Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/195525
45 Events maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2013 An evening of fine wine On 27 September, Farsons Beverage Imports Co Ltd (FBIC) hosted a fine Bordeaux dinner at Quadro, Westin Dragonara, with the wines of Chateau Rauzan Segla and Chateau Canon. The evening was presented by prominent winemaker John Kolasa. Kolasa introduced the excellent wines of the evening in his unique, informal style, delighting the audience which filled the terrace at Quadro with his knowledge of Bordeaux and his wines from Margaux and St Emilion while sharing anecdotes from his 40 year career in the wine-making industry. The wines served during the dinner were Segla 2000, Chateau Canon 1998 and Chateau Rauzan Segla 1996, all in magnum. The wines proved to be perfect examples of their terroir and highlighted the aging potential of wines from these two highly classified Chateaux. The evening was finished off with the liquid gold from Sauternes, Chateau Guiraud 1995. John Kolasa, of Scottish nationality, is the managing director of Chateau Rauzan-Ségla in Margaux, and of Chateau Canon in Saint-Emilion, France. His career in wine began with work on the quays in Bordeaux and a year of weekly oenology studies. After four years with Bolter and Schneider, Kolasa began looking after properties belonging to the Janoueix family in Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, followed by two years with the Union des Producteurs The Grand Hotel Excelsior receives the Tourism Diversity Employer award The Grand Hotel Excelsior has received the Tourism Diversity Employer Award from the Malta Tourism Authority, in recognition of its commendable diversity management policies and procedures. The award was presented by the Karmenu Vella, Minister of Tourism, to Alfred Attard, Human Resources Manager, Michela Grixti, Human Resources Coordinator and Donna Doyle, Spa Manager, during the Diversity in Tourism Conference, which took place on 1 and 2 October at Le Meridien. "Grand Hotel Excelsior is pleased to receive such a prestigious award," said General Manager Norbert Grixti. "The owners and management of the Grand Hotel Excelsior are firm believers in the strengths of diversity, and its role in providing an excellent, world-class experience to its guests. To date, the company employs team members from over 30 different nationalities, of various cultures, attitudes and walks of life. Managing such a diverse group of individuals is certainly challenging, so the Company is committed to uphold its Equality and Diversity Policy and promoting a culture based on inclusion and integration between all team members." in Saint-Emilion. In 1987, he was asked to take over the commercial manager position at Chateau Latour in Pauillac. Remaining at Latour until 1994, Kolasa's new challenge began when Chanel acquired Chateau RauzanSégla and he was brought on to oversee the operation at the chateau and rebuild the reputation of what was known in the 19th century as the best of the second growths. Indeed, in the 1855 classification, Rauzan- Ségla was situated right behind Mouton Rothschild, which is now a first growth. Following this initial acquisition, in 1996 Chanel decided to purchase Chateau Canon, a first growth in Prominent winemaker John Kolasa during the Bordeaux dinner organised by FBIC Ltd last month Saint-Emilion on the right bank of Bordeaux. Kolasa has overseen the extensive renovation program that was undertaken to reveal the finesse and elegance of its terroir and bring back the great wines of Chateau Canon. In 2011, Canon purchased Chateau Matras, Grand Cru Classé to add to the production of its second wine, Clos Canon. Chateau Rauzan Segla and Chateau Canon wines are imported, marketed and distributed by FBIC Ltd, a member of The Farsons Group Gasco Energy retesting Liquigas cylinders in Malta Gasco Energy Ltd is now retesting LPG cylinders in Malta. This follows the commissioning of the new €20 million Gasco Energy LPG importation, storage and bottling facility in Bengħajsa. Prior to this development, Liquigas cylinders were being sent to Italy for retesting. "Retesting of cylinders in accordance with European and Malta standards and regulations is crucial as an assurance for the safety of the use of cylinders," explained Gasco Energy's Chief Executive Officer Paul Agius Delicata. "Since the commencement of our sales and distribution of LPG in the Maltese islands in 2008, the company embarked on a programme of retesting all its cylinders in Malta, discarding those that were not compliant, as well as purchasing new cylinders. This new retesting equipment at Gasco Energy represents another important step in line with Liquigas' commitment to increase efficiency New cylinder retesting equipment now installed at Gasco Energy facility in Benghajsa in order to give the best service to its customers in Malta." Testing of cylinders involves inspection of the cylinder and pressure testing with water to ensure that the cylinders are in a good state that they can safely contain the gas under pressure. Cylinders are repainted using a modern, environmentally friendly, technique of powder coating. In the process, all remaining yellow cylinders will be changed to Liquigas green. HSBC Malta supports Klabbsajf complementary summer education The HSBC Malta Foundation sponsored new books and learning tools for Klabbsajf – an educational project under the umbrella of Skolasajf, as part of its mission to help children with learning difficulties achieve a better education and quality of life. Klabbsajf is the summer extension of the complementary education programme provided in schools to give children with learning difficulties the extra attention they require to improve their learning skills. There are 12 Klabbsajf centres in Malta and Gozo to help children between the age of 7 and 8 make the most of their summer months while also allowing their parents to keep up their normal work schedules. "Corporate Sustainability is an increasingly important driving force for positive change within our society. HSBC Malta Foundation's long-term support for Klabbsajf is a tangible example of this," said Anna Maria Gilson, Skolasajf and Klabbsajf Organiser during a presentation ceremony at Żurrieq Primary School. The Skolasajf initiative offers more than 3,000 Maltese and Gozitan children with a better education through extracurricular learning and recreational opportunities to improve their reading and writing skills in English and Maltese. New books and learning tools on display as HSBC Malta's Josef Camilleri (right) presents the sponsorship to Klabbsajf organiser Anna Maria Gilson, together with HSBC Malta's Glenn Bugeja and a group of Klabbsajf members HORIZON 2020 Brokerage Events Support Scheme Financing your networking opportunities Due to the upcoming HORIZON 2020 Calls for Proposals, the Malta Council for Science and Technology has re-launched its Brokerage Events Support Scheme for 2013 to assist researchers in meeting potential consortia for collaboration within HORIZON 2020 projects. Brokerage Events are the path to make new contacts with foreign potential candidates to form part of your HORIZON 2020 Project Consortium. The Scheme is also open for researchers who intend to meet with project coordinators before submitting a HORIZON 2020 proposal, or if they are the Coordinators, they may also meet their potential partners. Therefore, MCST will cover costs related to travel and accommodation for such activities. For more information, terms and conditions kindly refer to the MCST website (www.mcst.gov.mt) or contact us via email, fp7.mcst@gov.mt The deadline for applications is 31 October 2013. The Malta Council for Science & Technology is the government body responsible for research policy, promoting scientific research, management of the local research funding programme and is the national contact point organisation for the EU Research Framework Programme (FP). Malta Council for Science & Technology Villa Bighi, Kalkara, KKR 1320 – Malta Tel: 2166 0340 Fax: 2166 0341