Stillwater Tasmanian wine list runs deep

Visiting Tasmania? Keen to seek out the best wine lists in the state that showcase local drops? 

You might want to take a look at the results of the 2025 Tasmanian Wine List of the Year awards.

The winners were announced this week with the Judges' Choice Award for the Best Tasmanian Wine List going to Launceston dining institution Stillwater (above).

Category winners were also announced, with Stillwater collecting another award (Best Tasmanian Wine List - Hobart or Launceston), Stanley Wine Bar being recognised by both the judges and the public (Best Tasmanian Small Bar Wine List and People's Choice Tasmanian Wine List) and The Branch Swansea (Best Tasmanian Wine List - Regional).

Black Cow Bistro, which hosted the awards, was highly commended by the judges for its Tasmanian wine list.

"The record number of 16 finalists reflects the high quality of wine lists featuring local wines from around the island," said Wine Tasmania CEO Sheralee Davies.

"We are delighted to see the significant efforts our hospitality venues are making to highlight, promote and support Tasmanian wines.

"We know that people are travelling to Tasmania specifically to experience our exceptional wines and that our wine tourists are staying longer, spending more and travelling into our regional areas to visit cellar doors.

"Being able to enjoy a glass of Tassie wine over a meal is great for both our visitors and supportive locals."

Wine Tasmania also released the new 2026 edition of its Tasmanian Wine Trails publication.

This brochure, concierge map and accompanying online directory serves as the go-to guide for visiting Tasmania’s cellar doors along the North-West, Tamar Valley, East Coast and Southern Wine Trails.

The online Wine Trails can be accessed at https://winetasmania.com.au/wine-trails.

Meet a cookbook you will use again and again

If your household is anything like mine there will be dozens of cookbooks that look great but are rarely used.

Released today, Thai: Anywhere and Everywhere is likely to be an exception to that rule. It belongs in your kitchen not on a coffee table. 

It is the very smart looking new cookbook from MasterChef Australia winner Nat Thaipun, who was also recently appointed a culinary ambassador for Accor Hotels.

This is a cookbook with simple, easy-to-follow midweek recipes and more complex weekend showpieces.

I'm particularly interested in trying some of her Thai twists on classic Anglo dishes like Scotch eggs.

The book is a celebration of the chef's Thai Australian heritage and global culinary adventures, designed to help bring Thai flavours to home kitchens.

The dishes are designed to be made with readily available ingredients and are adaptable to seasonal produce wherever readers are in the world. The instructions are easy to follow. 

From barbecue ideas to one-pot wonders and decadent desserts with an Aussie twist, this really is a tome that will be used more than once or twice.

Thai: Anywhere and Everywhere is also full of practical tips on pantry essentials for Thai enthusiasts, ingredient swaps, and cooking techniques that allow readers to replicate dishes with authentic Thai flavours.

The book is enlivened by photography from award-winning photographer David Loftus, and was designed by award-winning creative director Daniel New (The Whole Fish Cookbook by Josh Niland).

Thai: Anywhere and Everywhere looks good but is also useful: an invitation to explore, experiment, and fall in love with Thai cuisine.

Thaipun has trained in some of the world’s best restaurants, including St. John and Core in London, and hosted sold-out pop-ups at restaurants including Baba’s Place in Sydney and EVETT in Seoul. She is now part of the Vue de Monde team in Melbourne.

Thai: Anywhere and Everywhere is published today by Hardie Grant Books. RRP AU$50, NZ$60.

Visitors to Tasmania flock to cellar doors

Cool-climate Tasmanian wine is very much in vogue right now - as are visits to Tasmanian cellar doors.

The latest Tasmanian Tourism visitor statistics report show that over 300,000 interstate and international visitors dropped into one of the island state's cellar doors during the year to June 2023.

It is the first time that reported cellar door visitation has exceeded 300,000 people, with this segment of visitors spending 40% more than other visitors to Tasmania and representing 24% of all visitors.

Wine Tasmania CEO Sheralee Davies revealed the new data in releasing the new 2024 Tasmanian Wine Trails publication.

The new guide coincides with two major wine festival weekends coming up with the Open Vineyards weekend in Southern Tasmania running from November 3-5, and the Effervesence sparkling wine festival in the north of the state from November 10-12. See https://www.winesouth.com.au/ and https://effervescencetasmania.com/

“Tasmanian cellar doors continue to attract more interstate and international wine lovers every year," Davies says. "This is the highest number of recorded visitors, reflecting the ever-increasing global demand and interest in our exceptional wines.

“When these high-value visitors travel to Tasmania, they spend time in our regional areas, enjoying our broader hospitality and tourism offerings and everything this amazing island has to offer.

“With exceptional quality but reduced wine availability in 2023 [courtesy of Mother Nature], visiting Tasmania and its cellar doors is the best way for people to experience the depth and diversity of our wines, with some wine producers reserving their most sought-after wines exclusively for cellar door visitors.”

The Tasmanian Wine Trails publication is a free guide to the island’s best wine experiences and complementary activities. It is released as a printed A5 publication, an interactive online version and a condensed A3 map.

The Tasmanian Wine Trails booklet profiles four geographic areas – the North West, Tamar Valley, East Coast and Southern wine trails, with information on key cellar doors and complementary experiences along each trail.

The online version can be accessed at www.winetasmania.com.au/wine-trails, while free copies of the print publication are available at visitor information centres and at cellar doors.

Image: Craigie Knowe Vineyard: Wine Tasmania 

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