A new Sydney eatery has different designs

New restaurants usually focus on their food and wine offerings, but a new Italian CBD venue is also "design led". 

Venue entrepreneur, businessman, designer and hotelier Raffaelle Lombardi is combining with  his interior designer wife Victoria Hampshire (daughter of shopping guru Jilly Hampshire and niece of actress/hotelier/designer Anouska Hempel) to create Conte Sydney, an ambitious multi-level, multi-purpose drinks and dining destination that will open next month.

Conte Sydney will be the sibling of Bar Conte in Surry Hills, promoted as the world’s first dedicated negroni bar.

Now Lombardi and Hampshire have landed in Clarence St in Sydney with a European but contemporary drinks and dining space a long-held ambition of Lombardi and Hampshire. It will feature late-night dining.

“I have dreamt of this concept for the past 10 years," says Lombardi.

"The negroni is, of course, my drink of choice and has been since I was a young man growing up in Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast.

"It's the ultimate pre-dinner drink and pastime but there has always been more to Bar Conte in us. The venue’s popularity has completely blown us away so the time felt right for a larger, ‘grown-up’ offering realising the dream of a chic and contemporary dining and drinks space that we know Sydneysiders will want to visit as much as we do!”

The 130-seat, multi-level space, will feature signature moss green tiles and contrasting green marbles and deep brass highlights to complement the inside of a deep, red-walled room.

Wallpapers from Milan brand Fornasetti, and Italian leather seats will also star.

“I have always been attracted to the intensity of deep green and brass," says Hampshire.

"The moss green tiles and Verde Alpe marble complement the warmth of the parquetry floor and the deep red walls adorned with rare posters, then we have the brass accents, a Victoria Hampshire Designs trademark. These elements reference our home, hotels, life and travels in Italy.”

Diners can expect an a la carte menu with an Italian accent, and a 40+ choice negroni list.

Conte Sydney will have the largest collection of Italian Vermouth, Amari (digestives), and Italian Gin seen in one venue. The team will introduce both negroni and martini food pairing experiences.

Conte Sydney will be at 151 Clarence Street, Sydney and will be open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 11am-midnight, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 11am–1am. Details will be unveiled at https://www.barconte.com.au/. Opening date is April 2. 

Angry Canadians turn on former national hero turned wine producer

Angry Canadians have turned on former national hero Wayne Gretzky - an ice hockey player known as "The Great One".

Gretzky, now a wine producer, is a pro-Trump, MAGA supporter.

Which has not made him popular in his homeland, local media report.

Images of Wayne Gretzky Estates wine bottes went viral after appearing on social media platform Reddit with some derogatory descriptions, leading to accusations that a Toronto store had tampered with them. 

Others argued the images had been photoshopped.

On-shelf signage showing the price and information underneath Gretzky’s pinot grigio describe the wine as “weak & backstabbery,” while claiming it “delights with notes of elitism, and affluence.”

A cabernet merlot in Gretzky’s range also bore a shelf-description claiming that the “sad and two-faced” wine is as “weak as its namesake’s moral fibre” and should be paired with “boiled raccoon.”

His chardonnay was said to “reek of betrayal”, with “acrid” hints of “treasonry”.

After conducting an investigation, The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) - which runs all retail wine stores in the province - announced that “we have found no evidence to suggest that any product label was altered in our stores”, and suggested that the images on Reddit had been photoshopped.

Gretzky played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for teams including the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and St Louis Blues and is the top-scoring NHL player of all time.

Gretzky, who founded his wine business in 2007 at Niagara on the Lake, is an outspoken Trump supporter and has been photographed wearing a MAGA baseball cap.

Trump has declared him “a good friend” and “a fantastic guy” on his media channel Truth Social, and some Canadians feel Gretzky hasn’t done enough to oppose Trump’s goal of making Canada the “51st state of America”.

With anti-Trump sentiment running high in Canada, many are boycotting businesses seen to support the US President.

The Toronto.com website reported that residents in Niagara-on-the-Lake have called for a boycott of Wayne Gretzky Estates winery and distillery.

A petition to re-name a road named Wayne Gretzky Drive in Edmonton, Alberta, has also reportedly gathered more than 13,300 signatures.

Burgundy wine producers target Australia

Wine producers from Bourgogne (Burgundy) are targeting Australian consumers, perhaps a wise move given the tariff madness going on in the US.

The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) has announced its return to the Australian market, introducing the concept of “Take A Closer Look” and inviting Australians to take a fresh look at the region’s iconic wines.

While high-end Burgundies can be frighteningly expensive, the campaign will aim to promote more affordable options, including wines from Chablis and the Macon region.

A three-year communications campaign will feature initiatives with trade professionals, media, and consumers, who will be able to explore what defines Bourgogne wines, offering a deeper connection to the region and its winemaking heritage.

Renowned for its exceptional wines, Burgundy is also home to a rich diversity of lesser-known appellations including Rully, Monthélie and Bouzeron.

Petit Chablis and Chablis will also be in the spotlight, with consumers invited to rediscover these already well-loved wines from a fresh perspective.

Austraiia is currently the 14th-largest market for Bourgogne wines by volume.

White wines are at the forefront of Bourgogne’s exports to Australia, representing 65% of all volumes exported to the market.

“There is growing interest in lesser-known appellations like Bourgogne AOC and Mâcon," says François Labet, President of the Bourgogne Wine Board.

"Notably, exports of the Mâcon appellation nearly tripled in 2023. The dynamic between Bourgogne and Australia is vibrant and evolving: the new campaign will definitely strengthen this.”

Mixed messages as Japan is about to become more expensive

Holidays in Japan are about to get a little more expensive for foreign tourists.

Japan is expected to introduce a dual pricing policy for entry at major tourist attractions from this northern hemisphere summer, news portal Travel Mole reports.

The two-tier system will charge higher prices for foreigners as the country aims to combat over-tourism issues. That said, it sound like a price gouge.

Authorities say higher prices for foreigners will help ease pressure on overcrowded sites and fund tourism infrastructure improvements.

No price differentials have been disclosed yet in detail, except for citing one example: Junguria Okinawa, a nature-themed park which is opening in July.

Foreign tourists will be charged 8,800 yen, while locals will pay only 6,930 yen.

Japan has set a long-term target of attracting 60 million foreign tourists each year by 2030. 

But imposing extra charges on them is unlikely to help increase numbers.

Wine and cheese offering is a lure for potential hotel guests

Hotels are always looking to stand out from the crowd and the The Porter House Hotel Sydney MGallery has chosen a potent allure: wine. 

The Porter House has just unveiled a city stay for lovers of wine, cheese and luxury, with its Chardon-yay Stay package, which includes a curated chardonnay wine flight and cheese pairing with an overnight stay. 

The package is a collaboration with Handpicked Wines with the five-star boutique hotel offering guests the opportunity to explore the subtle differences in styles of the chardonnay grape from their Tasmanian, Mornington Peninsula, and Yarra Valley vineyards, alongside selected cheeses. 

The hotel is one of the oldest buildings in Sydney, constructed of sandstone bricks, its exquisite façade has been restored, while the modernised interiors feature century-old artefacts displayed in its corridors on every level. 

Commissioned in 1876 by philanthropist and horticulturist, Hugh Dixson, The Porter House Hotel started its life as a grand tobacco factory and was later a furniture and leather merchants.

“We are very lucky at The Porter House Hotel to be able to offer our guests exceptional wine experiences alongside a passion for showcasing Australia’s finest produce,” said Mitchell Turner, the hotel general manager. 

“MGallery hotels are all about storytelling and this is our way to share the story of Australia’s wine culture through an immersive tasting of some of the best wines in the country.”

The Chardon-Yay package is available from $359 per night for one or $419 for two guests.

Just steps away from George Street, the hotel is within walking distance of the Sydney Opera House, The Royal Botanic Garden and Hyde Park. I stayed here shortly after it opened and the location is excellent. 

See mgallery.com or all.accor.com

A rare chance to taste aged whiskies from Tasmania

Hobart's landmark The Tasman, A Luxury Collection Hotel, has partnered with Hellyers Road Distillery to launch what is billed as "Australia’s oldest whisky flight".

Launching next month, the exclusive tasting experience links two Tasmanian businesses committed to showcasing world-class yet local offerings.

Held in The Tasman’s heritage cellar door, and complementary to the existing wine tasting experience, guests can expect to experience a collection of aged expressions from Hellyers Road.

Flights will feature tastings of The Tasman Cask I, a single malt whisky aged in a 50-year-old port cask from Portugal, which will also be available in the hotel’s bars and rooms.

The tastings will feature a selection of Hellyers Road’s spirits, offering both entry level and premium flights, featuring a selection including Hellyers Road Double Cask; Hellyers Road The Journeyman, Hellyers Road Peated 7yr; Helleyrs Road American Oak Oloroso de Jerez Cask Finish 20yr; Hellyers Road Voyager Cask 19yr; Hellyers Road Single Cask 2157.05 21yr and Hellyers Road The Tasman Cask I 9yr.

Burnie-based Hellyers Road arrives at this partnership during a wave of global recognition, having recently secured multiple gold medals and category winner titles at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards.
Hellyers Road boasts it is Australia's oldest operating whisky distillery.

See https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/hbalc-the-tasman-a-luxury-collection-hotel-hobart/overview/