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There are more than 200 bottles of wine on offer plus a generous selection of antipasti and Italian classics.
A compact wine bar opened its doors in Sydney’s Martin Place last week, serving 200+ wines and plenty of antipasti options. The Heritage Room is the latest venue from Esper Group, joining its portfolio of restaurants including Rosie Campbell’s, Mille Vini and Rovollo, which opened last year. The 35-seat space is small but mighty, with the venue featuring a rosa marble bar, plush banquet seating, custom artwork and a working wine cellar. It’s here where 200-plus bottles are stored, which have been curated by Head Sommelier Giulia Ceruzzi who joins the team after time at LuMi, The International and Fratelli Paradiso. The sommelier has largely focused on Tuscan wines, with 38 options by the glass available, including Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Chianti Classico.
"For a long time, guests have asked for this flexibility. This is us listening."
After nearly two decades of dinner set menus at Maha in Melbourne, Chef and Owner Shane Delia has introduced an à la carte menu for the first time. The move will see the Middle Eastern restaurant’s Soufra set menu remain, but also gives dinner guests greater flexibility to create their own dining experience. Delia says they have watched Melbourne transform over the last 18 years. “We’ve seen the rise and fall of dining precincts, trends, and fads,” says Delia.
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David Basheer has been re-elected unopposed for a second term as national President of the Australian Hotels Association, the peak body for Australia's hotel and hospitality industry. The third-generation hotelier, who is also the President of AHA South Australia, was first elected national President in September 2025 . Basheer’s entire senior executive team was also re-elected unopposed by members, with long-serving AHA NSW President Scott Leach entering his second term as national Senior Vice-President, and Paul Palmer of AHA NT and Ben Carpenter of AHA Tasmania continuing as National Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer respectively. Basheer and his executive team work closely with both the AHA board and Stephen Ferguson, CEO since 2014.
Speyside single malt distillery The GlenAllachie is returning to Australia for the first time in more than two years, with The Whisky List appointed as official importer and distributor. Founded and led by Master Distiller Billy Walker since 2017 , The GlenAllachie is regarded as one of Scotland’s leading independent distilleries and is known for rich, flavour-forward single malts, sherry cask maturation, and a commitment to bottling at a minimum of 46% ABV, natural colour and without chill filtration. The relaunch follows the brand’s previous Australian distribution through Vanguard Luxury Brands. Oliver Maruda, co-founder of The Whisky List, said The GlenAllachie ticks many of the boxes Australian whisky consumers are searching for.
The Victorian Government has committed $3 million towards a Regional Brewery Fund designed to support beer tourism across the state. Developed in partnership with the Independent Brewers Association, the grant program is designed to boost brewery visitation, with funding to support infrastructure, equipment, accessibility, signage, tours, tastings, family-friendly amenities, and marketing. Jono Outred, Member Engagement Officer at the Independent Brewers Association, said: “With around 147 independent breweries operating in Victoria, indirectly employing around 7,500 people, we know that breweries have created destinations that bring real value to the local economies in regional areas.” The new regional brewery fund was developed in response to the Association’s Grow Victorian Beer Platform launched in March, and is separate to the $1.6 million Drink Victorian program announced in its 2026/27 budget, which included the state’s first dedicated Craft Beer and Cider Strategy .
As part of my ongoing digital series documenting Bourgogne, the birthplace of chardonnay and pinot noir, I have compiled a shortlist of the Côte de Beaune chardonnays I believe present the strongest opportunity for Australia’s drinks trade. The nine wines reviewed below were tasted in-region at the biennial Grands Jours de Bourgogne 2026 trade tasting, and were chosen from the 78 Côte de Beaune wines I reviewed, which itself was a shortlist of a much larger number of wines tasted. It follows my roundup of the best pinot noirs I tasted in the Côte de Beaune region , along with a feature exploring the key sub-regions/appellations of the southern half of the Côte d'Or . The shortlist was chosen first and foremost for quality, but also based on the opportunity each wine presents to retailers and venue operators in Australia. While price-to-quality was the most important consideration, factors such as availability, branding and story, and consistency across both vintages and portfolios were also taken into account. I have also sought to feature a range of AOCs, styles, and price points.
Sachi8 is adding fresh flavour and format innovation to Australia’s competitive ready-to-drink category, releasing Mango Passionfruit Zero Sugar and Strawberry Lime Zero Sugar alongside a new Mixed Zero Sugar 10 Pack. The launch builds on the brand’s core proposition of bold flavour, zero sugar, 8% ABV and 2.4 standard drinks per 375ml can. For retailers, the expansion delivers new news across both four-pack and mixed-pack formats while broadening consumer choice within the growing zero sugar segment. Mango Passionfruit combines luscious mango with lively passionfruit for a tropical profile, while Strawberry Lime pairs ripe strawberry with a tangy citrus finish. Both flavours are available in four-packs and extend a range designed to balance flavour impact with a strong value proposition. The Mixed Zero Sugar 10 Pack brings together five flavours - Pineapple Lime, Lemon Lime, White Peach, Strawberry Lime and Mango Passionfruit with two cans of each. The format gives new drinkers an entry point into the wider portfolio while offering existing consumers greater variety for sharing and social occasions.