins silky and smooth along the way.

Upon decanting for a few hours the berries turned more dark and fleshy with side notes of mint and camphor and textures consonant to the great vintage at hand.

As such this is drinking well upon opening but is equally good upon decanting depending on one’s personal preference. The vintage of course is of the most high-calibre consistent in recent years with a wet spring and dry summer leading to an abundance, ripeness and energy especially conducive to gravel and clay soils. The wine captures this cornucopia of berried fruit with high peaks of preserve flavours to the fruit and complex spice and smoke notes with almost powdery textures in the aromas and finish. Nice structure and good volume ensure this is comfortably at home in the second wine category without losing its sense of historic identity in the Graves’ minerality that harks enticingly from the moment of opening.

Supplier details: Mirachem has a vast range of French and Italian wines with a focus on Bordeaux and Burgundy amongst others. Mirachem, Mira Building, Triq Kan K Pirotta, B’Kara. Tel 00356 2148 8590.

Web wine.mt

Supplier details: Vini e Capricci has a vast selection of French and Italian wines amongst others with a good selection of Bordeaux reds. Vini e Capricci by Abraham’s, Gozitano Agricultural Village, Mgarr Road, Xewkija Gozo. Tel 00356 2156 3231.

Web viniecapricci.com 45

ANTIPASTI

“...shellfish are the prime cause of the decline of morals and the adaptation of an extravagant lifestyle. Indeed of the whole realm of Nature the sea is in many ways the most harmful to the stomach, with its great variety of dishes and tasty fish.”

Pliny the Elder (A.D. 23-79)

EASY, BREEZY SEAFOOD ANTIPASTI Enjoying beautiful fish dishes doesn’t need to be a pleasure reserved strictly for restaurant dining. Working from their new state-of-the-art kitchens in Naxxar, which we are happy to share were supplied by The Catering Centre, the chefs at Mediterranean Culinary Academy share some of their favourite easy seafood antipasti recipes – including fish and vegetable carpaccio, fish cakes, and steamed mussels – which are perfect for entertaining. They also make a good snack or meal.

Photography Robert Pace.

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ANTIPASTI

FISH CAKES The touch of harissa in these easy fish cakes gives a bit of punch, coupled with a fresh yoghurt dipping sauce. The patties can also be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days before use.

SERVES 3-4 500g fish fillet 2 spring onion, sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1tbsp harissa lemon juice and zest half a lemon + extra for sauce salt to taste 25g corn flour 4 sprigs mint, chopped 4 sprigs coriander, chopped 75g lardo 150ml yoghurt 48

1. Skin and remove pin bones from fish fillet, chop into small pieces.

2. Place in food processor with spring onion, garlic, harissa, juice and zest, a good pinch of salt, corn flour, half of mint and coriander leaves, and lardo. Pulse to a homogenous mixture.

3. Shape into small patties and lay onto tray lined with baking paper. Wrap well and chill.

Patties can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.

4. For yoghurt dipping sauce combine yoghurt with remaining mint and coriander, and lemon juice and salt to taste. Refrigerate.

5. When ready to cook fish cakes remove from fridge and pat dry with paper towel.

6. Place pan over medium high heat and add enough oil to reach 1-2 cm up pan.

7. Once oil is heated, lay fish cakes into pan a few at a time so as not to crowd pan.

8. Allow to cook without moving for 2 minutes or until one side well coloured.

9. Flip over and allow to cook another 2 minutes. Remove from pan and drain over kitchen towel. Season with salt to taste.

10. Serve immediately with yoghurt dipping sauce.

ANTIPASTI

MUSSELS WITH CHORIZO, RAISINS AND CHILI Spicy chorizo and a just a hint of chili coupled with sweet plump raisins cooked in beer give these mussels a good aromatic twist.

SERVES 6

1. In a large pot over medium high heat add a generous splash of olive oil.

2. Add chorizo and sauté for 2 minutes.

3. Add spring onions, chili, raisins and garlic and sweat for 2 minutes.

4. Increase heat to high and once well heated add mussels, tomatoes and basil.

5. Stir to coat well in aromatics and oil and add beer.

6. Cover pot well and allow to steam for 3-4 minutes or until mussels start to open.

1kg mussels 100g chorizo 2 spring onion, sliced 1 chili, sliced 100g raisins, soaked overnight 3 cloves garlic, minced 100g cherry tomatoes, quartered 4 sprigs basil 250ml beer olive oil as needed

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ANTIPASTI

FISH CRUDO This refreshing dish takes minutes to assemble, and the fish crudo can be made ahead and refrigerated, so it's just a quick plating and decorating when guests arrive.

SERVES 1 100g fish fillet, skinned and pin bones removed juice and zest of 1 lemon 2 sprigs basil, chopped cucumber, peeled into ribbons 4 cherry tomatoes, quartered 1/4 small onion, sliced thinly tsp capers extra virgin olive oil as needed salt to taste 1. Slice fillet into thin slices and lay on baking paper lightly greased with extra virgin olive oil.

Cover with another sheet of lightly greased baking paper and refrigerate.

2. Combine lemon juice, zest and chopped basil in a jar and add 3 times as much olive oil as there is juice. Season to taste with salt and shake to combine.

3. Dress cucumber and cherry tomatoes with vinaigrette.

4. Lay fish (still in baking paper) flat on work surface and pat lightly with rolling pin to flatten.

5. Remove 1 sheet of baking paper and lay fish side down onto plate.

6. Season well with salt and vinaigrette.

Decorate with cucumber, cherry tomatoes and onion, and add more vinaigrette as necessary.

Finish with capers and torn basil leaves.

Established in 2017, Mediterranean Culinary Academy recently moved its kitchen classroom in Valletta to new and larger premises in Triq l-Oratorju, Naxxar. The Naxxar space brings all of their operations under one roof, with two large state-of-the-art teaching kitchens supplied by The Catering Centre.

Recipes are from The Mediterranean Culinary Academy's collection developed by their chef instructors. For more recipes, or to book a cooking class visit www.mcamalta.com or email contact@mcamalta.com.

Share your creations by tagging @mca_malta or sending MCA a photo on their socials.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE NEW RESEARCH. OBESITY MAY WORSEN ITS EFFECTS. Being overweight increases the risk of many serious health conditions, including strokes, cancer, diabetes and hypertension. Less well known, perhaps, is the link between being overweight or obese and the health of our brain. Research has shown that a higher body mass index and mid-life obesity are both linked to increased risk of dementia. Some evidence also indicates that obesity and Alzheimer’s disease cause similar brain dysfunctions, say Matteo De Marco and Annalena Venneri at the University of Sheffield. Photography this page and overleaf Malik Chadli.

O

ur latest research has now shown that being overweight or obese negatively affects brain health, especially in the regions most vulnerable to the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. This could potentially exacerbate symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease should it develop.

Our study looked at 57 people who were healthy and had no sign of Alzheimer’s, 68 patients who had mild cognitive impairment but could still function normally in everyday life, and 47 patients with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia. We took measurements of each participant’s body mass index and waist circumference to determine whether they were a normal weight, overweight or underweight. We then invited all participants to have an MRI scan to measure the structure of their brain (such as its volume and the number of connecting fibres), as well as its function, as measured by blood-flow levels.

Our findings showed that in overweight or obese people who had no or mild cognitive impairment, the more excess weight they carried, the

greater their levels of brain cell loss and the lower their brain blood flow. We also found some damage to fibres that connect brain cells. All of these changes affect mental functions, including how well we remember things and our ability to do everyday tasks.

We also found that these changes occurred in the frontal, temporal and parietal brain regions. Not only do these regions play an important role in memory, planning and interpretation of the visual world, they’re also areas where Alzheimer’s causes the greatest amount of cell loss and decreased blood flow.

Interestingly, in patients with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, the healthier their weight, the less they showed brain cell loss.

This suggests that maintaining a healthy weight after being diagnosed with dementia may help patients preserve more brain cells for longer, slightly slowing progression of the disease.

EXCESS WEIGHT Our findings show how complex the relationship between

maintaining a healthy weight and brain health is. While our study doesn’t show obesity or excess weight to be a direct cause of Alzheimer’s disease, the findings do suggest that being overweight or obese throughout a person’s lifetime lowers the brain’s resilience to the damaging effects of the disease. This results in more severe symptoms and faster decline in those who develop Alzheimer’s.

Our study also highlights the importance of looking after our weight from an early age to avoid the negative effects of excess weight on the brain. This is especially important after middle age, where the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease increases considerably – and because damage to the brain is usually not reversible and accumulates over time.

Although the cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not known, we know that a number of factors can increase our risk of developing it – excess weight being one of them. Obesity puts a severe strain on the cardiovascular system and damages the brain vessels’ walls.

This in turn results in high levels of inflammation, toxicity to brain cells, and lower metabolism and blood flow in the brain.

Our study adds to the large body of evidence that indicates the damaging effects of obesity on the vascular system worsen some of the mechanisms that cause Alzheimer’s disease.

There’s still no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, which is why it’s important to take as many precautions as possible from an early age to prevent the likelihood of developing it.

Matteo De Marco is a Lecturer in the Neuroscience of Dementia, University of Sheffield. Annalena Venneri is Chair Professor at the Translational Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Sheffield. This article first appeared on The Conversation.

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HEALTH & FITNESS HEART HEALTH & BRAIN HEALTH GO HAND-IN-HAND

INFLAMMATION, DISEASE AND EXERCISE You may have heard the term “chronic inflammation” but may not know what it is or why it is important.

Inflammation is an immune system response to harmful agents or damaged cells and is usually termed acute or chronic. Chronic inflammation refers to a more gradual, prolonged inflammatory response that involves progressive changes in various cell types and functions that can persist for several years with deleterious effects. For example, chronic low-grade inflammation associated with obesity plays a central role in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (the most common form of diabetes).

Similarly, this type of inflammation also contributes to the underlying mechanism responsible for the atherosclerotic process in the coronary arteries, which is the hallmark of the most common form of heart disease and associated with stroke. Further, a number of inflammatory markers are known to increase with advancing age, likely contributing to the development of a number of age-associated diseases (mentioned above but also including dementia and cognitive impairment), writes Robert Mazzeo, Ph.D., FACSM.

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ow the good news.

Participation in regular aerobic exercise has been shown to have numerous beneficial effects resulting in an improved inflammatory profile and overall immune function in individuals suffering from chronic low-grade inflammation. These benefits stem from the anti-inflammatory effects associated with physical activity. Not only can regular exercise help individuals who already have chronic inflammation and the associated diseases, but exercise can also serve as a prevention strategy to lower the risk of ever developing chronic inflammation in healthy populations. The extent to which regular exercise will exert these beneficial effects will be dependent upon the frequency, duration and intensity of your exercise program.

While the exact causes for this antiinflammatory effect of exercise are not completely understood, contributing factors

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include the reduction in visceral (belly) fat and alterations in the responsiveness to stress hormones. Along those lines, it has been known for some time that chronic stress plays a significant role in the development of prolonged low-grade inflammation. While short, transient periods of stress do not have this negative impact, more prolonged periods of stress, (whether from financial, family/relationship, work environments, etc.) clearly have multiple deleterious effects on your overall health and risk of disease. Here again, participation in regular exercise can help to offset the negative effects of chronic stress. Studies have shown that exercise can improve your “resistance” to the negative effects of stress thereby decreasing the unwanted impact it would likely have on your immune system, inflammatory response and eventual risk for disease.

Finally, we all realize that a number of our biological systems decline as we get older. This

includes a decline in immune function accompanied by an increase in chronic inflammation. Several studies have demonstrated that an inverse relationship exists between the amount of physical activity one engages in and the degree of inflammation in older populations. Thus, of the many potential health benefits associated with regular physical activity, you can add a reduction in the proinflammatory state to the list.

While the benefits of regular exercise are numerous, it is important to recognize that some individuals have a compromised immune response and must balance rest with exercise and monitor their health. An altered immune response can be due to the type of underlying disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or medication interactions.

Reprinted with permission of the American College of Sports Medicine, ACSM Fit Society® Page, July 2016, p. 1-2.

HEALTH & FITNESS

WHO ONLINE TRAINING FOR DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS This February, Malta became the first country to introduce iSupport, WHO’s online training for caregivers of people with dementia. The training is the result of a two-year collaboration between the Ministry for Active Ageing, clinicians, academics, civil society organizations and carers of people with dementia, to adapt the original version developed by WHO to the Maltese context.

A

ccording to Tarun Dua, Head of the Brain Health Unit at the World Health Organization, “the launch by Malta of this customized version of iSupport is a milestone in our efforts to improve the quality of life of caregivers of people with dementia through the world. As the number of people with dementia increases, so too will the need for trainings like this that are accessible to anyone with an internet connection and can be followed at users’ own pace.” iSupport, launched by WHO in 2019, provides advice both on preventing and managing the physical and psychological difficulties associated with being a carer for someone with dementia, and also on providing effective care. In addition to the online version, the training is available as a hardcopy manual, with easy-read reference posters (iSupport Lite), and a short video with practical tips also available.

Providing support for caregivers is just one of the action areas in WHO’s Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025. Others include dementia awareness and friendliness; risk reduction; diagnosis, treatment and care; information systems; and dementia research and innovation. Currently, more than 55 million people are living with dementia. This number is expected to more than double by 2050.

Source: World Health Organization, February 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

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GIVING

meaning T: 2258 4200 | E: info@caremalta.com

www.caremalta.com

TO LIFE

PROMOTION

PERSONAL INSIGHT

Dealing with Dementia “Reaching Out is Crucial” Day after day, we meet various people from different walks of life, with different cultures and habits at work and in our social life. One of the most common topics that people speak about nowadays is how dementia has hit one of their family members. Dementia, just like any other illness, brings about fear, anxiety, and sadness in our families.

As relatives, we feel completely lost about what we can do to help our relatives or friend. I too experienced these feelings when a member of my family was diagnosed with dementia. It is indeed a very painful moment and, in these circumstances, the world does feel like it is collapsing, says CareMalta’s CEO, James Sciriha.

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eaching out is the most important factor in such a situation. Help and assistance have improved a lot over the past years, not only for the person who is suffering from dementia but also for his or her relatives. All stakeholders in the social field have come together to improve the quality of life of our elderly who suffer from dementia.

In the past weeks, I had the opportunity to meet a resident, a mother, in one of our homes who suffers from dementia. I could see and feel the pain the daughter goes through every single day, due to the fact that her mother does not recognize her.

It is indeed very painful, as even my family member visibly didn’t recognize her children. This is a reality of many of our families. A reality where the family of our loved ones become the staff that take care of them daily.

This is what we try to do at CareMalta, create a family-like environment through our ways of taking care of our Elderly. We keep the Elderly at the centre of our care and everything else works towards providing a better quality of life, to make it less tough for the resident and their relatives.

While we engage with the resident to keep them active, we show our compassion to both the resident as well as with their loved ones. Our staff go through intensive training to be able to provide the best service every single day.

To the loved ones of those persons who are suffering from dementia, keep on visiting them, and never leave them alone. Deep down, they know it is you. A whisper, a touch, or a kiss is all that is needed for a parent to recognize that it is you. Our parents can take the place of everyone, but no one can take their place.

At CareMalta, this is not just our job, but it’s our way of life, to provide a better quality of life to our residents who suffer from dementia.

Above: One of the most common topics that people speak about nowadays is how dementia has hit one of their family members. It is indeed a very painful moment and, in these circumstances, the world does feel like it is collapsing, says CareMalta’s CEO, James Sciriha.

ABOUT CAREMALTA’S CEO, JAMES SCIRIHA. In February this year James was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of CareMalta to replace Natalie Briffa Farrugia, who replaced her father, Nazzareno Vassallo as Vassallo Group Chairperson.

James first joined the group in 2001 as a student worker whilst studying at University. In 2010, he rejoined the company as a Group Financial Controller after working, specializing and gaining experience in funds and securitization both locally and overseas with an international audit firm (Deloitte) for 3 years. He was appointed Director of Finance at CareMalta on 1st January 2017.

James holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Accountancy (Hons) degree from the University of Malta, and a Diploma in Fund Administration from the University of Manchester. He won a prestigious award by the Institute of Financial Services as an overall excellent student in 2010 and the John Earland Prize Fund award in 2010 supported by the Central Bank of Malta. During his tenure at CareMalta Group, other than having a leading role in Finance, James has been involved in a number of projects; namely the winning of Zammit Clapp tender, the extensions of Casa Arkati, Dar il-Madonna tal-Mellieha, Zejtun Home and Zammit Clapp; the opening of Casa San Poalo and Casa Marija, the refurbishment of Villa Messina, HILA Homes projects, and the opening of LiveLife; being the first private rehabilitation centre in Malta. He also served as a Director of Hand in Hand Malta Limited, a company offering therapeutical services for children with challenging behaviours, and led the CareMalta Group live in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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ENVIRONMENT

World Environment Day

ONLY ONE EARTH World Environment Day 2022 is the biggest international day for the environment. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and held annually since 1974 on 5 June, it has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach and celebrated by millions across the world.

This year campaign slogan is “Only One Earth", with the focus on “Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature”. Three days later on 8 June, this year’s United Nations World Oceans Day, will highlight the theme "Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean". The ocean connects, sustains, and supports us all. Yet its health is at a tipping point and so is the well-being of all that depends on it. As the past years have shown us, we need to work together to create a new balance with the ocean that no longer depletes its bounty but instead restores its vibrancy and brings it new life. Photography Jason Leung.

SPOTLIGHT ON BEES THE GREATEST POLLINATORS

Why bees are essential to people and planet

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“Sacred passages about bees in all the worlds’ major religions highlight their significance to human societies over millennia.”

ees are part of the biodiversity on which we all depend for our survival. They provide high-quality food – honey, royal jelly and pollen – and other products such as beeswax, propolis and honey bee venom. The western honey bee is the most widespread managed pollinator globally, and more than 80 million hives produce an estimated 1.6 million tonnes of honey annually. And pollinators contribute directly to food security. According to bee experts at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, a third of the world’s food production depends on bees. When animals and insects pick up the pollen of flowers and spread it, they allow plants, including many food crops, to reproduce.

RISK FROM PESTICIDES, AIR POLLUTION. Sadly, bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are

increasingly under threat from human activities.

Bee populations have been declining globally over recent decades due to habitat loss, intensive farming practices, changes in weather patterns and the excessive use of agrochemicals such as pesticides. This in turn poses a threat to a variety of plants critical to human well-being and livelihoods. Air pollution is also thought to be affecting bees. Preliminary research shows that air pollutants interact with scent molecules released by plants which bees need to locate food. The mixed signals interfere with the bees’ ability to forage efficiently, making them slower and less effective at pollination.

POSITIVE SIGNS. In May 2018, the European Union upheld a partial ban on three insecticides known as neonicotinoids to mitigate the lethal threat they pose to bees and their trickle-down effect on pollination as a whole. This August, when world leaders gather in Kunming, China, at the United Nations

Biodiversity Conference (COP 15), they are expected to finalize the post-2020 biodiversity framework, which calls for, amongst other things, the reduction of pesticides by at least two thirds by 2030.

Here are some things you can do to help preserve bees and other pollinators. Plant nectar-bearing flowers such as marigolds or sunflowers for decorative purposes on balconies, terraces, and gardens. Buy honey and other hive products from your nearest local beekeeper. Set up a pollinator farm on your balcony, terrace, or garden.

Preserve old fields or gardens, which feature a more diverse array of flowers, and sow nectarbearing plants. Use pesticides that do not harm bees, and spray them in windless weather, either early in the morning or late at night, when bees withdraw from blossoms.

Source: UN Environment Programme (UNEP), www.unep.org 61

ENVIRONMENT

Protecting our natural habitats

The Maltese Islands have the privilege of hosting 55 Natura 2000 sites which is an outstanding achievement considering our limited size. The Natura 2000 network is a pan-European initiative comprising both terrestrial and marine protected habitats, identified as core sites for rare and endangered species and rare natural habitats. Founded in 1992, Natura 2000 sites protect over 27,000 terrestrial and marine sites across the European Union, writes the team at the Environment and Resources Authority.

This page: Majjistral Park is situated in the middle of the Natura 2000 strech of coast. It includes a coastal stretch of about 6 km in length covering the area from Anchor Bay (Il-Prajjet) to Golden Bay (Il-Bajja tal-Mixquqa) and inland toward ix-Xagħra l-Ħamra. Photograph Reuben Spiteri.

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PROTECTED HABITATS

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ENVIRONMENT

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PROTECTED HABITATS

S

everal sites across the Maltese islands have been designated with the aim of protecting our unique wild and rare flora and fauna. Out of a total of 55 Natura 2000 sites across Malta, 37 sites are terrestrial, with sites like “IlWardija”, “Is-Simar” and “Il-Mizieb” on the list. Several protected and endemic species also embellish these sites including the Maltese RockCentury, also called the “WidnetilBahar” which can be found on cliffs and boulder screes in locations such as “Ir-Ramla taċ-Ċirkewwasal-ponta ta’ Benghisa” and “Dwejra”. The Painted Frog “Iż-Żrinġ”, Tadpole Shrimp “Il-Gamblutal-Elmu” and the Sea Daffodil “Narċistal-Baħar” are only a few other species that form part of the protected species list present within these sensitive sites.

The remaining 18 Natura 2000 sites are the so-called Marine Protected Areas. Today, the Maltese Islands can boast of having the largest percentage of protected territorial waters in the EU with a staggering 35% of Maltese territorial waters designated as Marine Protected Areas. 4,138 km2 of the Mediterranean Sea surrounding our Islands form part of these important marine habitats. The identification of these sites was no easy feat with years of research by various international teams through several EU-funded projects around our coast which lead to several astounding discoveries. The results of the scientific research were analyzed

by ERA which designated MPA on the basis of discoveries of habitats and species present within them.

Furthermore, ERA has also developed a set of conservation measures for these sites, intended to enhance the protection of these sensitive sites.

Top left: Majjistral Park lies in an area largely dominated by clay, which sits beneath upper and lower coralline limestone. Due to clay erosion, large sections of limestone have collapsed, giving a special habitat for flora. Photograph Daniel Borg.

Bottom left: The area in the northwest of Malta, which includes the coastal area from Golden Bay to Il-Prajjet and ix-Xagħra l-Ħamra, was declared a national park by the Government of Malta in September 2007. The Park was named after the name for the Northwest region or wind – ‘majjistral’ – in Maltese. Photograph Reuben Spiteri.

Top: Qarraba, Mgarr. Above: Qarraba (l-akwati).

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ENVIRONMENT

Above: There are a total of 55 Natura 2000 sites across Malta, 37 of which are terrestrial, amongst them is “Is-Simar”.

Below: Malta has designated several sites across the islands with the aim of protecting wild and rare flora and fauna. One species that call these various habitats their home is the Painted Frog “Iż-Żrinġ".

E

RA’s involvement does not stop with the identification of Natura 2000 sites - the management of these sites falls within ERA’s remits. To this end, ERA engages other entities who manage these sensitive sites which often require rehabilitation and various other interventions to assure the necessary protection. ERA funds several eNGOs who work hand in hand with ERA to protect the environment and offer the best possible care to both flora and fauna and the necessary habitats that offer them a home.

Over the past few months, ERA has also issued a funding scheme - with the BELLUS Call issuing €500,000 under the Environment fund, to 6 different environment-related projects. Nonetheless, money is not everything and even you can do your small part to strengthen the local biodiversity - create a small roof garden, build an insect hotel or just live ecologically.

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PROMOTION

Committed to Forward Eco-Thinking

ECONETIQUE

In 2009 FXB Group expanded into the field of renewable energy with the formation of Econetique Ltd. Econetique is a synergy of two words: Eco and Cinétique (French for Kinetic), which merge the two ideals the company is based on: eco philosophy which at the core of the company's values, and the kinetic/dynamic which pushes the team to be at the forefront of technology in this sector and to offer the best eco solutions in the market.

"The name is a constant reminder that our ideals are here to stay and that the company will continue to evolve by always offering the best solutions to its clients", says Ing Charles Borg, Econetique's Managing Director.

“E

very visionary company needs a sound philosophy by which it stands and helps it move forward. Unfortunately today’s consumerist life has led to a philosophy of waste and disposal which is putting tremendous stress on the eco system.

Luckily everyone is becoming increasingly aware that this needs to be slowed down, stopped and reversed. Eventually Eco conscious solutions will become a way of life. Econetique embraces this philosophy and provides solutions for these eco-demands."

SINCLAIR AIR CONDITIONING Econetique is the official agent and supplier for Sinclair Air Conditioners in Malta and Gozo. Founded in 1999 Sinclair is focused on air-conditioning systems, air-to-water heat pumps and LED lighting.

The main scope of Sinclair is to bring comfort while protecting the environment. Thanks to the attention paid to research and development SINCLAIR has reached a high level of quality and reliability.

Sinclair residential products include indoor units ranging from: Wallmounted, Ducted, Casette Type and Floor to Ceiling. Configuration can vary from the traditional split type system, having 1 indoor unit and a corresponding outdoor unit, or a Multi-Split system, specially designed for a restricted outdoor space. With a Multi-Split system, 1 outdoor unit can supply more than 1 indoor unit, with endless combinations and configurations.

Sinclair also provides several commercial solutions with power output from 28kW up to 270kW, which features advanced technology, design and energy saving.

that each panel is optimized to generate maximum power individually.

Micro inverters also allow the possibility to place panels on multiple sections of complex roof layouts with different orientation and tilt angles.

Econetique designs, supplies and installs: photo-voltaic systems, commercial and residential air-conditioning systems, thermal insulation and underfloor heating solutions and domestic heatpumps, as well as indoor pool dehumidification and pool heating solutions, sound insulation, and solar water heaters. Econetique, Xewkija Industrial Estate, Xewkija XWK 3000, Gozo. FXB House, 346 Mdina Road, Qormi QRM 9014, Malta. Tel: 2155 0604, 2156 9006.

Top: Sinclair is focused on air-conditioning systems that bring comfort while protecting the environment. Below: This tailor made photovoltaic system was designed with Bisol Lumina series. Using two types of panels, Lumina 310W and Lumina 185W, the 185W option allows more sunlight through the same pv panel.

BISOL LUMINA PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM One of the recent tailor-made photovoltaic systems was designed with the Bisol Lumina series. Using two types of panels – Lumina 310W and Lumina 185W – the 185W option allows more sunlight through the same PV panel. Such flexibility can be achieved by configuring the photovoltaic system with Enphase Micro-inverter technology.

Micro inverters are attached to every solar panel so that each panel can work independently from the rest. Solar panels can generate different amounts of power due to a number of reasons such as shading, or dirt, or even temperature difference, and the main advantage of micro inverters is 69

PROMOTION

TRIDENT PARK

A GREEN OFFICE CAMPUS Trident Park is a large-scale regeneration project, which has seen one of Malta’s finest 20thcentury industrial buildings transformed into a thriving and vibrant green office campus and world-class business destination in Malta’s up-and-coming Central Business District.

Trident Estates plc CEO, Charles Xuereb, discusses the vision behind Trident Park.

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GREEN DEVELOPMENT

T

rident Park, the redevelopment of the former Farsons Brewery into a Grade A green business park, is finally reaching completion. This project was faced with numerous challenges during its 5-year implementation, some due to external factors which developed in the course of works, some due to bold decisions taken at inception.

One of these challenges centered around the decision of building 43% of the potential square metres as well as the green credentials of the building.

The conscious decision to build 18,000 square metres rather than 40,000 square metres was a tough one, but one that complimented the vision of achieving an attractive lettable area with sustainability at its chore. However, building up less than half of the maximum square metreage of lettable area meant that the project had to have features that are so appealing and attractive to the market to allow us to lease the space at rates that made business sense in the end. While this decision might have seemed illogical for Malta, a country where land is so scarce and valuable, because it did not set out to maximise the footprint, it is also a feature that makes Trident Park stand out from the rest of the highbuilds.

Trident Park’s open landscaped areas constitute more than 50% of the development’s area, creating an opportunity for people to interact and meet, instilling an inspiring a sense of community where likeminded individuals can network.

This campus-like environment boasts of six prominent gardens, which create a calming and inspiring workplace for the companies who have taken the decision to come here.

The goal for Trident Park was standards, standards, standards. In order to set new building standards it meant that we had to embark on a project that would use new cuttingedge technologies. The installation of the TABS (thermally active building system) forming part of Trident Park’s cooling strategy is the first installation of its kind in Malta, posing obvious challenges with regards to supply chain and specialised trades.

The cost to go green is still high, but it is largescale projects like Trident Park which need to set the example for others to follow, and when these eventually do, the costs should become more affordable and accessible to a wider audience.

However, we believe that in the long term, the investment will still pay back, and should save on operational costs considerably. Tests are showing an energy efficiency of almost 40% more when comparing to conventional systems.

The standards that we set out to achieve and the one-of-a-kind finished product that we can offer to the market has been regarded positively and we are thankfully receiving considerable interest from prospective tenants. Despite the challenges of COVID-19 (which transformed the demand for office space) and the grey-listing, we are proud to say that 50% of the spaces have already been rented out.

The very first tenants moved into Trident Park on April 4th and we are expecting the rest to occupy their leased premises over the coming months. The project offers unique facilities to its visitors and tenants promoting a healthy worklife balance with amenities including a gym, childcare facilities, events spaces, food and beverage outlets and a visitors’ experience centre.

For more information on Trident Park, or to book an appointment for a site visit, please contact +356 9953 9007 or visit tridentparkmalta.com/contact

Facing page: Green and sustainable features have been a priority since planning at Trident Park. Only 43% of the development has been built in order to give importance to outdoor spaces, so that each of the 7 office buildings are separated by space for trees, plants and other greenery. Top left: Solar fins installed along the height of apertures create both a unique design characteristic and a source of shade, weakening the impact of the sun’s heat.

Centre left: The above-ground naturally ventilated multi-level car park building with 700 spaces is connected to each of the seven office blocks at all levels.

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ENVIRONMENT DAY PROMOTION

Citadel Insurance Celebrates World Environment Day with Eco-Discounts and Green Initiatives As World Environment Day is approaching on 5 June, similarly to previous years, Citadel Insurance plc is offering a handful of green initiatives and eco-discounts to clients to facilitate a positive change for the planet and ensure a brighter future. This year we are celebrating our 25th anniversary, and Citadel Insurance has been firmly committed to promoting environmentally friendly practices and embracing the green transition since as far back as 2008 says Angela Tabone, Managing Director at Citadel Insurance. Photography Emma Fabbri.

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ustomers being serviced from one of Citadel Insurance branches across the Maltese Islands from 2 to 4 June will receive a take-home plant to help make their immediate environment greener and to serve as a daily reminder of the need to protect and nurture our environment.

Furthermore, on 5 June, as in previous years, Citadel Insurance will be subsidising 50 percent of the fees charged by the electric cabs which operate in Valletta. In addition, it will offer return ferry tickets for the first 100 commuters traveling between the Three Cities and Valletta on 6 June. These initiatives encourage the transition towards alternative transport solutions that reduce traffic on our streets.

“This year we are celebrating our 25th anniversary. Citadel Insurance has been firmly committed to promoting environmentally friendly practices and embracing the green transition since as far back as 2008. It all started when Citadel Insurance introduced insurance branded products for customers who purchased renewable energy solutions, such as the installation of photovoltaic panels and solar water heaters, or electric and hybrid vehicles. Through World Environment Day

2022, we aim to create wider public awareness about initiatives and other possibilities that support cleaner energy solutions for a sustainable environment. To achieve this, we are offering a myriad of benefits to individuals who choose to utilise alternative technologies to reduce air pollution.”

The World Environment Day activities organised by Citadel Insurance fit into a broader environmentally-focused corporate social responsibility strategy adopted for a number of years and continue to be so for 2022 and beyond. 2021 has seen the Company collaborate with Nature Trust Malta on its turtle conservation project and a project to distribute re-usable bags in order to reduce the use of plastic. Similar initiatives are planned for the remainder of this year.

Held every 5 June, World Environment Day is the biggest international occasion to raise awareness for the protection of the environment. Organised annually since 1974 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), millions of people now engage with the initiative globally to protect the planet and

the environment.

The Citadel Eco insurance product brand is specifically designed to empower customers in adopting environmentally friendly and green technologies via beneficial discounts.

Citadel Insurance has been at the forefront to offer eco-branded insurance products to incentivise the shift towards greener, cleaner energy solutions.

“Our incentives provide our customers the possibility to save money when going green.

Furthermore, these eco branded products are also available for existing policyholders who switch to more environmentally sustainable products such as hybrid, electric cars, PV or Solar Water Heater for their homes and business.”

Citadel Insurance offers a full range of quality insurance solutions for life, health, commercial and other individual solutions. For further information, visit Citadel’s branches in Mellieħa, Naxxar, Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Mosta, Ta’ Xbiex, Paola, Żejtun or Victoria in Gozo; Citadel’s Head Office at Floriana; log on www.citadelplc.com or call on Freephone 8007 2322. The above incentives are subject to terms and conditions and until stocks last.

Citadel Insurance plc is a company authorised under the Insurance Business Act, Cap. 403, to carry on general and long-term business of insurance and is regulated by the MFSA. 72

ECO INSURANCE

DISCOUNTS

FOR YOUR ECO LIFESTYLE

insurance

Enjoy great savings on your insurance when choosing environmentally friendly technologies Home • Motor • PV Terms and Conditions apply.

www.citadelplc.com 8007 2322

ci-serviceme@citadelplc.com

LIVE WEB CHAT

Citadel Insurance p.l.c., Casa Borgo, 26 Market Street, Floriana FRN 1082, Malta Branches: Ħaż-Żebbuġ 21464873 • Il-Mosta 21438880 • In-Naxxar 21419198 Iż-Żejtun 21807779 • Paola 21806247 • Ta’ Xbiex 2557 9443 • Mellieħa 21525232 Victoria, Gozo 21566660 – Tied Insurance Intermediaries: Malta • Gozo Citadel Insurance p.l.c. is a company authorised under the Insurance Business Act, Cap 403, to carry on general and long term business of insurance and is regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority.

ENVIRONMENT PROMOTION ACTIVATE CHANGE

How your choice of transportation makes a difference Transport, including aviation and shipping, is responsible for 27% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union. It is estimated that these figures are on the rise, writes the team at The Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise. Photography Jonas Thijs.

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ikewise in Malta, reducing emissions from the transport sector is imperative to improve air quality and mitigate climate change.

Collectively, we can make a difference, a positive one. Our choices are pivotal to the outcomes of climate action during these challenging times.

Cars with Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) running on fossil fuels, release greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere.

Not to mention the multitude of pollutants which pose a threat to human health.GHGs lead to climate change and the phenomenon we have been witnessing worldwide: temperature rises, extreme and volatile weather conditions and droughts which in turn affect human health and people’s livelihoods.

While it may sound like a distant threat, Malta’s summer heatwaves are one example of how this strikes our shores. Many more exist, such as reduced water security and potential threat to jobs in the hospitality sector due to shifts in tourism patterns as a consequence of climate change. We are also tied to international trends and supply chains, so anything which is affected by climate change in other countries will ultimately affect us.

Although this article focuses on sustainable modes of transport, transport is not the sole polluter. But by choosing more environmentalfriendly transport, the impact on air quality would be substantial. Taking as an example the lockdown period at the height of the COVID19 pandemic, observations of the concentrations of air pollution revealed significant reductions in the concentration of nitrogen dioxide amongst other gaseous pollutants.

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o here’s what you can do: before hopping in to your car, assess whether your destination is also reachable by public transport, on foot or by using other transport such as a scooter or a bicycle. If your private car is a must, can you carpool or carshare? The thing with sustainable actions is that you may think that your effort does not count. This could not be further away from the truth.

In order for Malta to reach the climate neutrality targets set out, every person’s effort is imperative. Change starts from the one individual willing to make small daily changes which, when considered collectively, have a much stronger impact.

The fight against climate change is a global effort. It is up to each and every one of us to be the first to make the change. Be part of that change. Activate change.

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PROMOTION

MIND YOUR STEP. A Move Towards Carbon Neutrality.

Global development has been heavily reliant on the overexploitation of natural resources, and this has contributed to the ever-increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, causing global climate change. In response to this, there is a global push to aim at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This has become the most pressing task on the planet, writes Laura Sue Mallia, Director Risk Management, Policy and EU Affairs, Transport Malta.

Photography Shana Van Roosbroek.

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TOWARDS CARBON NEUTRAL

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s Malta gives more importance to improved air quality and, achieving greater sustainability in general, a focus needs to be made on the transport sector.

Emissions reduction can take many forms, mainly technological or behavioural. A significant amount of GHG emissions is the result of the private car culture that has almost become a status symbol. The aim is, therefore, to encourage people to change their mode of transport to lower-emission solutions. In this respect, the electrification of transport is a promising approach to begin to address this and the resultant improvement in air quality. Government is strongly supporting this transition with the allocation of €2.5 million to promote the purchase of battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and range extender electric vehicles through grants for the registration of a new or a used vehicle. However, this will not solve other issues such as congestion emanating from the high number of vehicles that are continuously registered for use on our roads.

To overcome this, we encourage the use of alternate modes of transport such as public transport, shared transport, walking, cycling, and other forms of micromobility. Supporting this, EU funding has been approved through the Malta Recovery and Resilience Plan for the electrification of public transport. This, combined with free public transport that will be extended to all groups of society as from October 2022, has the potential to significantly reduce emissions.

Another large-scale project which is currently ongoing and which, when completed, will reduce air pollution by berthed cruise ships by over 90% is the Shore-to-Ship project. This will provide an electricity supply from shore to berthed ships rather than having these ships leave their engines on and thus contributing to increased emissions and reduced air quality. In addition, in understanding and maximising the opportunities that our Islands provide in facilitating connections by sea, the ferry landing sites are being upgraded to further encourage their use.

The shifting from land to sea transport, and thus reducing congestion in the dense Inner Harbour Region, has been very positive and, encouraging where ferry patronage has increased consistently in recent years.

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ltimately, achieving more sustainable transport systems require a behavioural change. This however is extremely challenging in a society where car ownership and car dependence are high. In view of this, the Sustainable Mobility team within Transport Malta is taking a varied approach ranging from the planning, promotional and awareness, implementation, and educational perspectives.

The team is continuously engaged in awarenessraising and promotional campaigns with the aim of reaching all segments of society. Recently, in acknowledging that children are the leaders and change catalysts of tomorrow, an increased effort has been made to reach students through a series of initiatives targeting primary to tertiary educational institutions. This is being complemented by additional activities with all groups of society. A national awareness campaign is currently being designed which aims to educate the public on the available alternatives to the private car as well as highlight the environmental, economic, and health benefits of each.

From a planning perspective, Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) coupled with Sustainable Urban Logistic Plans (SULPs) aim to promote more sustainable transport alternatives for both citizens and visitors by providing specific, tried and tested solutions to improve the mobility system of the region and attract both residents and visitors to sustainable modes of transport and practices. Solutions here can be varied and can extend the use of existing technology to address current problems such as for example, an exploration of the use of drones for the delivery of commercial packages which could help cut back on CO2 emissions.

The National Transport Strategy and Master Plan which include a holistic vision for investments within the transport sector over the period to 2025 is currently undergoing a midterm review which will see it extended to 2030 and, which will take stock of the status and progress toward implementation of the various measures. The Master Plan will also be aligned to a wider policy framework such as the EU’s Cohesion Policy for 2021-2027 as well as its Climate Target Plan for 2030. This gives us a wealth of opportunities to address our planetary emergencies, through efforts on various segments including biodiversity, transport, energy, cities, and food systems. Our best alley in this journey is nature itself.

From a personal level, there is ample opportunity for the rethinking of our mobility needs. By carrying out the same activities differently, we can reduce our need to travel and thus reduce emissions. Teleworking and online shopping are common examples. In addition, short-distance trips can easily be shifted to active modes. However, rethinking the way we travel does not translate into shifting all trips from being done by car to using the public transport, cycling, or walking but rather introducing the concept of multi-modality where trips are better planned and may even be more conveniently done, by bus, or on foot or a combination of both, taking the bus and walking the remaining distance.

In achieving greater sustainability in transport, for the benefit of both our planet and our society, Transport Malta will continue to promote, implement and encourage the uptake of cleaner transport with initiatives being in line with the latest technologies and research.

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ECLECTIBLE LEGO’S 3D STARRY NIGHT

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PIECES OF VAN GOGH The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh is one of the most recognisable and loved paintings in Western art, and has been in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City since 1941. Inspired by the view from his window at the Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy, France, where Van Gogh spent twelve months, The Starry Night is both an exercise in observation and a clear departure from it. In creating this image of the night sky, Van Gogh heralded modern painting’s embrace of mood, expression, symbol, and sentiment.

Photography courtesy the LEGO Group.

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n tribute to Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting, the LEGO Group, in conjunction with The Museum of Modern Art, has revealed the LEGO Ideas The Starry Night set. The three-dimensional set reimagines Vincent van Gogh’s 1889 painting in LEGO form, with strong emphasis on the artist’s striking brush strokes and vivid colour choice. Art lovers can swap paint palettes for LEGO bricks and re-create one of the world’s most recognisable masterpieces. From the twinkling stars and mesmerising moon to the sleeping Provence village below, van Gogh’s image has been brought spectacularly to life in brick, capturing the artist’s swirling brushstrokes. The new LEGO set was originally conceived by Truman Cheng, a 25-year old Hong Kong based LEGO fan, through a submission on the LEGO Ideas platform, and was developed when he realised that stacking different LEGO pieces together captured the look of Van Gogh’s iconic brush strokes. In addition to elements comprising the painting’s iconic moon and stars above and village below, the LEGO set also includes a Van Gogh mini-figure, complete with a paintbrush, palette, easel, and mini painting on a printed tile.

The set will be available globally from 1st June for €169.99 on www.Lego.com/starry-night, in LEGO stores and with MoMA Design Store in New York City and online at store.moma.org.

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