Saint Peter marks birthday milestone with a new book

On September 1, Sydney dining icon Saint Peter celebrates its 10th birthday with a new book from chef patron Josh Niland.

Niland and wife Julie opened Saint Peter in 2016 on Oxford St in Paddington.

The restaurant has moved to new digs in the same suburbs, and gained international acclaim along the way. Our dinner there last year was a masterclass in hospitality.

"A lot has happened in the 10 years since," Niland says. "We have met some incredible people, cooked for you - our wonderful guests - and had the pleasure to work alongside and employ some very talented professionals."

The new Niland book is called Saint Peter: Chapter and Verse.

It comprises three essays sitting alongside just over 100 dishes, photographed by David Loftus, published by Hardie Grant Books.

"The essays are about how the restaurant came to be, the business learnings along the way and the incredible highs and lows of the last decade," Niland says. "The recipes are the ones the restaurant has been built on for 10 years and include all the favourites. Documenting, cooking and shooting them all was truly a labour of love."

Pre-orders are now available at good book shops.

"Pre-orders are an important signal to the big bookstores of demand so this is, of course, very helpful ahead of the release," Niland says.

"As a thank you for pre-ordering, Julie has been working on a very special prize draw for Australian pre-orders, plus a gift for everyone who pre-orders worldwide. Keep your email receipt and we will send the full details [to mailing list members] in the coming weeks, including how to enter the draw and how to receive your thank you gift."

Hardie Grant Publishing says: "The book moves between story and craft – tracing the evolution of the restaurant, articulating Niland’s revolutionary whole fish approach, and offering a rare, deeply considered look at the mechanics of service.

"Recipes are presented as ‘verses’, interwoven through the narrative, spanning everything from foundational preparations to the dishes that have defined Saint Peter’s menus, including its most iconic and unexpected creations."

You can have a look at the book here: https://www.saintpeter.com.au/saintpeterbook

Saint Peter Chapter & Verse: The making of Sydney’s legendary seafood restaurant – in over 100 recipes. By Josh Niland. Published September 1 by Hardie Grant Books. $80/$90 NZD.

Get ready for Alan Joyce in his own words

 

Love him or hate him, former Qantas chief Alan Joyce knows how to command attention. 

Now Joyce is preparing to release his autobiography: Riding The Jetstream in August. 

"Some exciting news I've been waiting a long time to share," Joyce announced on LinkedIn.

"For the past year, I've been working on a book - a memoir of my life and career. Today I can finally tell you it's real and that you can pre-order it.

"When I sat down to research and write it, I had two motivations.

"The first was to set the record straight on what actually happened during my career: the Global Financial Crisis, the grounding of the Qantas fleet in 2011, the industrial battles, the unrelenting public scrutiny, and the period that brought global travel to a standstill: COVID-19. So much was written and said in real time. I wanted to tell it as it actually unfolded, in the room, under pressure, with every decision carrying enormous consequences for tens of thousands of people.

"The second reason was more personal. I wanted to encourage young leaders to learn from my successes and my failures,  because I think that's where the real lessons sit. I grew up in a working-class home in Dublin, the son of a cleaner and a factory worker, and I found my way out through numbers: mathematics, then management science, and eventually into the complex and volatile world of aviation. Aer Lingus. Ansett. Founding Jetstar. And then, at 42, being appointed CEO of Qantas. The path from there to here was never a straight line, and it certainly wasn't easy.

"This book is also about resilience, what it actually feels like to lead through a crisis when there is no playbook. It's about leadership under genuine pressure, the kind that doesn't relent. And as one of the few openly gay CEOs in corporate Australia, it's also about what it took to use that platform for something bigger than the bottom line, including the campaign for marriage equality.

"During nearly three decades in aviation leadership, I had the privilege of working with some of the giants of the industry. And as CEO of Qantas, I worked alongside some extraordinary people whose advice, courage and commitment I will always cherish. This story belongs to them too."

Details here: https://publishing.hardiegrant.com/en-au/books/alan-joyce-by-alan-joyce/9781761452277

New book aims to make Champagne more accessible

 

Champagne connoisseur Sally Hillman wants to challenge some Australian preconceptions about the world's favourite sparkling wine. 

In her debut book, Celebrating Champagne: A Wine for All Seasons (Hardie Grant), Hillman seeks to prove Champagne etiquette isn’t a rigid list of dos and don’ts. 

Set for release on September 16, Hillman’s book devotes a chapter to etiquette, guiding readers through the rituals of France’s most celebrated wine. 

From the language of the bottle and the art of the pour to the sensory reasoning behind traditional serving practices, Hillman says she aims to answer "all burning questions with warmth and wit". 

She also debunks enduring myths, including the old “spoon in the bottle” trick, replacing folklore with practical options. 

The book blends history, cartography, and French culinary culture with recipes paired with Champagne styles. 

“Savouring Champagne is about more than the pop of a cork,” says Victorian Hillman. “It’s about respect for the wine, for the craftsmanship and for the moment you’re in. That’s the real etiquette.”

You can pre-order here for $79.99: https://sallyhillman.com.au/shop/champagne-book/celebrating-champagne-by-sally-hillman/

The world according to DimSimLim

One of the key factors with any cookbook is: How many of these recipes do I want to make?

Paging through a preview copy of The Wolf of Wok Street, the answer was: Lots of them.

To be honest I have never heard of chef Vincent Lim, who goes by the catchy, but slightly weird, name of DimSimLim.

It turns out he is an internet star and no newcomer to the pan-handling business, having worked in his family's restaurants.

Lawson Chinese restaurant, the eatery he opened in the Blue Mountains in 2022, was a big success and he has since built another business, YumYum Seasoning, while being a social media star. He featured on MasterChef during a special on wok cooking.

“Cooking has always been a central part of my life, not just as a chef, but as a way to connect with my heritage and my family," Lim says.

"Growing up in my father’s restaurant, I was immersed in the kitchen, but it wasn’t just about preparing food. It was about crafting something special with each dish, a tradition that my father passed down to me with care.”



The Wolf of Wok Street features over 80 "restaurant-quality, authentic south-east Asian recipes that elevate wok cooking".

The book is well laid-out, and the recipes easy to follow.

From old school recipes like honey chicken to comforting soups such as each recipe aims to deliver restaurant-quality results.

The Wolf of Wok Street: Hardie Grant Books | September 30, 2025 | Hardback | 240pp | RRP $45.

All the info you need to enjoy Australia's east coast with your furry friends

You know you are on a winner when you are publishing the seventh edition of a book. 

 
Travelling with Pets on Australia's East Coast by Carla Francis is about to be re-released having proven a big hit with pet lovers who like to hit the road with their furry friends. 

Francis is a freelance writer and a devoted pet owner who cannot stand to leave her dog behind when she travels. 

Her book takes in the huge area from from Port Douglas to Port Fairy, right through Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and features everything from cat cabins to cute cockatiel-friendly caravan parks. 

If a property or service business welcomes canines or felines, it will probably be listed; from five-star hotels to campsites. 

Francis says her mission was "to provide a definitive guide to pet-friendly accommodation". 

So think doggie days out, dog-friendly beaches, parks, cafes, pubs and wineries, plus traveller’s tips for pet-friendly sightseeing.

Well laid out and chock full of useful info.    

Travelling with Pets on Australia's East Coast has an RRP of $34.99 and is published by Woodslane Press. It is available at bookstores and at www.woodslane.com.au 

Halliday Wine Companion finalists unveiled

After tasting over 7,500 wines from across Australia, the judging panel for the 2025 edition of Halliday Wine Companion has revealed the shortlists for six of the main accolades including Winery of the Year, Best Value Winery, Winemaker of the Year, and Best New Winery.

The nominees spanning Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia.

The 2025 edition saw over 60 producers submit their wines for the first time.

The 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards ceremony will take place at Ormond Hall at The Commons Collective in Melbourne on Wednesday, August 7.

The event will also be broadcast via livestream at winecompanion.com.au.

The shortlists are

WINERY OF THE YEAR:
Alkina Wine, Barossa Valley
Brokenwood, Hunter Valley
Giant Steps, Yarra Valley
House of Arras, Northern Tasmania
Oakridge Wines, Yarra Valley
Silkman Wines, Hunter Valley

WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR:
Colin McBride, Adelina, Clare Valley
Jacinta Jenkins, Balnaves of Coonawarra, Coonawarra
Andre Bondar, Bondar Wines, McLaren Vale

Gareth Belton, Gentle Folk, Adelaide Hills
Melanie Chester, Giant Steps, Yarra Valley
Simon Osicka, Paul Osicka, Heathcote
Liz Silkman, Silkman Wines, Hunter Valley
Liam McElhinney, Tasmanian Vintners, Southern Tasmania
Virginia Willcock, Vasse Felix, Margaret River

VITICULTURIST OF THE YEAR:
Troy McInnes, Chalmers, Murray Darling
Steve Faulkner, Oakridge Wines, Yarra Valley
Justin Jarrett, See Saw Wines, Orange
Rhys Thomas, Swinney, Frankland River
Nigel Blieschke, Torbreck, Barossa Valley
Bart Molony, Vasse Felix, Margaret River
Bernard & Wayne Smart, Smart Vineyards, Various

BEST VALUE WINERY:
Billy Button Wines, Alpine Valleys
Bleasdale Vineyards, Langhorne Creek
Bremerton Wines, Langhorne Creek
De Bortoli, Yarra Valley
Forest Hill Vineyard, Great Southern
Mulline, Geelong
Stella Bella Wines, Margaret River
Trentham Estate, Murray Darling

BEST NEW WINERY:
Dilworth & Allain, Macedon Ranges
Granjoux, Beechworth
HATCH, Barossa Valley
Iggy, Barossa Valley
Jane Eyre, Yarra Valley
Sami-Odi, Barossa Valley
Utzinger, Tasmania
Vinya Vella, Barossa Valley

DARK HORSE WINERY:
Amour Wines, Orange
ChaLou, Orange
Samson Tall, McLaren Vale
See Saw Wines, Orange
Solum, Mornington Peninsula
The Pawn Wine Co., South Australia

Polar opposites. Travel from the inside looking out

Enjoy travelling vicariously with some quirky companions?  

How about a journey from New Zealand to Spain undertaken almost entirely by train? 

Meet amusingly eccentric French horn player Gregory Hill and his German violinist wife Anne. 

Gregory somehow came up with the idea of travelling from one point on the globe - his home in Wellington - to its exact upside, or antipodes, which turns out to be somewhere between near Salamanca in Spain. 

He remembers doing a similar exercise with an old school atlas. Now he decides to try it real life, which turns into a 38,000 kilometre trip in 78 days, with 31,000 of those kilometres covered by rail. 

On the right tracks, so to speak. The trip from Saigon to Spain was conducted entirely on steel tracks. 

So 33 trains, 19 countries and a whole lot of interesting, sometimes amusing, encounters, fortunately completed before Covid made a trip of this nature impossible.

The trip takes us from New Zealand’s Northern Explorer to the Eurostar and a wide range of trains with stops Xi'an and a hilarious experience with Chinese bureaucracy, and possible drug dealers in Siberia.

Well illustrated with maps and photos, this is a fun armchair journey with Gregory and Anne with musical interludes including the Bolshoi Ballet and the Paris Opera. 

The Antipodean Express is published today in Australia by Exisle Publishing. $44.99. 
https://exislepublishing.com/product/the-antipodean-express/ 

Head off the beaten track with a seriously niche tome

Is a trip to Baldy Knob on your radar?

Dingo Tops, the Guy Fawkes Wilderness, or Rowleys Rock, perhaps?

Or maybe a picnic at Hanging Rock? 

This has to be one of the most niche books I have been sent for review.

But 4WD Treks of Northeast NSW delivers exactly what it says.

Author Yvonne Everett has put together a very useful, brilliantly illustrated guide to getting off the beaten track in one region of Australia with a lot to offer.

There are terrific maps, lots of good background info and details on campsites and picnic areas. there are 25 suggested itineraries in all.

If you are heading to the region and want to get away from it all, this is recommended. 

Unfortunately, that is probably less than 1% of you.

4WD TREKS of NORTHEAST NSW by Yvonne Everett. Published by Woodslane Press, RRP: $44.99. Available from all good bookstores and online.

Everywhere man Liaw cooks up a storm

Adam Liaw is ubiquitous.

Turn on the TV and there he is hosting a cooking show. 

Open the Sunday newspaper and he's got a recipe for you.

But there is a good reason for his popularity. He's talented, personable and relatable.

He also understands that most people want a good, simple recipe for cooking at home.

Hence his new book: 7 Days of Dinner, released this month. 

This is a seriously practical book with most of the featured ingredients easily found. You won't have to track down the one grocer in town who sells condiments from Peru. 

These are recipes that  my wife, who does all of the cooking in our house, describes as "simple and practical". Don't worry, we have an equal division of labour: I open the wine bottles. 

This is a book for anyone from novice cooks to Mums lacking in time to spend hours on prep. 

It features over 80 "easy" recipes taken from the set of his hit SBS series The Cook Up.

This week we tried Adam's coconut and chilli prawns (below). Prep time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 10 minutes. 

The verdict: More than tasty: absolutely delicious. 

The recipes include spins on Asian hits like sesame and chilli noodles, or pepper and coriander chicken; as well as Mexican-inspired dishes such as beef and bean taco rice. 

For the more adventurous cooks there are some creative weekend projects and useful hints on how to make stellar roast potatoes and stunning stews. 

There are also suggestions for Meat-Free Mondays and Fish on Fridays. 

The 7 Days of Dinner by Adam Liaw. Published by Hardie Grant Books. RRP $50. 

Dirty deeds in the world of wine

Vintage Crime is not the book for you if are looking for a comprehensive list of the various grape varieties of Italy, or the top cellar doors to visit in Stellenbosch.

But if you are looking for some human interest stories about the world of wine, its history and some notorious dodgers and divers then you'll have some fun.

Wine journalist and Master of Wine Rebecca Gibb says her book is all about wine "amelioration, adulteration, and deception" told chronologically through 10 wine frauds.

She covers some of the most high-profile wine scams and some of the lesser-known devious activities over the years.

The book spans ancient times, in bawdy Imperial Rome no less, to the 21st century and how mega fraudster Rudy Kurniawan rose from obscurity to global notoriety.

There is a focus on human stories: wine producers, merchants, collectors, and drinkers rather than on the bottles of wine themselves. 

A fun and engaging book choice when you want to take in a chapter here and a chapter there, rather than binge reading. Enjoy at your own pace. 

Vintage Crime: A Short History of Wine Fraud is to be published by University of California Press. www.ucpress.edu

A new book to inspire walkers of all abilities

Here's a new book that is equally appealing for armchair travellers and avid adventurers.

Greatest Walks of the World is an ideal gift for anyone who ,loves to connect with nature, or for a Father's Day gift for any Dad who dreams of walking some of the most inspiring landscapes on earth.

From Tasmania's epic Three Capes Track track and the Larapinta Trail in central Australia to the Camino de Santiago in Europe and South Africa's Table Mountain, hiking routes are explored with photographs, route guides and maps.

The locations have been chosen for their outstanding natural beauty and their popularity with a selection of 'bucket-list' treks combined with 'locals-only' knowledge.

The book, from Exisle Pubishing, features 50 walks from around the world, and is lavishsly illustrated and enticing enough to make even this confirmed coach potato put his walking boots back on.

Greatest Walks of The World by Stuart Butler and Mary Caperton Morton, Hardcover | 320 pages | Exisle Publishing | RRP $49.99

See www.exislepublishing.com 

The one book that everyone interested in Australian wine needs in their library

It has taken two savvy Americans to write the one book that every Australian wine lover needs to have in their library.

In their new book How to Drink Australian, released earlier this month, Janes Lopes and Jonathan Ross - two high-flying and scarily knowledgeable sommeliers - have covered just about every aspect of the wine industry in Australia, making their book a must read for both wine industry folks and wine lovers.

Want the lowdown on what makes Langhorne Creek different to other South Australian wine regions? Or what wines to try from rising cool-climate star Tasmania? The answers are right here.

The pair moved to Australia from the US in 2017 with Jane working at Attica and the Jon for the Rockpool Group.

They quickly realised how little exposure there was to premium Australian wines in the US.

While in Australia, Jane and Jon both passed their master sommelier exams, Jane wrote her first book titled Vignette, and Jon started making wine under his own label: Micro Wines.

Upon returning to the US in 2020, Jane and Jon launched Legend Imports, a company devoted solely to importing Australian wine to the US.

"Jon and I wrote How to Drink Australian to help the world fall in love with Australian wine the way that we had while living over there." Lopes says.

"We've collaborated with Australian wine folks Mike Bennie, Kavita Faiella and Hannah Day to bring the on-the-ground perspective in addition to the 100+ interviews we did with winemakers, viticulturists, journalists, and somms throughout Australia.

"Martin von Wyss is the cartographer who created the 30+ original maps for the book; we have original art by Robin Cowcher and Lily Cummins, as well as gorgeous photography, producer profiles, even a fun fold-out grape table. "

The book has impressive analysis of every significant wine region across the country, detailed original maps, wine recommendations, producer profiles and even a fold-out grape table.

The publicity blurb says How to Drink Australian "is the modern wine book that Australia (and a world of wine drinkers) has been waiting for". And, for once, the PR is right.

The wines from Gundagai? Covered. Timo Mayer? Covered.

There is so much useful information here that I know I will be sneaking a peak at this book on a regular basis. And it would make a super Father's Day gift for any wine drinker.

https://howtodrinkaustralian.com/

How to get away from it all in the Grampians

There seems to be an ever-increasing level of interest in getting off the beaten track.

From the wilds of Tasmania to wilderness areas in Victoria, to the remote outback, Australians are keen to turn their backs on city hustle and bustle and get away from it all.

The latest in the popular Woodslane Walking Guides will be released this month: The Grampians Peaks Trail will be the first independent guide dedicated to the region, complementing the official maps.

It is described as an indispensable resource for those seeking to plan and undertake the hike across rural Victoria, either in one go, or in sections.

The multi-day Grampians Peaks Trail covers 164km of spectacular scenery and challenging hiking from Mt Zero in the north to Dunkeld in the south, traversing three major mountain ranges along the way.

Over 13 days, the GPT apparently takes in almost the same amount of elevation and descent as it would be to climb Mt Everest.

The book is illustrated with full-colour photographs and detailed maps for each section.

As well as extensive planning notes, there are detailed walk notes for each of the 13 official days walks, with flexible ‘build your own walk’ options for those seeking to do the GPT as a series of day or sectional walks.

The book also contains much Information on transport, food drops, camping and water, as well as local history, the environment and wildlife.

Authors Deb Heyes and Julie Mundy have been keen walkers their whole lives, and have been walking together for over 15 years.

This is Julie’s seventh and Deb’s fourth walking guidebook for Woodslane Press.

RRP: $29.99 Available from bookstores and online. See www.woodslane.com.au

All the Halliday Wine Companion award winners

If you want to sell wine by the bucketload there is one easy solution: take out one of the major awards at the Halliday Wine Companion awards. 

That's why wineries from Bleasdale in Langhorne Creek to Oakridge in the Yarra Valley are this morning expecting to be inundated with orders.

The 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards were announced last night and the book is on sale now. 

This year’s honourees and Award winners were presented by the Halliday Tasting Team, chief editor Campbell Mattinson, founder James Halliday AM, as well as judges Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Philip Rich and Shanteh Wale.

The book is a comprehensive guide to Australia’s leading wines, wineries, and grape growing regions, including all award winners and tasting notes. RRP $45.

JAMES HALLIDAY HALL OF FAME

James Halliday Hall of Fame: Wine – Seppeltsfield 100-Year-Old Para Vintage Tawny 1923, Barossa Valley, SA (100 points)

James Halliday Hall of Fame: Wine Industry – Prue Henschke of Henschke Wines, Keyneton, SA

2024 MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

Winery of the Year – Bleasdale Vineyards, Langhorne Creek, SA

Winemaker of the Year – Kate Goodman, Penley Estate, Coonawarra, SA

Viticulturist of the Year – Mark Walpole, Fighting Gully Road, Beechworth, VIC

Best New Winery – Joshua Cooper Wines, Victoria

Dark Horse – Anderson & Marsh, Alpine Valleys, VIC

Best Value Winery – Oakridge Wines, Yarra Valley, VIC

Wine of the Year – Yangarra Estate Vineyard Old Vine Grenache 2021, McLaren Vale, SA

2024 VARIETAL WINNERS

Red Wine of the Year – Yangarra Estate Vineyard Old Vine Grenache 2021, McLaren Vale, SA – 99 points

White Wine of the Year – Landaire at Padthaway Estate Chardonnay 2021 Padthaway – 98 points

Sparkling Wine of the Year – Sittella Wines Grand Prestige Late Disgorged 2010 Pemberton – 97 points

Riesling of the Year – Limefinger Solace Riesling 2022 Clare Valley – 98 points

Chardonnay of the Year – Landaire at Padthaway Estate Chardonnay 2021 Padthaway – 98 points

Semillon of the Year – Pepper Tree Wines Museum Release Limited Release Tallawanta Single Vineyard Semillon 2013 Hunter Valley – 99 points

Sauvignon Blanc of the Year – Domaine Naturaliste Sauvage Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Margaret River – 96 points

Pinot Gris/Grigio of the Year – Mayer Bloody Hill Villages Healesville Pinot Gris 2022 Yarra Valley – 96 points

Other Whites & Blends of the Year – John Kosovich Wines Bottle Aged Reserve Chenin Blanc 2018 Swan Valley – 98 points

Rosé of the Year – Sutton Grange Winery Fairbank Rosé 2022 Central Victoria Zone – 97 points

Pinot Noir of the Year – Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 Yarra Valley – 98 points

Grenache & Blends of the Year – Yangarra Estate Vineyard Old Vine Grenache 2021 McLaren Vale – 99 points

Shiraz of the Year – Murdoch Hill The Landau Single Vineyard Oakbank Syrah 2021 Adelaide Hills – 99 points

Cabernet Shiraz Blend of the Year – Bleasdale Vineyards Wellington Road Shiraz Cabernet 2021 Langhorne Creek – 98 points

Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year – Bleasdale Vineyards The Iron Duke Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Langhorne Creek – 98 points

Cabernet & Family of the Year – Houghton C.W. Ferguson Cabernet Malbec 2020 Frankland River – 98 points

Other Reds & Blends of the Year – Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 3 2021 Yarra Valley – 97 points

Sweet Wine of the Year – De Bortoli Noble One Botrytis Semillon 2020 Riverina– 96 points

Fortified Wine of the Year – All Saints Estate Museum Muscat NV, Rutherglen – 100 points 

Halliday awards finalists named

The Halliday Wine Companion has announced the shortlisted wineries, winemakers and viticulturists for the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.

The finalists were chosen by a new-look tasting team headed by new chief editor Campbell Mattinson, one of the founding editors of Halliday Magazine in 2012 and a Halliday Wine Companion reviewer since 2013.

Over 8500 wines were tasted, and over 50 new wineries discovered.

The shortlist features wineries from Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, and New South Wales.

The winners will be announced on August 2 at the Stokehouse in St Kilda.

WINERY OF THE YEAR: All Saints Estate, Rutherglen; Bleasdale Vineyards, Langhorne Creek; First Creek Wines, Hunter Valley; Giant Steps, Yarra Valley; Leogate Estate Wines. Hunter Valley; Oakridge Wines, Yarra Valley; Penley Estate, Coonawarra; Pepper Tree Wines, Hunter Valley; Yalumba, Eden Valley; Yangarra Estate Vineyard, McLaren Vale

WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR: Colin McBryde, Adelina Wines, Clare Valley; Gerald Naef, Patina Wines, Orange; Jim Chatto, Pepper Tree Wines, Hunter Valley; Kate Goodman, Penley Estate, Coonawarra; Mark Messenger, Juniper Estate, Margaret River; Michael Downer, Murdoch Hill, Adelaide Hills; Paul Dahlenburg, Eldorado Road & Baileys of Glenrowan, Beechworth/Glenrowan;
Sam Middleton, Mount Mary, Yarra Valley; Samantha Connew, Stargazer, Tasmania

VITICULTURIST OF THE YEAR: Bart Maloney, Vasse Felix, Margaret River; Dr Dylan Grigg, consultant, various; Jacob Stein, Robert Stein Vineyard, Mudgee; Liz Riley, Scarborough Wine Co & Mistletoe Wines, Hunter Valley; Mark Walpole, Fighting Gully Road, Beechworth; Michael Lane, Yangarra Estate Vineyard & Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard, McLaren Vale; Rhys Thomas; Swinney, Frankland River; Stuart Proud, Thousand Candles, Yarra Valley

BEST-VALUE WINERY: Billy Button Wines, Alpine Valleys; Bleasdale Vineyards, Langhorne Creek; Bondar Wines, McLaren Vale; Bremerton Wines, Langhorne Creek; Briar Ridge Vineyard, Hunter Valley; Carillion Wines, Hunter Valley; Dappled Wines, Yarra Valley; De Bortoli, Yarra Valley; Mordrelle Wines, Adelaide Hills; Oakridge Wines, Yarra Valley; Two Hands Wines, Barossa Valley; Xanadu Wines, Margaret River

BEST NEW WINERY: Entropy Wines, Gippsland; Fleet Wines, Gippsland; Gaffy & Neal, Mornington Peninsula; Gentle Folk, Adelaide Hills; Joshua Cooper Wines, Victoria; MMAD, McLaren Vale; Neldner Road, Barossa Valley; Nightfall Wines, Coonawarra; Terrason Wines, Victoria; Winmark Wines, Hunter Valley

DARK HORSE WINERY: Anderson & Marsh, Alpine Valleys; Curator Wine Company, Barossa Valley; Emilian, Yarra Valley; Mount Eyre Vineyards, Hunter Valley; Topper's Mountain Wines, New England

Exploring Tasmania's wilder side

From remote hiking trails to absurdly picturesque waterfalls, Australia's island state of Tasmania has plenty to please anyone who wants to get off the beaten track.

If you are more a tent person than a luxury resort person; a picnic personality rather than a fine dining fan, the a new book from Woodslane Press might be right up your alley.

Written by Gillian Souter, Discovering Natural Tasmania is a really nifty guide for anyone looking to take some roads, tracks or mountain trails less travelled on the Apple Isle.

While Tasmania may be well known for its gourmet restaurants and fine cool-climate wines, many visitors come simply to get away from it all.

Tasmania really is an outdoor lover's paradise - over half of island consists of national parks, reserves and state forests.

These abound with walks and treks, sights of interest, lookouts, activities, wildlife encounters, adventures, beaches and remote places to stay.

I live in Tasmania and made a whole lot of discoveries about places that I had either not heard or, or added to my "to do" list.

The book is well set out, illustrated with over 200 full-colour photographs and dozens of detailed maps.

Discovering Natural Tasmania by Gillian Souter is published byWoodslane Press and is available at bookstores and online. RRP: $34.99

How to master your intimidating air fryer

We have an air fryer at home: it is a terrifying looking thing.

Luckily, we have an equal division of labour in the kitchen. My wife, Tereza Dobbin, cooks. I open the bottles of wine.

So when I was offered the chance to review Nathan Anthony's Bored of Lunch: The Healthy Air Fryer Book, I handed test duties over to her.

She also decided to write her own review. So here is is:

I’ve had an air fryer for a while but have never embraced it with any enthusiasm. 

Another kitchen gadget that I had to get my head around, when what it does could just as easily be done in the oven. That’s what I thought until I leafed through this cookbook and felt inspired to give it a go.

The appearance of the book is a bit daggy with various fonts and bright colours but it is the content that counts.

Each recipe is well laid out with an introduction and a photo of the finished dish, along with a calorie count.

I first tried the beetroot burgers - cooking half in the air fryer and half in the oven - as it was already on.

To my surprise the two versions were completely different: crispier and tastier from the air fryer in less time than those cooked in the oven.

For this week’s work lunches, I have made the falafels with tahini sauce which have turned out well - though the aubergine on the side looks a bit bland and dry.

Don’t be fooled by the title, there is much more to this book than lunches. It includes chapters on snacks, dinners, “fake aways” and sweets.

All well set out, easy to follow and quick to prepare and cook. Written by a home cook who become an internet sensation during the pandemic.  

I am now a happy convert and look forward to choosing my next healthy lunch box filler.

Bored of Lunch, The Healthy Air Fryer Book by Nathan Anthony. Published May 9 by Penguin/Random House. RRP $39.99.

How to make yourself a cocktail expert in a few easy lesssons

It was not so long ago that a cocktail was a special treat. Perhaps something you enjoyed on your birthday, or with a date you were particularly keen to impress.

Nowadays, cocktails are everywhere, as producers up the ante across gin, vodka, whisky, brandy, tequila, run and a host other spirits.

Cocktail pourers, now known as mixologists, are the superstars of their sphere.

If you've wanted to learn the basics of cocktail making then Strong, Sweet and Bitter by Cara Devine might be the book for you.

Learn about the ‘Flavour Triangle’ of drink mixing and how to make sure your flavours balance.

The book, written with an appealing chatty tone, also contains helpful insights - and the history behind some famous drinks.

# Cara Devine is the manager at Bomba Rooftop and host of the web series Behind the Bar. She has worked in Scotland, Canada and Australia.

Strong, Sweet and Bitter will be published by Hardie Grant Books. RRP $36.99.

The nitty gritty on gluggable grenache

Grenache, or garnacha, is one of the most widely planted red wine grape varieties in the world but a for many years it merited little respect in Australia.

A late ripening variety that thrives in warmer parts of France and Spain, it was widely regarded in Australia as a variety used only in fortified wines.

Usually spicy and full-flavoured, grenache thrives in regions like the Barossa - its spiritual home in Australia - and McLaren Vale.

it is also used in blends in Rioja, in Spain, and is the dominant variety in many southern Rhone wines, including Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

In Australia, it is often blended with shiraz and mourvedre/mataro.

A new book: Grenache-Barossa Grown, co-authored by writer Steve Leszczynski with Brett Hayes, owner at Hayes Family Wines in the the Barossa, has been self-published and self-funded and gives the full down on the grape.

Experts like Rick Burge and Kevin Glastonbury from Yalumba have also contributed.

"Grenache is truly the underappreciated, if not undiscovered, jewel in the crown of the Barossa," the authors say.

"For such a long period, grenache has been the workhorse of the Barossa Valley and the foundation variety for the region’s world-renowned fortifieds.

"Tenacious old growers need to be thanked for maintaining the faith and keeping so many of these precious old vines in the ground."

With a RRP of $20, hard copies of this fascinating and professionally put together book will hit the shelves mid-November.

To order visit ww.hayesfamilywines.com/releases/grenache-barossa-grown

Yarra Yering and Bindi shine at Halliday awards

Yarra Yering and Bindi - a pair of star Victorian wineries - dominated the honours board when the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards were announced in an online broadcast this evening. 

Halliday Wine Companion chief editor Tyson Stelzer and founder James Halliday AM announced the winners of the major awards and varietal categories. 

Yarra Yering in the Yarra Valley was named winery of the year and that winery's 2019 Dry Red No. 1 was named wine of the year. 

Winemaker of the year honours went to Michael Dhillon from Bindi Wines in the Macedon Ranges. The Bindi Block 5 Pinot Noir 2019 was named pinot noir of the year. 

The inaugural viticulturist of the year award went to Vanya Cullen of Cullen Wines in Margaret River, a leading organic and biodynamic producer. 

The awards were a celebration of Australian wine following a challenging year and also marked the release of Australia's "wine bible", the 2022 edition of the Halliday Wine Companion, published by Hardie Grant Books, which will be available in bookstores from tomorrow ($39.95) 

The book includes over 3,200 tasting notes.

Other major awards went to best new winery: Place of Changing Winds, Macedon Ranges; Dark horse winery: Renzaglia Wines, Central Ranges, NSW; Best value winery: Lake Breeze, Langhorne Creek. 

Order online at  https://www.winecompanion.com.au/