James Campbell

James loves to travel always on a plane and hustling to be in the pointy end, he claims he has visited 150 cities all over the world and knows the best bar in each of them but who knows… We are slowly getting him to share his secrets with us, one at a time.

44 articles published

TECH > Its electrifying the NKD is a new e-motor bike designed and made in Australia

Fonz moto have been building electric bikes and scooters since 2010 with the early models designed for inner city commuting and looking a lot more like a Vesper than road motorcycles. The 'Arthur' is capable of 85kph and has a range of 130kms. Priced from $4,990 AUD the Arthur is a competitive option for those…

ByJames CampbellJune 1, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Hurley Lodestone Pinot Noir (2021)

I only recently reviewed the 2020 Hurley Lodestone Pinot Noir (see below) which rated 96/100 but as 2023 marks the 21st birthday for Hurley Vineyard and as a big fan of the wines I was extremely keen to see how this release is tasting. As I write this I have not found any other reviews…

ByJames CampbellMay 31, 2023

SKI > JAPAN TRAVEL > JAPAN WHERE TO SKI >

SKI > Nozawa Onsen

Maybe not for everybody but for us it is definitely pretty close. We have been lucky enough to ski in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. We love skiing in Japan for a number of reasons, firstly of course the snow which is abundant and excellent quality, secondly the culture -…

ByJames CampbellMay 30, 2023

EAT EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Casa De Vinos (Melbourne)

Saturday afternoon wandering the streets of South Melbourne looking for the right place to stop for lunch and a glass of wine, Bellota was fully booked and the South Melbourne Markets in full swing (which meant La Central Spanish Bodega was also out of the question). Wandering up Coventry Street we noticed Casa De Vinos…

ByJames CampbellMay 29, 2023

TRAVEL TRAVEL > AUSTRALIA

TRAVEL > Astra Falls Creek is Snow Paradise

Regulars to Falls Creek Ski Resort in Victoria are probably very familiar with Astra, because frankly it is a super stylish hotel that continues to set the standard for snow hotel accomodation. Its not just us saying that they have managed to collect awards for best boutique ski hotel in Australia for the past 7…

ByJames CampbellMay 23, 2023

EAT EAT > SYDNEY

EAT > Parlar Restaurant – Potts Point

Over the years there have been some very fine eateries in Maclay Street, Potts Point. You could slip out of the sleaze of Kings Cross walking down Darlinghurst Road to arrive in the style of Potts Point, eat something delicious and then wind your way back to one of the many late night dens for…

ByJames CampbellMay 20, 2023

EAT EAT > SYDNEY

EAT > Tetsuya’s Restaurant in Sydney CBD is moving – its the End of an Era

Tetsuya Wakuda AO started his restaurant of the same name in a townhouse in Rozelle in 1989 some 34 years ago, it was an immediate hit and he was at the very cutting edge of the Australian culinary scene. His brilliant precision in creating extraordinary dishes that blended fine French food with his Japanese origins…

ByJames CampbellMay 17, 2023

TRAVEL TRAVEL > SPAIN

TRAVEL > The Sights and Tastes of Spectacular Rioja

Just to the south of glamorous San Sebastián and to the south west of the towering Pyrenees Mountains you find the Ebro River. The valley of the Ebro River and its tributaries create the region of 'La Rioja' a part of Spain that is famed for its outstanding wine (predominately Tempranillo), a beautiful region…

ByJames CampbellMay 2, 2023

TRAVEL TRAVEL > NZ WHERE TO SKI >

TRAVEL > The Incredible Magic of Queenstown

As we start to feel the chill of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, plans for the best place for a ski trip are discussed, and a return to Queenstown (in New Zealand South Island) is always a serious contender for best wine and snow holiday. Queenstown in winter is a winter wonderland that should…

ByJames CampbellApril 26, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Chardonnay

WINE > OSSA Chardonnay 2021

THE WINERY Ossa began in 2017 when Rod and Cecile Roberts purchased their 600-hectare farm on the East Coast of Tasmania. The winery is named after Mount Ossa which is in central highlands of Tasmania and is quite a dramatic landmark of dolerite, granite and ice. Parcels of land in this now revered wine growing…

ByJames CampbellApril 25, 2023