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For something as ancient as wine, I’m always surprised how modern-day wineries can create new lines of their product. These wines are still distinctly their brand and style, but at the same time new, interesting, diverse and innovated. 

But far from reinventing the wheel, these iterations advance how we as consumers enjoy wine all the time; creating new notions of a known thing. 

A great example of this is how Australian reds have gone from being all guts and grunt to fresh, medium bodied, nuanced wine that’s focused on structure, layers of flavour and texture, and to be paired with more than just steak.

We’ve come across three Aussie wineries recently that have released new lines – either completely new to their portfolio or new vintages – that illustrate this advancement really well and at different price points.

McWilliams Terra Range

One of the old guard of Australian wine, McWilliams is a six-generation winery with a massive selection of wine categories and styles.

Expanding the selection still further, McWilliams’ new Terra range shows that wine doesn’t have to be expensive to be good. 

Perfect entertaining wines, the new Terra series launched in 2026 and is designed to be a more approachable, contemporary style of wine. It comes in four varietals: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc.

Tasting Notes+

McWilliams Terra Chardonnay

Ripe white peach, honeydew melon and lemon characters, complemented by subtle almond notes.

Refreshing notes of white nectarine and citrus lead the palate, layered with a gentle creamy texture and a whisper of French oak. The finish is long and soft, driven by bright acidity and lingering fruit characters.

McWilliams Terra Pinot Noir

Lifted aromas of strawberry and red cherry, complemented by subtle hints of earthy notes. A medium-bodied wine showcasing vibrant fruit characters, beautifully balanced by subtle oak and crisp varietal tannins.

Lightly oaked, with a small portion matured in contact with French oak, it delivers a smooth tannin finish and generous fruit length.

I really should also mention the McWilliams’ Hanwood Estate Grand Old Tawny. McWilliams was always better known for its fortifieds than its other wines and there’s a reason. 

This 10-year-old tawny shows all the complexity and depth of having spent a minimum of 10 years in small oak casks.

Its fragrant and fresh with oak complexity displaying notes of nuts, pecan pie and raisin chocolate with a hint of chocolate. The palate shows obvious aged wood complexing flavours with raisins and toffee notes.

McWilliams Terra series wines retail at RRP $19.00 each.

Hanwood Estate Grand Old Tawny 10 Years: RRP $28.00

Marnong Estate Single Vineyard Range

Although Marnong’s history goes back to the 1840s, the land was used for grazing livestock rather than growing grapes. Wine didn’t happen here until 2016 when Sicilian property developer Dino Strano saw the potential of the land and began what he thought would be a hobby farm. 

Located in Sunbury, one of Victoria’s oldest wine regions, Marnong now has three tiers to its selection: the Estate Range, the Single Vineyard Range and the ultra-premium Reserve Range.

2026 sees the mid-range Single Vineyard series grow with wines like the debut of the Heart Pinot Noir ($43.00 RRP), made with grapes grown in the central block at Marnong. This is a deeper, richer Pinot than its counterpart the Weatherstone Pinot Noir, also taking its first bow in the Single Vineyard range.

The Single Vineyard Sangiovese ($37.00 RRP) fits into that perfect space we talked about earlier of being medium-bodied, food-driven and full of structure, texture and aromatic notes.

As for Marnong’s Single Vineyard Chardonnay ($43.00 RRP), this elite modern Aussie Chardy is bright yet full. Medium-bodied with a crisp pear and apple palate, a flinty oaty nose and a creamy texture.

Tasting Notes+

Marnong Single Vineyard Heart Pinot Noir

A rich and opulent single-vineyard Pinot Noir from the most central block of the estate – concentrated, structured and built for the cellar.

Concentrated black cherry and black plum aromas with mineral nuance and subtle spice. On the palate are dark fruits, graphite and mineral depth with an opulent, mouth-filling texture.

Marnong Single Vineyard Sangiovese

A medium-bodied and vibrant Sangiovese true to its Italian roots. Lifted aromas of bay leaf and cherry aromatics with subtle floral notes.

The palate has a cherry and red plum fruit profile with fresh acidity and fine, grippy varietal tannin with a lively, savoury finish.

Marnong Single Vineyard Chardonnay

A medium-bodied Chardonnay crafted in a modern Australian style, balancing bright citrus fruit with creamy texture and complex savoury nuance.

Complex aromas of gunflint, brine, oatmeal and spicy aromatics, and a crisp pear and apple palate.

The Single Vineyard range is available direct from Marnong’s website or their cellar door.  

And if you’re into bubbles, you should also check out Marnong’s Reserve Blanc de Blanc ($80.00 RRP), which we talked about here.

Marnong has accommodation on site too. Check out their beautiful villas and homestead, perfect for a romantic break in wine country, or for a big get-together for family or friends.

For a spot of indulgence, Marnong’s La Vètta is a Hatted restaurant offering Italian fine dining. For more relaxed family-friendly options, there are also Cucina 2064 and Caffe Vista here too.

Ross Hill’s Pinnacle Range

From our friends at Ross Hill Wines in Orange, NSW, the new release of their latest premium wine range is showing signs of something really special. 

Ross Hill’s Pinnacle series has always been worth a go – grapes are carefully selected and treated with immense care and attention, and Ross Hill’s head winemaker Chris Jessop has a long storied career in Australia and NZ – but this release is looking like one of the best.

The seven-varietal range includes a Cabernet Franc from 2024, and a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay – both from 2025. These two years were near-perfect vintages for reds and whites respectively, and it shows in these wines.

The Pinnacle range retails between $35.00 RRP to $50.00 RRP, making this one of the most affordable premium wine ranges around.

The release of the 2026 Pinnacle wines coincides with Ross Hill’s 10 year anniversary of becoming a 100% carbon neutral winery and vineyard.

You can read more about these wines and about Ross Hill Winery in full review here.

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Bangkok is nothing if it’s not a city of choices. There’s an endless list of places to go, things to do and see, food to eat, culture to absorb and embrace. So what would you do if you only had one day here?

Of course, that’s an impossible question.

A simple ‘go here then here’ itinerary to cover everything just isn’t possible for a single day in Bangkok, so we came up with a solution: we cheated!

We’ve broken the day into sections with multiple options in each section. You pick one (or two) from each section to make up your day.

Roll the dice and choose your own adventure!

Breakfast

Generally speaking, we’ve found the best breakfasts to be in the hotel. Hit the egg station or make the most of the delicious fried rice and chilli vinegar sauce that most hotels have. 

Otherwise, venture into the morning sun and see what you can find.

Morning

Morning is the best time to explore Bangkok. By midday, the heat will have really kicked in and getting around is much less enjoyable. If you’re thinking of visiting temples, this is also the best time of day to do it.

Talat Noi

With a long history dating back to the fall of Ayutthya, Talat Noi went from being a busy river port enclave to an area of trade and industry (its name means ‘little market’) to its current arty iteration.

The narrow streets and alleys that thread through Talat Noi are full of interesting indie stores, cafes and workshops. Walls are outdoor galleries for street art and murals, and heritage architecture adds a quaint patina to this popular spot.

Chinatown

Not far from Talat Noi, Yaowarat Road bends and curves through Chinatown, a vast strip of fascinating markets, shops and hawker stalls. 

At night, the road narrows for foot traffic coming for the food scene, but during the day, it’s worth looking out for the interesting little alleys off Yaowarat.

Song Wat

Running alongside the Chao Phraya River close to Chinatown, the trendy neighbourhood of Song Wat has lots of things to see and do.

From interesting little covered markets and vintage shops selling trinkets, handicraft and clothes to local cafes and bakeries offering artisanal foods and coffee, Song Wat is a popular, busy part of the city.

It’s worth getting there soon though. The riverside designer mall is already seeing international brands co-opting the area that started as a space for small independent designers. It’s a bit like Newtown before all the big brands came in — Adidas has already got a foothold there — so get there before it all changes.

All three of these options are quite close to each other, so if you’re quick, you might be able to do all of them before lunch.

Lunch

Of course, there are almost unlimited options for lunch in Bangkok, but here are a few places we’ve been to recently that really hit the spot.

Naam 1608

Just round the corner from Song Wat and Talat Noi, Naam 1608 is a charming riverside restaurant in an old timber house. It serves traditional Thai dishes with a touch of modern flair.

Hidden Bangkok Bistro

On the banks of one of Bangkok’s many canals, Hidden Bangkok Bistro is three-storey timber cafe restaurant right under the nose of the biggest Buddha statue in the city, which peers over from the temple across the canal. 

Owner Ohm Chansuwan has not only brought what was once a derelict building back to life, but has injected a new energy into the whole area. 

You can combine lunch with a canal boat trip that ends at the big Buddha and mores at the deck of the restaurant. The boat tour costs THB1,500 and takes up to 6 people. 

DM Hidden Bangkok Bistro on Instagram here to arrange it.

Afternoon

You don’t really want to be traipsing around the city during the hottest part of the day. Instead, how about a massage?

Kliniq Thai Massage, Centralworld 

For a classic, straightforward massage without any confusion or concerns, a spa in a shopping centre is your best bet.

Staff at Kliniq are well-trained, professional and friendly, and there a plenty of massage options that can be tailored to your preferences. 

Chetawan Traditional Massage School

This is the top massage school in Thailand that teaches traditional and therapeutic massage in several campuses. We went to the Tha-tien Riverside Branch (here’s the map location pin).

Because the therapists are final-year students, the costs are usually lower, but the massages are amazing. I had the 60-minute head massage and it changed my life!

Bradbury Massage

One of the strangest experiences we’ve had (and probably the worst massage to be honest!), but a lot of fun, this place pronounces itself as the ‘world’s noisiest massage’ and it’s probably got a point. 

Rather than being a relaxing, peaceful experience, this massage takes place in a large room with a DJ pumping out music, a dance platform and pole in the middle and crazy light projections on the walls and ceiling. 

You’re encouraged to wear crazy sunglasses, play with the comedy rubber chicken on your seat, and get up and dance in the middle of your massage. It’s insane. 

Jim Thompson House

If massage isn’t your thing, the Jim Thompson House Museum is very interesting. Made in honour of the ex-CIA spy that brought the Thai silk trade back to life, the museum tracks Thompson’s life in what was his home.

It’s full of objects and stories from his life, and shows how his philanthropic work in Thailand helped so many. You can read our full review of the museum here.

Dinner

As with lunch, there are so many choices in Bangkok for your evening meal. Here’s a range of options.

Thipsamai Padthai Pratoopee

Famous for its pad thai, Thipsamai has almost legend status in Bangkok. Starting as a street hawker stall in the 1930s and later a proper restaurant in the same spot, Thipsamai is one of the oldest surviving pad thai institutions. 

It regularly wins Michelin recognition as the best pad thai in Thailand and offers a number of different iterations of the national dish.

Rongsi Pochana Lansuan

Inside the luxury lifestyle mall Velaa Sindhorn Village, Rongsi Pochana is an upscale Thai-Chinese restaurant offering some beautifully crafted traditional comfort food with a focus on seafood.

Their steamed crab and coconut curry paste claypot dish that comes in one of the strangest serving pots we’ve ever seen is a must.

Cabbages and Condoms

For something a little bit out there, Cabbages and Condoms is a brilliant concept started by Mechai Viravaidya, whose name is now local slang for condoms. 

Mechai has worked in family planning, for the Thai government and now the not-for-profit Population and Community Development Association, for over 50 years, championing the cause of safe sex.

His efforts became even more important with the rise of HIV and AIDS in the ’80s, and his work educating people on birth control has helped stabilise population growth in the country.

Importantly, the food here is as worthy as the cause. Go for the whole seabass, pork satay, kai hor bai teoy, and sweet and sour chicken and cashew.

Akara Sky Hanuman

For a truly immersive dinner experience, you’ve got to check out this out. Over several levels at the top of the One City Centre building, Akara Sky Hanuman Cinema has a lot going on.

The rooftop bar not only gives you incredible views over the city and a selection of lovely cocktails, it hosts traditional Thai dancing performances in front of its impressive demon head entrance.

Down from here, the restaurant offers one of the most unique platings we’ve seen. With entrees from four regions of Thailand served on a map of Thailand, your mains are also based on which of the four regions you choose: southern, northern, central or Isan (northeast).

Not only does the food reflect the region, but the dishes it comes in does too.

While you eat, the ceiling of the restaurant tells stories of Thailand’s history and myths with projections and music.

Downstairs again is a sensory room filled with glass lamps and mirrors that you walk through. The lights change colour and the mirrors give a hypnotic ethereal effect. Through the windows, the city  lights below flicker and sparkle. 

On another floor, you can enjoy your dessert in the beautiful lounge bar Siam Societies. The whole thing is quite the event.

Evening

Muay Thai at Rajadamnern Stadium

Possibly the best evening we’ve had in Bangkok was fight night at the Rajadamnern Stadium. This is where Muay Thai, Thailand’s national martial art, was first codified and recognised.

A live Thai band plays throughout the bouts, you learn about the history and traditions of Muay Thai and there’s even a light show projection between fights that explains things more. You can also buy food and drinks from vendors as they walk round the stadium.

It’s a brilliant night out. Get as close to ringside as you can for the best experience. 

Book your muay thai tickets here.

Likhit Kai Yang

If you want dinner nearby, there is a restaurant behind the stadium that has been serving its famous charcoal grilled chicken for 70 years.

Ironically, the chicken’s actually not that good, but the crispy flounder and the som tam papaya salad are very tasty.

Late-night cocktails

There are plenty of rooftop bars in Bangkok that are a lot of fun to enjoy the steamy Bangkok evening.

Red Sky Centara Grand

This was the first Bangkok rooftop bar we ever went to and it still stands up.

Banyan Tree Moon Bar 

This iconic bar is a bit expensive but is very cool and has magnificent views across the city.

Sky Beach on King Power Mahanakhon tower

Bangkok’s highest rooftop bar (in the city’s once tallest building), Sky Beach stands over 300 metres above the streets.

Check out more of our Bangkok rooftop bar recommendations here.

BKK Social Club

Part of the Four Seasons Chao Phraya River, BBK Social isn’t a rooftop bar, but is incredibly cool. It holds the title for the best bar in Thailand. Check out our review here.

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Wow! What a crazy month July has turned out to be this year. Just when we were settling in for what we thought was going to be a fairly steady 2026, the second half of the year sets a new pace. In a good way.

Let’s hope things carry on like this! 

We’re talking lots of fun birthday parties, some amazing sport, international travel and plenty of catch-ups with friends in cool venues new and old. Here’s our wrap on July 2026!

Hope you enjoy this Flavour of the Month.

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

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Christina catches up with the ladies!

This afternoon, Christina is out with some old family friends. It’s the first time these lovely ladies have all been together for years; some of them have moved interstate and life in general tends to get in the way of everyone’s best intentions.

They’ve come to the Belrose Hotel for a bite to eat, but honestly, the food is secondary to just being together again.

Catch-ups, parties and dinners used to be a regular occurrence back in the day when Christina was growing up. It’s lovely to see them all together, but it’s also a bit sad as not everyone’s around anymore. A reminder to all of us to make the most of time we have with our closest friends.

State of Origin & Sydney Brewery Rozelle

Along with this whole month being dominated by the incredible Fifa World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA, it’s also the decider for the 2026 State of Origin rugby league tournament between New South Wales and Queensland. 

We’re at Sydney Brewery with our mate Brett and some of Christina’s crazy jujitsu friends to watch the game. The brewery has what we think is the biggest indoor pub TV screen (not projection screen btw) in the country.

Amazingly, NSW boys manage to win this game and take home the trophy, even though the game’s at QLD’s home ground – a veritable fortress. It’s a thriller of a game.

Futsal legends score a Curry Night

I’ve been playing for the same Futsal team since 2005. These guys are like family. Every now and again, we have a week off, and we grab the opportunity to head out for a curry somewhere in Sydney.

Tonight is one such night and we’ve made our way to The Spice Room, an Indian restaurant tucked away on the perimeter of Circular Quay. The best thing about booking a big group here is there’s really only one big table and it’s right in front of the kitchen. It’s fascinating to watch the chefs at work. You can even see them pushing naan bread onto the edge of the tandoor from here.

We’re Off To Thailand!

Christina and I are so excited about this trip to Thailand. It’s great to be back – especially after last year’s fascinating cultural and historical journey to the River Kwai, Hellfire Pass and the Death Railway on Anzac Day.

This trip is set to be a little lighter on WWII, though no less culturally enticing. 

We start off with three nights in Bangkok where we get up to all kinds of things. From canalboat rides and lunch by the giant gold Buddha to Muay Thai tournaments to the world’s noisiest massage!

Us with our excellent travel companions Jules Park from @amazingsydneylife and Rachel Davey from @veryhungrynomads. Also our lovely host Nang from Tourism Authority of Thailand and our amazing guide Nam from Absolutely Fantastic Holidays.

From Bangkok, we head south to the beautiful coastline of Hua Hin, which lies on the west coast of the Bay of Thailand.

On the way south, we visit an amazing temple in a cave and the famous Maeklong Railway Market before ensconcing ourselves in a beautiful hotel room with its own private pool! 

In Hua Hin, we explore the gamut: from nature trails and boat excursions in the national park to local eateries and night market to shiny shopping centres and sumptuous resort dinners.

We somehow manage to do all of this with the World Cup in full flow. The time difference in Thailand to the USA is even more crushing than in Sydney, but we and our travel chum Nang (who is love with Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham) get up for the games. 

Thankfully, our itinerary is very forgiving each morning!

Now we’ve whetted your appetite, we’ll be talking a lot more about this trip over the next few weeks, so keep your eye out.

Fenwick balmain – the perfect girls’ catchup

Christina is out to dinner with her friends this evening. Affectionately self-labelled ‘The WAGs’, this glamorous cohort are the Wives And Girlfriends of a group of lads that don’t deserve them! 

Tonight, the WAGs are at the Fenwick next to the Balmain East ferry wharf looking out over the harbour to Sydney’s famous bridge. This beautiful location often has excellent specials in the winter, and these ladies are taking full advantage. 

If you’re looking for a romantic dinner venue (or somewhere for a superb catch-up dinner with friends), check out the Fenwick – especially when they’re running this 50% offer on their meals!

surprise 60th in manly

Tonight is a very special celebration: we’re in Manly for our friend Leanne’s surprise sixtieth birthday party! Leanne is Christina’s sister’s oldest friend – she’s more like a part of the family – and it’s an honour to be able to celebrate this milestone with her.

We’re in the private room of the Manly Skiff Club, which hangs over the water and look out over the harbour. It’s a lovely venue – one befitting our wonderful friend. Happy birthday, Leanne!

Tempting Balmain

This afternoon, we’re trying to convince our friend Vesna to move to Balmain from Melbourne. This is Christina’s dream assignment; she loves playing tour guide in her hometown, but even more so if that includes some evangelical work to turn someone from Victoria to live in the Inner West!

We show her some of our favourite highlights, including the beautifully renovated Dry Dock Hotel and our latest favourite wine and cocktail bar Nacara Bar & Cellar. 

Vesna seems pretty impressed. I think we might have just about done enough to bring her to the dark side!

Double 60th Celebrations!

Following on from our friend Leanne’s 60th, we have another one to celebrate tonight – in fact, it’s a double! 

Our lovely friends Ciaran – from my 11-a-side football team – and his wife Bridget are both hitting the 6-0 this month and they’ve booked the beautiful old sandstone room upstairs of the London Hotel in Balmain.

It’s a proper Irish shindig that goes on till the wee hours amidst some excellent speeches, lots of photos from back in the day and of course plenty of beer! 

Congratulations Bridget and Ciaran!

Christina and Mara

Today, Christina is hanging out with one of our favourite people. Mara has been a friend of Christina’s family since the 1960s. Her wonderful husband Riccardo, who sadly passed in 2022, was best friends with Christina’s father. The two were inseparable. 

Christina and Mara spend all morning and most of the afternoon together at the beach, a pot of lunch at Coogee Pavillion and then a bit of shopping. 

This is what life’s really about, isn’t it.

World-beating Wines

We love writing about wine – especially when the wine’s this good! 

Earlier this month, we wrote about Pewsey Vale’s Estate Riesling and Dalrymple Wines’ Pipers River Pinot Noir – part of the impressive Hill-Smith Family Estate. You can read the full story here, but basically these two wines were picked as the best in the world in this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards, a competition often referred to as the ‘Olympics of Wine’.

Out over over 14,000 wines, these two – along with three other Aussie wines – were awarded Best In Show after rigorous multiple blind tastings by a hoard of professional judges.

This month also saw us review a new collection of top end wines from Orange, NSW. We love Orange, and the wine that comes from the elevated slopes of Mt Canobolas are always exceptional.

We’re big fans of Ross Hill Wines anyway, so when we had the opportunity to try some of their latest premium Pinnacle series, there wasn’t much that could slow us down!

You can see our full review of these three wines here, but don’t expect any bad news in this story. The Chardonnay is clean and refined, the Sauvignon Blanc is lively and grown up, and the Cabernet Franc is bold yet restrained and dreadfully moreish!

Chelsea in the Sydney Super Cup

With the Fifa World Cup and all its glories, heartbreaks and controversies finally over, it’s time for friendlies before the professional football season starts again. 

Excitingly, our team Chelsea is in town for the Sydney Super Cup and we get tickets for their first game against Western Sydney Wanderers at the magnificent Accor Stadium. 

We score seats in the Chelsea end behind the goal only a few rows from the front. It’s a surprisingly thrilling game (Western Sydney haven’t been in the best form recently). With Chelsea fielding their reserve and youth players for the first 60 minutes, Wanderers put a huge amount of pressure on the newly-appointed Chelsea coach Xabi Alonso.

In fact, apart from Chelsea’s early goal, Western Sydney either lead or hold a draw until the 80th minute! Only a hat trick from superstar striker Joao Pedro brought the final score to a stunning 6-4 victory for the Blues in the end. 

I don’t think anyone was expecting a 10-goal game – especially not like this!

We get the VIP treatment for Chelsea v Spurs

How about this to finish off the month?! Not only do we get to see my beloved Chelsea FC play once, but we’ve managed to score tickets to the final game of the series, and it’s the big one: Chelsea vs their old rivals, fellow London club Tottenham Hotspur.

And even better than that, our good friends at Accor have set us up with tickets to the ALL Accor Members’ Suite on level 3! Not only do you get pristine views of the game, you also get very well taken care of. 

Delicious food and drinks are all laid on – in fact the wine list even has the award-winning Pewsey Vale Riesling we’ve just told you about!

In terms of food, there’s a lush grazing platter to pick from, roast beef tenderloin, duck fat potatoes, salads and sourdough. At half time, there are steak and ale party pies and chicken schnitzel sliders as well!

This is an experience that’s available to ALL Accor members. It’s free to join the programme (click here to get started) and you can redeem points from stays at Accor hotels on experiences like this one!

As far as the game goes, I’d rather not talk about it. The score was 1-1 until the very last minute when Richarlison scored Spurs’ winner with almost the last kick of the game. It looks like this is going to be an interesting season for the Premiership. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this Flavour of the Month of July! 

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

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I cast my mind back to late 2024. Christina and I are at the relaunch dinner for NSW Wine Month – an amazing celebration of wine from New South Wales – which has returned phoenix-like after years in hiatus.

Next to us at the table is an unassuming, somewhat rugged, somewhat laconic man who seems to want to keep himself to himself. A country gentleman.

As the wines are poured to accompany the excellent food, we comment on how good the Chardonnay is. Our waiter offers the label for us to take a picture.

The man beside us smiles. Just ever so slightly.

The wine is Ross Hill Winery’s Eastern View Chardonnay from Orange NSW. The man: James Robson – co-owner and vigneron of Ross Hill.

This is his wine.

Ice firmly shattered and allegiance lines clearly laid, we’re soon deep in conversation with James who, once out of his shell, is quite the raconteur.

With all the superb food and exemplary wine, this was always going to be a great party. But with James as our dinner companion (sorry-not-sorry for hogging him!), this is an evening to remember.

Fast forward about nine months, and Christina and I are in Orange, NSW. We’re here for Christmas in July at the Oriana Motel (outstanding by the way), but we decide to book a tour of Ross Hill’s cellar door while we’re here.

It’s just up the road.

As luck would have it, James is running the tour this morning. It’s great to see him again and to learn more about his wines in situ.

You can book your own tour of Ross Hill Winery here.

Ross Hill Winery, Orange NSW

Ross Hill is one of the founding vineyards of Orange’s now flourishing wine scene. For years, It’s been crafting wonderful iterations of varietals that have put Orange on the map.

High altitude, cool evenings and rich sumptuous soils make for incredible Chardonnays, Pinots and Cabernets, as well as a host of other wines. But as we chat to James, two recent years in particular seem to be standing out:

With near-perfect conditions, 2024 has been marked as a Classic Vintage for the region – especially for reds. As for the following year, 2025, this is looking ideal for white wines.

So if you’re in the market for wines from Orange, hop on this particular bandwagon vintage!

Ross Hill Wines’ Pinnacle Series

As we’ve said, Ross Hill makes a lot of excellent wine, but at the top is their aptly named Pinnacle Series. These are the winery’s premium wines, hand-crafted and made from selected parcels of fruit.

This latest release is made up of seven varieties – the reds coming from the brilliant 2024 vintage and the whites from 2025. If you’re not sure why this is important, you haven’t read the previous section!

Here are our thoughts on three from the range:

Pinnacle Series Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (RRP $35.00)

We’re not huge fans of the typical tropical fruit bomb Sauv Blanc, which is why this one is such a hit.

More towards a Sancerre than a passionfruit classic, this wine has plenty of texture from lees and oak-barrel fermenting. Focus is on citrus, creamy mouthfeel and mineral finish.

Pinnacle Series Chardonnay 2025 (RRP $40.00)

Orange produces some of the best Chardonnay in Australia and this one doesn’t disappoint.

This is a modern, cool-climate Chardy. Far from being a butter barrel (which isn’t something we hate either btw), this Chardonnay is fruit-led, subtle on the oak, and focused on citrus acidity, stone fruit and a wonderful creamy texture that provides a long finish.

Pinnacle Series Cabernet Franc 2024 (RRP $50.00)

Somewhere between Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon in terms of flavour profile, body and structure, Cab Franc is growing in popularity in Australia.

This is an excellent example of the variety, showing plenty of fragrant herbal aromatics, redcurrant and fresh cherry notes on the palate, and a refined tannin structure within a medium body. There’s oak here too, but it’s restrained and doesn’t interrupt the fruit. Lovely stuff.

This release of Ross Hill’s Pinnacle Series is a double celebration for the winery as 2026 marks the 10-year anniversary of them being Carbon Neutral; an impressive feat.

Ross Hill’s Full Premium Range

The full Pinnacle Series selection for this release consists of Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

There’s also a Pinnacle Series Blanc de Blancs (we do love a Blanc de Blancs!), and let’s not forget the uber-elite Eastern View Chardonnay and vaunted Bordeaux-blend award-winner The Griffin.

The core Pinnacle Series wines range retails between $35 to $50 and the last two are $95 each, making this one of – if not the – most affordable premium hand-crafted wine selections on the market.

Buy Ross Hill Wines’ Pinnacle Series direct from the winery here or via their beautiful cellar door in Orange.

The post Another Pinnacle For The Wines Of Orange, NSW appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Staying in Darling Harbour — Sydney’s preeminent entertainment precinct — is a great option for a romantic stay-cation or, if you’re visiting Sydney, a base that you can use to explore the city and beyond.

But what’s even better is staying just nearby on Sussex Street.

Only a couple of blocks from the waterside venues of Darling Harbour (not to mention China Town, Thai Town and light rail stations), the Vibe Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour is in the sweet spot of the city.

But it’s more than just location that makes the Vibe Hotel Darling Harbour. It’s also home to what we think is one of the best rooftop bars in Sydney.

Above 319 Rooftop Bar (and hotel pool)

At the top of the Vibe is Above 319, the hotel’s unpretentious rooftop bar. This might sound like a bit of an oxymoron, especially with the roof also playing host to the elegant lap pool and cabanas, but perhaps this is what makes Above 319 different to other city bars like it.

Yes, there’s a level of glamour to this bar sitting high above the city streets, but it’s still cosy, comfortable and welcoming.

The bar itself serves up a wide selection of classic cocktails alongside some well-crafted signature drinks. Many of them feature Rozelle-based Red Mill Rum, which we’re big fans of, and the tiki-style glasses some of these tipples come in add to the creativity of the menu.

Food-wise, there are some pretty good bar snacks to be had. Small plates like our karaage chicken, lemon myrtle and sichuan pepper Hawkesbury calamari, and pecorino-covered shoestring fries hit the spot. 

If you’re after bigger dishes, the bar also serves things like beef cheek, quesadillas and steak sandwiches. There’s even the monster 319 Platter, which has all the best bits of the menu, perfect for sharing.

And if you ask nicely, the bar might even let you order from the full Sussex Store restaurant menu that’s on the ground floor.

Perhaps the part we like the most about this rooftop bar is its view. It’s not the tallest building in town. In fact, this is only the 14th floor. But this means there’s a real feeling of being part of the city, embedded in the looming towers, rather than hoisted up, detached from everything. 

And the cool lights of the office blocks make the warmth and hygge of Above 319 all the more prominent.

Our Room At The Vibe Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour

At around 21m², rooms at the Vibe aren’t especially big. Even our Executive Suite (27m²) is by no means cavernous. That said, there’s still plenty of space for everything you need, including a lounge area and two enormous TVs. 

The lounge and bedroom are split by a retractable wall, which is clever, and the bathroom not only has a lovely shower but a pretty big bath too. Amenities from O&M add a luxe touch to things, as do the complimentary Lindt chocolates — just don’t confuse them with the little round bath bomb also on the bath tray.

Providing lots of hanging space as well as the lock-up safe, minibar fridge, and tea and coffee facilities, the wardrobe is well-designed and made from heavy-gauge mesh, which hints at the industrial history of the building’s origins.

The massive king bed, its modern plugs (so good to see hotels up to date with USBs next to the bed) and considerate lighting make for an excellent night’s sleep.

Sussex Store Cafe & Restaurant

Even if you don’t have time to have lunch or dinner at the restaurant here, be sure to grab breakfast at the Sussex Store before you check out.

It’s all a la carte, which means there’s no buffet, but the lack of ultra-crispy bacon free-for-all is offset by some delicious plated options.

Christina was still talking about her breakfast bowl from the Sussex Store days later. Brimming with smoked salmon, whipped fava beans, roasted beetroot, pumpkin, braised legumes, sautéed cavolo nero and creamy avocado, this is as healthy as it is tasty.

Which is just as well.

In contrast to Christina’s heart-smart start to the day, my bacon and egg roll is one for the ages. As well as the obvious, this beauty comes with a slice of melty cheese and a crunchy hash brown all tucked into a sweet puffy brioche bun.

Cards on the table, I reckon this could be the best bacon egg roll in Sydney. And for just $16 too!

A Bit of History

The Vibe Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour opened in Oct 2019. Before that, 319 Sussex Street (and whole area actually) was made up of mills, stores and industrial warehouses, going right back to the mid-1800s.

Originally part of a steam-powered flour mill built by Thomas Barker in the 1830s, the Vibe Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour has done a good job doffing its cap to its industrial past.

The lobby and its lofted angled ceiling, exposed brick and timber walls, the corrugated cladding in the Sussex Store restaurant and the heavy-gauge mesh of the rooms’ wardrobes and dividers add a steel-capped touch to what is otherwise a comfortable, modern, relaxing hotel.

We stayed as media guests of Vibe Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour, but our opinions and experiences remain our own.

The post Stay In Style, Drink The Views — this Sydney hotel has the best rooftop bar appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Living in Australia, we’re in a bit of an echo chamber when it comes to wine. Aussie wine has a habit of locking you in and convincing you that it’s not really worth trying wine from other countries. I mean, why would you when all the best stuff is right here.

For us, we certainly reach for an Aussie wine over international labels when we’re in the bottle shop.

Of course, there are many more wine regions beyond Australia’s soil, but when what’s widely recognised as one of the world’s most trusted wine awards bestows its highest accolade on not one, not two, but five Aussie wines, you have to start believing the hype, right?

What Are The Decanter World Wine Awards?

Often seen as the ‘Olympics of wine’, the London-based Decanter World Wine Awards have been going since 2004.

Applicants have their wines judged through rigorous blind tasting by a massive roster of global experts, including Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and top buyers.

Wines at the Decanter Awards go through a multi-stage judging process starting with Bronze, Silver and Gold medals. Gold medal winners are then re-tasted to advance to Platinum, and then Platinum winners are tested again to determine the coveted ‘Best In Show’.

In 2026, only the top 0.03% of the 14,000+ entries progressed to take home a Best In Show award. Incredibly, five Aussie wines achieved this status, putting them in an incredible list of the best 50 wines in the world.

Wine Winners On The International Stage

Australia made up 630 of the 14,082 entries in the DWWA 2026, but five managed to pass through the intensive scrutiny of the judges, each scoring 97 points to reach the hallowed heights of Best In Show.

Pewsey Vale Vineyard’s Estate Riesling 2025

The only Riesling in the top 50 wines of the 2026 Decanter Awards, Pewsey Vale’s winner is an icon of the varietal.

Pale yellow with tinges of green, this Riesling is packed with lime and grapefruit citrus aromas. With a long finish and a bountiful balanced acidity, the wine delivers plenty of lovely fresh floral and herbal notes beneath its lemony front palate.

Pewsey Vale has been specialising in Eden Valley Riesling since 1847 and have honed their craft to a razor edge over the years.

Pewsey Vale Vineyard Estate Riesling 2025 is available nationally at selected major and
independent retailers, and via Pewsey Vale Vineyard’s online store (RRP $28).

Click here to see the full tasting and winemaker’s notes.

Dalrymple Vineyards’ Pipers River Pinot Noir 2024

The only Best In Show Southern Hemisphere Pinot Noir of 2026, Dalrymple Vineyards’ Single Site Pipers River 2024 is an archetype of cool-climate Aussie Pinot.

A rich, pleasingly purple hue, this wine is packed with all the good bits of a brilliantly made Pinot. Cherry and plum notes, as well as hints of cinnamon and star anise, build with every sniff and sip.

Moreish savoury notes develop the more you drink and the longer this bottle’s open as does a lovely soft texture and finish.

Dalrymple Vineyards Single Site Estate Pipers River Pinot Noir 2024 is available via
Dalrymple Vineyards’ online store and will be available nationally from selected retailers
from August 1 2026 (RRP $80).

Click here to see the full tasting and winemaker’s notes.

Hill-Smith Estate

Despite being in two different states and two very different wine regions, both Pewsey Vale Vineyard and Dalrymple Vineyards are in fact part of the same over-arching estate.

As well as these two, family-owned Hill-Smith Family Estate has some household names in its wine folio, not least Janz Tasmania, Oxford Landing and Yalumba.

Wine Awards Aren’t For Everyone

First of all, huge congratulations to Hill-Smith Estate and to all the winners of the DWWA Best In Show. What an amazing achievement. It’s so good for the Australian and NZ wine industries.

However, it’s important to remember that wine awards aren’t the be all and end all. Even with over 14,000 different wines from around the world competing in DWWA 2026, entering awards may not be viable for every winery. This means there are still so many more incredible wines out there to discover.

DWWA entry is £172 per wine, not including freight costs, so lots of independent wineries won’t be able to or don’t want to absorb this cost, nor go through the rigmarole of applying and registering for awards.

And let’s not forget, wine is incredibly subjective even on the palates of world renowned experts.

But this is why it’s important to learn what you like, to try different wine and to only use the medals a label as a starting point when you’re exploring a new bottle.

The post Is Australian Wine Really All That Good? appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

For one of the year’s shorter months, it feels like June has taken a lot longer than its prescribed 30. It might have something to do with being busy, but I wonder if it’s that final climb uphill to the middle of the year before we hurtle down towards 2027.

There’s definitely something to be said for the massive variety of weather we’ve had in Sydney – everything from freezing cold evenings to gloriously warm days to torrential rain.

At least the days are getting longer from now on.

This month, we’ve had plenty to do; a trip to Tasmania, a stay in the city, a new rooftop bar unlocked, friends visiting, Vivid ending, lots of live stuff (bands, theatre, musicals), and of course the World Cup starting in Mexico, Canada and the USA.

Lots to talk about, so let’s get cracking!

we hope you enjoy this Flavour of the Month of June.

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

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We haven’t been down to Tasmania for absolutely ages. I just wish the reason for our trip was for happier reasons. Unfortunately though, we’re here for a funeral. Our wonderful friend Sharon’s mum sadly passed away last week and we’re here to give the family whatever support we can and to say goodbye to lovely Pat.

She will be very much missed.

But Pat wouldn’t want us to just sit and be maudlin about things, so we do the right thing and check out as many breweries, distilleries, pie shops and cafes as we can while we’re here.

First stop is the excellent Island State Brewery in Devonport, where I get amongst a very fancy looking tasting paddle while we catch up with poor Sharon.

We also head out of Devonport to explore a bit more of Tasmania’s north. On Sharon’s family’s recommendations, we head northwest to Atrium Cafe, which is part of The Cove Tasmania – a very flash-looking hotel.

The cafe turns into the hotel‘s restaurant Basalt in the evening, but during the day, this clifftop venue looks out over the raging seas of the Bass Strait while wooly goats weather the rain.

We sit and enjoy the view and one of the tastiest cheese and pastrami toasties we’ve had in ages.

Next, we pop into the town of Ulverstone for a scallop pie. The family have recommended Oliver’s Bakery here, which I’ve already scoped out. It’s a chain, but only here in Tas and it’s very popular with the locals. The pies are excellent – we go for one curry, one mornay. We’re impressed with the scrupulous guarantee of at least five scallops per pie here.

Under Sharon’s orders, we head next to Spreyton and its eponymous cider brewery. The tasting paddle is definitely the way to go – especially as it comes with a pint of your choosing once you’ve finished the paddle. What a good idea!

Post-cider, we head to Latrobe to see the Big Platypus outside the (sadly closed) Woodcutters’ Hall of Fame on the banks of the Mersey River that girts the elegantly named Pig Island.

While we’re in town, we decide to check out Reliquaire, a mind-bending funhouse of a shop on Latrobe high street.

There’s just so much weird stuff in here – the perfect spot for zany Christmas gifts or falling into a dimensional vortex – or a jump scare from a T Rex when you think you’re going into the Dr Who tardis! Well worth a visit.

Tonight, Sharon and her family are busy doing their own thing, which gives me the opportunity to give my regional Australian town theory a spin.

It is my humble belief that medium to large regional towns around Australia have some of the best Indian restaurants out there. I’ve tried this theory with great success in New South Wales, so I’m excited to give it a whirl in Tasmania.

Our meal at Taj Mahal in Devonport has confirmed my theory beyond any shadow of a doubt. If you’re looking for a top curry in northern TAS, look no further than this place. It’s exceptional.

Today, we fly back to Sydney, so we have one last stroll through Devonport with our mate Sharon. We stop to enjoy the view from the Devonport Waterfront Elevated Walkway & Lookout, which stretches out over the Mersea River with the pretty cool backdrop of the Spirit of Tasmania ferry when it’s docked here.

In spite of the tragic circumstances, it’s been lovely to see Sharon and her family. It’s been far too long since we were last here. We can’t wait to come back.

By the way, we didn’t go on the Spirit of Tasmania this time, though we have sailed on her before.

Our flight out from Launceston isn’t until this afternoon, so we take our time on the short drive between Devonport and the airport.

There’s a wonderful lookout along the road that has incredible views of the Tamar River and the stunning Tasmanian countryside.

Once in Launceston, we discover we still have plenty of time for lunch, so we pop into a brewery that Christina has spotted called Du Cane.

While we’re deciding on which beer and pizza to order, there’s a loud pop and hiss, and a billowing cloud of steam fills the room. One of the brewery boilers seems to have blown a gasket. The kitchen has to switch off for safety reasons leaving us with only enough time to enjoy a pint before check-in.

The beer’s excellent though and the food, which we stare at longingly, looks delicious. It just means we’ll have to come back when we’ve got a bit more time. I’m ok with that!

We’re back in Sydney just in time to see our mates Sonia and Chris, who moved up the northern NSW a while ago. They’re in town for business, but have found a spare minute to catch up with us.

It’s never a dull moment with these two – especially when Chris’s jeans are that high! ?

Tonight, we’re in the city to check out a hotel we haven’t been to before. This is the Vibe Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour – one of its rather nice corner suites.

Watch this space for a full review of this hotel. Apart from being a bit compact, this one is a pretty good option for a short city stay in Sydney. It’s right next to Chinatown and Darling Harbour on Sussex Street between Liverpool and Bathurst Streets, and has plenty going for it.

Downstairs past the lobby is the The Sussex Store – the hotel’s cafe-come-restaurant. We stop in for a spot of breakfast before we go and I tell you what, the bacon and egg roll here is worth travelling for. Bacon, cheddar, tomato chilli jam, a fried egg and a hash brown on brioche all for just $16? That’s not a normal price for Sydney.

Christina’s Breakfast Bowl (with a very sensible side of grilled halloumi) is also generous for its $22 price tag. Whipped fava beans, roasted beetroot, pumpkin, braised legumes, sauteed cavolo nero, creamy avocado and smoked salmon. Not bad at all.

But this has to be the absolute highlight of the Vibe Darling Harbour: Above 319 is the cutest rooftop bar in Sydney, with an outstanding drinks menu, brilliant service and delicious bar snacks. If you ask nicely, you can even order food that’s on the Sussex Store restaurant dinner menu.

There’s also an unbelievable happy hour here of $10 beers and wines, and $15 cocktails Wednesday to Friday 4.30-6.30.

This bar is all about supporting local as well, which we love. I’m impressed to see its house pour for rum is Red Mill, made in Rozelle, which they’ve created a whole sub menu for.

There’s also a great non-alcoholic cocktail menu that turns Dry July and alike into something you can actually enjoy. It’s such a good menu in fact that we featured it in our recent Dry July story here.

Seeing as we’re so close to Darling Harbour, Christina and I decide to face the crowds and check out the last weekend of Vivid Sydney.

Last month, I was witness to the failed drone show that saw many of the drones fall out of the sky into Darling Harbour. To replace the drones, the organisers put on twice-nightly fireworks, so we’ve come down to the waterfront to see what it’s like.

The crowds are pretty bad, but the show’s impressive and it’s good to get out and about when these things are on, but I have to be honest, I don’t think I’ll bother again.

Tonight I’m out in Dulwich Hill with my mate Gareth to see our friend Nick play in his band Lost In The Woods. If you haven’t heard of these guys, they really are excellent and well worth a listen. You can find them on Spotify here.

Tonight, they’re playing at a great little venue called Butcher’s Brew that’s all about live music.

Gareth used to live in Dulwich Hill or (as he used to jokingly refer to it) ‘Dull As Hell’. Well, it’s not dull anymore. With this place and the freshly renovated Gladstone Hotel across the road, and umpteen food options around the place, it’s a suburb that can hardly be called dull.

Anyway, Nick and the other band members do an amazing job with two perfect sets. Nick even manages to play two sets of keys – his own beloved Nord and the house upright – at the same time!

Today, Christina and I are out in Balmain to watch the first of Australia’s Fifa World Cup group matches.

Our first attempt to find a good spot in the East Village Hotel has been thwarted by the mysterious decision to move the live band, which is always here in the beer garden on Sundays, indoors right in front of the big screen because there’s been a fair bit of rain around.

We feel sorry for the band, who will be battling against the crowd, but at least the TVs have all been turned onto mute.

Anyway, we decide grab a bite to eat before the game then move on to a different venue. But the food takes so long, we end up missing the start, racing home and watching the first half there.

But here we are at last, squeezed into the Royal Oak for the (much more exciting) second half. It’s all worth it though: Australia goes on to win 2-0!

Today, Christina has taken her mum Jeanette to the beach. The beach! It’s the middle of winter. But as you can see, today is unseasonably warm. There are even a few crazies swimming!

Christina and Jeanette satisfy themselves with a bit of a toe dip then fish and chips at the local takeaway. What a lovely day.

I’ve been left home alone tonight. Christina is out with her mates, who refer to themselves as ‘the WAGs’, at Totti’s Rozelle. It’s a good option for dinner – you’ll never have a bad meal there and the atmosphere is always fun and lively, but I think things like the novelty puffy bread is a bit over-priced.

Dessert, by all accounts, is excellent though. The baked cheesecake goes down a treat and Christina inspires most of the group to have an affogato as well.

This evening, Christina is out at a media event with our friend and neighbour Rebecca. They’re at a charming little event space called the Clarence Vault Room for the launch of brand new Aussie gin Playfair Gin.

We’re all for more women working in the Australian craft spirits space and founder Anna Playfair-Hannay has really created something special with her new gin.

With roots back in the farmlands of southern Scotland, Anna has brought to life a boutique gin from her distillery in the McLaren Vale that is not only incredibly versatile, but also full of flavour.

Along with botanicals of juniper, coriander, cardamom and lemon, Anna has added a little taste of Scotland with the inclusion of thistles, which brings out a light, floral note in the otherwise spicy, citrus, juniper-forward gin.

Christina and Rebecca work their way through the cocktail menu of martinis, gimlets, G&Ts and negronis, showing just how user-friendly this juice is.

Buy Playfair Gin direct from the distillery here.

All this talk of ‘play fair’ leads me nicely on to what I’m doing today. Finally, the day has come: I get to play at the Balmain Peninsula’s (and quite possibly the whole country’s) most picturesque sports ground.

This is Birchgrove Oval.

I have played here once in the five years I’ve been with the club, but it was incredibly rainy, windy and cold, and we lost. Today is dry, calm, warm and most importantly a winner! After 90 minutes, we’re up 3-2 against Abbotsford Jnrs.

If you haven’t heard of Garry Starr or his comedy performance ‘Classic Penguins’, this one’s going to take some faith on your part.

We’re at the Carriageworks in Darlington at the behest of our friends Stevie and Mel (of Stevie English fame) to see… well, I still don’t really know what.

Classic Penguins is a clever concept. Garry Starr uses the titles from all the paperback Penguin Classic books as prompts for his show. From a bookshelf on stage, he places each title under a camera for the audience to see, works in a pun or a bit of physical comedy that connects with the book, then swipes it onto the ever-growing pile on the floor.

He does all this completely naked. Especially the physical stuff.

And then there’s the audience participation – a phrase that sends shivers down my spine even when everyone’s fully dressed. Thankfully, Christina has booked us seats far enough away to avoid most contact with Garry, even when he crowd surfs from the stage all the way to the back of the theatre.

“What, naked?” I hear you ask.

Oh, yes. Naked. And sweaty.

His character also believes he’s a real penguin… tell you what, Garry Starr explains it better than I can here in a quick interview he’s put up on his IG.

But this really is a brilliant show. His performance is – both literally and figuratively – balls-out crazy. And if you’re in New York or London anytime soon, look out for Garry Starr’s Classic Penguins. His show is going international!

I’m on another tasting panel at Intermedia’s offices today for Trade Buyer’s Magazine. It’s an industry publication that guides bars and bottleshops around Australia on what to stock and serve.

Christina and I are on these panels quite often, where we blind taste a range of wines or spirits, and our scores and recommendations go into the mag.

This time round, we’re looking at Australian Shiraz and Shiraz blends, and there’s quite a lot to get through. Between six groups, we have over 140 separate wines to judge in an hour or so.

One thing we notice from the pretty broad selection of regions, wineries and blends is how the Aussie palate is changing towards a lighter style Shiraz. There’s still a backbone of big, bold reds that make the market, but more and more lighter medium-bodied Shiraz seems to be emerging. Good news for places like the Hunter Valley, Orange and the ACT, not so good for the Barossa.

Tonight, Christina and I are out with our mates Anton, Paul and Jo for another live performance. This time, it’s a musical – a format I usually avoid like the plague, but this one should be good.

It’s the life story of Jack Karlson aka the Succulent Chinese Meal Guy.

We’re at the intimate Flight Path Theatre in Marrickville and I’ve got to say, this is a really well crafted play. Somehow the six actors and two musicians have stretched a meme into a 100-minute performance that is clever, entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable.

I’ve never heard so many puns from Chinese dishes and I certainly wasn’t expecting lyrics to work in Jack Karlson’s other famous lines ‘I see you know your judo well’, ‘this is democracy manifest’ and of course ‘get your hands of my penis’!

Keep your eye open for A Succulent Chinese Musical?! in your nearest city. I’m sure this isn’t the last we’ll see of it.

Tonight, I’ve been invited to a very exclusive sitting. My friends Kath and Jarrod have a mate they jokingly refer to as the Lebanese Mafia. At least, I think they’re joking.

Either way, this guy has a penchant for whisky – especially Aussie whisky – and I’ve somehow been brought along to join in the fun. And what fun it is.

We start – as all whisky tastings should – with a dram or two, some food and a good cigar. Then our generous host takes us downstairs to his whisky room.

That’s right, the photos you see are of a private collection in an underground whisky lair. There’s even an elevator down to it!

We spend a lovely evening tasting various rare whiskies – though we don’t get to open the original Sullivan’s Cove bottles. Fair enough. We finish up some eight hours later and a drop of 69.1%ABV single barrel from Corowa Distillery on the NSW border. What a night.

It’s Game 3 of Australia’s group stage matches for the World Cup and it’s Friday lunchtime, so we’re at Sydney Brewery Rozelle to support the Socceroos in their battle against Paraguay and for a spot in the Group of 32.

Sydney Brewery Rozelle has really set itself up well as a sporting venue. Its massive HD screen is visible from pretty much anywhere in the brewery, the food’s on point and the beers are tasty and well-priced. It’s good to have a place like this on the peninsula.

Also, there’s Peanut.

This cat has been knocking about this part of Rozelle for years and is a legend in his own right. He’s comfortable in flowerbeds or lording it in the brewery, and the ubiquitous dogs of Balmain don’t seem to bother him at all. If you see him, say hi to Peanut!

The game ends 0-0 by the way, but that’s enough to see Australia finish 2nd in the group below USA. Paraguay is through as one of the best 3rd place teams, but sadly for Turkiye, the World Cup ends here.

This is some of Christina’s crazy jujitsu gang. They get together on a regular basis and take over large sections of pubs around Balmain. Indeed, tonight, we’re out in the Balmain on Mullens Street. It’s always a fun night with these guys, though the conversation very often veers into strange uncharted territory, miles away from jujitsu techniques, that’s for sure.

But don’t be fooled by their jolly demeanour; this is a group not to be messed with.

I wonder what the collective noun for lethal weapons is.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this taste of June ’26.

Cheers – Jim & Christina x

The post A Tassie Trip, A City Break And We Support The Arts appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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For many, July each year spells a 31-day stint of alcohol abstinence. It’s the opportunity for a mid-year pause, to reset the system and give your body a break from the booze. 

It used to be the case that, whenever you went out to a pub or a party, drinks options were so limited you didn’t really feel like going out at all.

Overly sweet non-alcoholic cocktails, truly awful zero beers and wines or soft drinks that ended up giving you a sugar hangover anyway.

These days, that’s all changed. 

With more and more drinkers looking for low-and-no alternatives to their drinking repertoire, and younger generations seeming to drink less generally, the alcohol and hospitality industries are responding with some amazing options.

There’s, of course, a raft of health benefits associated with even a month’s break in drinking. Better sleep and more energy, gut health and weight loss, feeling brighter and more lucid — not to mention the financial pluses — they all paint Dry July in a very rosy light. 

The only hard thing is not substituting your drinking regimen with something just as bad for you. Chips and chocolate, I’m looking at you guys.

But snacks aside, here are our top picks for swapping out the ABV for something just as good for Dry July, Feb Fast, Sober October or whenever you feel like you need a break.

What To Drink For Dry July

There’s an ever-growing selection of non- and low-alc drinks around, and the quality has improved stratospherically from the days when Guinness brought out Kaliber <0.5% lager. And thank goodness for that.

Zero Alcohol Beer

There are dozens of choices when it comes to beer and it really comes down to personal preference, but our favourites are Capital Brewing’s Alc-Less Pacific Ale, a fruity, hoppy little number, and Four Pines’ Ultra Low.

In fact, if you’re looking for an easy-drinking beer that isn’t too involved, but still feels like you’re drinking a ‘real’ beer, the Four Pines one is our favourite. Bright, light and refreshing, it doesn’t try too hard.

By the way, and this is just my opinion, the worst one we’ve tried recently is a surprise: Coopers Zero is a big disappointment. 

Zero Alcohol Wine

Low- and no-wine has come on leaps and bounds in recent years — especially sparkling wines. But for reds and whites, there are no bubbles for off flavours and textural issues to hide behind. 

The somewhat comically named Two Hoots Non-Alcoholic Chenin Blanc from South Africa shares all the tasty characteristics you’d expect from this variety.

Lively and full of peardop and citrus notes, there’s also plenty of acidity and dryness to this wine, which is also the variety of choice when you’re in Western Australia’s Swan Valley Wine Region.

For red wine, Next Destination’s Shiraz from the Barossa Valley hits the mark. It’s hard to maintain the depth of flavour and rich texture that Shiraz is known for, but there’s still plenty of both in this zero-alcohol wine from the heartland of Australian Shiraz.

Black cherry and dark chocolate, coupled with the tight spice of new French oak, create a dry, velvety complex drop that matches perfectly with hearty winter meals.

These wines (and plenty more) are available from Sans Drinks, a company dedicated to bringing the best of zero alcohol drinks together in one place and is Australia’s first non-alcoholic bottle shop.

Cocktails

Cocktails — especially the classic spirit-forward ones — are very difficult to replicate in a non-alc format. Lyre’s is the foremost maker of these zero spirits and they do a great job, but their best one to date has to be their version of spritz Aperol.

Check out the Lyre’s Zero-Alcohol Amalfi Spritz Grande Duo Set. It includes two 750ml bottles of Classico sparkling wine and a 700ml bottle of their Italian Spritz amaro. Together they make a very convincing 0% alternative.

Going Out

Bars, pubs and restaurants are all getting in on the growing demand for lower-alcohol refreshments. Many have menus of mocktails available, but few do it quite as well as Sydney rooftop bar Above 319. 

Sitting on top of the Vibe Darling Harbour, this bar, which shares the space with the hotel’s pool, looks out over the city and offers one of the most creative lists of delicious alcohol-free cocktails. 

The other drinks on the list here are also amazing by the way, and you can order food from the hotel’s restaurant menu too.

Further afield, even some of the world’s most famous bars, whose cocktails have become household names, are finding ways to adapt to this growing market.

Singapore’s Raffles Hotel and its legendary Long Bar is where the legendary Singapore Sling was invented back in 1915. Back then, it was taboo for women to be seen drinking alcohol in public, so the Sling was created to look more like a fruit punch.

To celebrate Singapore Sling Day (27th June each year), Raffles has created the Singapore Sling Zero. Using the signature blend of fruit juices, spices and syrups along with Tanqueray 0.0% gin, the Singapore Sling Zero shows just how far things have come in the world of no-low alcohol drinks.

For more Dry July tips, check out our other stories on non-alcoholic drinks here.

The post How To Do Dry July (And Why) appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Peering out from the Royal National Park’s dusky greenery, the little village of Bundeena glows with the warm charm of a secluded, out-of-the-way village.

Christina and I have visited Bundeena plenty of times over the years. In fact, for its size — Bundeena’s population stands at just over 2,500 — we have so many connections with this place.

But as our car trundles down the hill and crosses the boundary marking the end of the Royal National Park and where Bundeena begins, excitement builds as we head to Simpson Cottage: our home for the next couple of nights.

The funny thing is, we’ve been spying on this place a bit recently. Not in a creepy way. Simpson Cottage was one of the settings of the excellent 2025 TV drama The Last Anniversary. It’s well worth a watch.

Simpson Cottage, Bundeena

Simpson Cottage has stood here for some 160 years after George Simpson, who was granted land here in 1863, built it using sandstone quarried by convicts. You can still see the cuts and grooves from their tools on the cottage walls.

From the lawn, views out over the sandy shallows of Simpsons Bay towards Maianbar and Burraneer are magnetic and we find ourselves staring out across the water, lost in the vista.

We turn back to the verandah with its wrought iron filigree and push through the great green door of the cottage.

Inside the cottage

Down the long corridor, with doors to the lounge and bedrooms, lights swathed in great linen-covered shades cast the warmest glow the welcome us in.

We explore each room, marvelling at the depth of detail and the way that form, comfort and style have made a home for the perfect Venn.

Each of the three bedrooms has its own personality and feel. Art hangs from the walls, antique sideboards and mantelpieces collect a clever eclecticism of old-world items. From ink wells to champagne cages fashioned into little dolls’ chairs, the longer you look, the more you see.

Cotton reels, old bugles, seashells and old keys, rope knotted into monkey fists, glass floats and trophies.

Interesting books and soft linen fabrics sit on timber chairs, and table lamps make you want to sit down and write like Hemingway.

Anything that builds a picture of texture, of warmth, of a carefully curated yet lived-in quality, is here.

Nothing feels off the wrack and nothing is left to chance.

Kitchen, bathroom and dining

At the back of the cottage, the bathroom takes up the left side and is a modern work of art. The polished concrete floor is heated, which is a lovely touch in winter, and it holds up a magnificent deep-fill bath that stands to one side. Next to it is the luxurious shower with a big rain-fall head.

Along the far wall, the sink vanity continue the cottage’s aesthetic though sparingly, with artwork and dried flowers maintaining the homely yet styled feel.

The row of pegs holding up the dark tan linen towels along the wall reminds me a little of a leather shop or maybe a scene from a jump flick, but the towels are soft and generous, and having so many towels for our stay is a nice touch.

The kitchen is on the opposite side to the bathroom and is fully operational. Unlike other guesthouses or holiday homes we’ve stayed in, this feels like you could live here immediately and long term.

Every appliance you can think of is here at our disposal, there’s even some little pots with different types of teas as well as more than enough coffee pods to get mornings started.

As far as styling goes, as you’d expect, the kitchen hasn’t been left out. Old-world cooking apparatus decorate next to functional modern things. Cabinetry is subtle and where it can’t be (there’s not much you can do with a fridge or freezer), a linen curtain keeps things on the down low.

There’s an abundance of glassware, crockery, flatware, silverware… you really have everything you need. There’s even a glass cloche covering a cheese platter waiting for us in the fridge.

Between the kitchen and bathroom is the dining room; a neat little space with a dining table that looks through French doors to the raised patio and its outdoor fireplace, but more about that later.

The Living Room

Back at the front of the house, the living room is a cosy nook full of squashy sofas and old armchairs. There’s a real fireplace here too that you can get going in the winter months. The hearth is surrounded with yet more detail.

Shelves create stages for all sorts of oddments: little paintings, balls of twine, tiny model sailing boats, lanterns and antlers — no doubt found on the lawn where deer roam at night.

We also discover a selection of board games tucked away here, which makes us realise that there’s not a single TV anywhere in the house. It dawns on us that we haven’t seen everything yet. There’s still the recreation room to explore.

The Rec Room

Back down the path next to the driveway and gate is what we presume was once a lock-up garage.

Now a canny rec room, it’s here you’ll find the TV — and since we’re here, we rewatch a couple of episodes of The Last Anniversary in situ, which is pretty cool.

But even better, you’ll find an original pinball machine in here.

I’d forgotten how much fun these things are to play, even if I’m not much good at them. I think this is Christina’s first time on one of them!

Of course, not even the rec room is immune to the touch of the styling fairies, with elegant touches like the captain’s chair and writing desk decorated with tankards full of paintbrushes and a stack of old books or the side table adorned with a carriage clock, a ceramic and a tiny globe atlas.

Ropes, filament bulbs, artworks and animal hides create depth and texture, and the ‘honesty cabinet’ full of locally hand-crafted ceramics shows just how much we’re trusted as guests.

Pick your ceramic and either pop the cash in the jar or tell the owners and they’ll debit your account. Isn’t trust and honesty a healthy acumen?

There’s even a full bathroom here complete with shower, saving you the trouble of hiking all the way back to the cottage in your moment of need.

The Grounds

The outsides of Simpson Cottage are just as entertaining, enthralling and good looking as what’s inside.

Wicker chairs and plant pots line the verandah, along with a wonderfully aged wheelbarrow and handcart carrying fuel supplies for the fire pit, which is also fully stacked ready to go.

Around the back, looking into the house through the French doors, is the elevated patio and its own brick fireplace. Comfy sofas amongst the flowerbeds make this the perfect evening sundowner spot with friends.

However, on the grass under the gum tree round the front is the picnic table. Strings of fairy lights above make this a magical spot in the evening and by day, the elevated views out across the sparkling waters of the bay are spectacular.

There’s even a little path that wends its way down the shallow cliff to the esplanade and the water’s edge from here.

But it’s no wonder Simpson Cottage was picked for a TV drama; it’s a dressed and ready-to-go film set in its own right.

We stayed as media at Simpson Cottage, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

The post Picture-Perfect Coast Escape — Simpson Cottage, Bundeena appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

Brought to you by Auras Insurance.

Travel insurance is never going to be the most exciting part of your trip, but you don’t want it to be the one thing you regret not having either.

Having the right travel insurance can save you a fortune, save your holiday from disaster and maybe even save your life. *

Now, we don’t want to come across as scare mongers or pessimists, but things can happen when you’re on the road. It’s part of the adventure of travel. But when the adventure takes a turn for the worst, the safety net of insurance is worth its weight.

Should You Buy Travel Insurance?

It’ll probably be no surprise to you that we’ll tell you that you should always have insurance when you’re travelling, but it can come in a few different formats *.

Sometimes your credit card will have automatic insurance included. This will only give you limited cover, but things like care hire excess and things like that are sometimes covered.

Sometimes, home insurance will cover some personal possessions while you’re away from the house.

Of course, you’ll need to check your policies.

But for comprehensive travel security, proper, specifically designed travel insurance is the only way to go. International travel insurance is still a high priority for travellers with over 75% of us taking out policies before we head overseas.

There are lots of companies and policy types out there for a host of different purposes.

From the best travel insurance for Asia from Australia to adventure sports holidays to round-the-world trips, it’s important to pin down exactly what your travel plans are so you can be as fully covered as possible.

This is key to getting the most out of your insurance budget. If you’re off on a beach holiday, there’s no point in paying the extra you need for ski cover.

But if that beach happens to be in a country that has a reputation for a difficult customs department, you might want to look at policies that cover embassy refunds if your visa unexpectedly falls foul of the country’s system.

What about travel insurance for domestic travel in Australia?

Domestic travel insurance (for Aussies travelling within Australia) is an interesting one. Over the last couple of years, companies have reported a drop in customer priority for domestic travel insurance — down to about 40% according to Southern Cross Travel Insurance.

With medical expenses already covered by Medicare and private health insurance, things like car rental excess by some premium credit cards and people driving their own vehicles for road trip holidays, it’s an understandable trend.

However, travel insurance for domestic trips does fill gaps like lost or stolen luggage, and cancellation and disruption to trips. Unexpected illness, family crisis or severe weather events probably won’t be covered elsewhere, but may be with your travel policy.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you’re happy with your decisions before you leave and to stay as safe as possible wherever your destination takes you. We all love Type 2 Fun — horrible when it’s happening, but funny after — but let’s not go crazy.

The post Is It Worth Getting Travel Insurance? appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.