Not every great bottle comes with a big name attached..Had a quick trip to Orange last week for a wedding and accidentally found a new favourite wine. Got chatting with Aaron, who runs Grape Pirates with his wife Bex, and he poured me through some of their stuff. The Pinot Noir was the winner for me. It’s got plenty of depth and more than enough character to hold its own against the bigger names in the region. I had a glass in the sun on Summer Street on Friday arvo, and it was far too easy to make it two.If you’re in Orange, they do free tastings at the farmers market on the second Saturday of the month. Closer to home, they’re at Marrickville markets on the third Sunday, or you can grab a few bottles at P&V. Worth a look!
Just wondering if my wife would divorce meif I brought home a 911 Junior from End of S.T.A.Y. I’ve just spent the morning researching and writing an article about the ridiculously high-powered half-sizes mini cars - and my index finger is getting dangerously close to the ‘Buy Now’ button.
John, sitting next to me, even suggested we just scrap our team Christmas party and buy one of these instead. I like where his head’s at.
Last night I previewed the new AO partnership with Bossand the Germans aren’t doing things in halves. Boss is now the tournament’s Official Lifestyle Outfitter. Lightweight and performance-focused, the collection also features some cool technical blazers, and the obsession with pinstripe is clearly a constant theme throughout. 2027 is already heating up to be another record-breaking year for Aussie tennis.
We're in a generational run of TV over the last few monthsand I’m thoroughly enjoying The Diplomat Season 4. Keri Russell and the gang are making some of the most enjoyable political drama TV I’ve seen in a while, and I’m particularly enjoying former West Wing co-stars Allison Janney & Bradley Whitford reunite as President & First Gentleman. If you’ve finished The Gentleman, don’t sleep on The Diplomat.
Book this boutique Tuscan hotel now before everyone else does...A few weeks ago I stayed at Le Lappe, a country house in the Chianti hills, about an hour’s drive south of Florence.My wife Lara sourced the recommendation through an Italian contact, who said it had been a slightly tired and family-run B&B for two decades – until recently, when they underwent a full renovation commissioned by AD100 designer Remy Renzullo.Now it’s a stunning 11-bedroom retreat that doesn’t know how good it is just yet… and how much money they can (and soon will) charge. No interiors are the same; every room has a fireplace and a bathtub, and the design is captivatingly unique. Book it now for next season before every man and his dog does. It didn’t feel real for the money.
I'm discovering new speakeasies at precisely the right timejust as the winter months fade away and the seasonal pollen makes living on the surface a daily battle. Tucked beneath 44 King Street, a new CBD spot has just opened: Ombra, a Venetian-inspired cocktail and wine bar with an incredible selection of rare vintages like Opus One 1983 and Penfolds Grange alongside an inventive cocktail list (including my new favourite Seven Seasons Green Ant Gin). Plenty of reasons to extend those after-work drinks well beyond the calendar invite.
