June has arrived, the cold has set in, and suddenly we all have opinions about soup. Welcome to our winter shopping guide. We’ve been testing some genuinely good things lately, a few that surprised us, a few that confirmed exactly what we hoped, and we’re ready to share our picks. This is not a list of things we were handed and told to like. This is what we’ve actually been using. You’re welcome.
Never Lose Your Keys Again – Laser Mini Smart Tag
Winter means coats, bags, and layers, and more opportunities to lose things. I’ve been clipping the Laser Mini Smart Tag onto my keys for the past few weeks and it has already saved me from one full-blown, running-late, where-are-my-KEYS panic spiral. It works seamlessly with Apple’s Find My app, the same one already on your iPhone, so there’s nothing new to learn. No new passwords, no new accounts, no new reason to cry. It’s about the size of a small coin, utterly lightweight, and attaches to anything with a keyring loop. The built-in beeper lets you find it if it’s nearby, and if you’ve left it somewhere further afield, Find My shows the last known location. Battery life is rated at about a year on a standard CR2032, which you can replace yourself. It’s IPX7 water resistant too, so a rainy winter dash to the car won’t hurt it. It’s also, and I cannot stress this enough, fantastic for dogs. If you have a greyhound, you already know that “recall” is a concept they find deeply theoretical. Clip one of these to the collar and suddenly your iPhone knows exactly where your hound has bolted to. Peace of mind, for $14.95. At that price, frankly, get two. Buy here, $14.95.
The Rice Cooker That Does Double Duty – Midea 5L Induction Rice Cooker
Let me be upfront: this is not the fastest rice cooker on the market. Even on Quick Cook, the Midea 5L Induction Rice Cooker clocks in at just over 20 minutes, compared to some of the cheaper models that’ll have your rice done in 10. So if you’re the kind of person who starts cooking rice after you’re already hungry, this will test you. But if what you actually care about is rice that tastes like rice, properly cooked, every single grain, this is your machine. The induction heating works from all directions, not just the bottom, and you can genuinely taste the difference. It’s the kind of rice that makes you feel like you know what you’re doing, even if you absolutely don’t. The thing I love most, though, is the steamer. While the rice is doing its thing, you can load up the steamer tray and have your vegetables done at the same time. One appliance, one moment of effort, a full meal, and zero excuses not to eat your greens. Buy at Bing Lee, $169.
The Coffee Collab We Didn’t Know We Needed – The Three Thousands x Griffiths Bros
Griffiths Bros is the nation’s oldest coffee roaster. The Three Thousands is Melbourne’s hottest gaming studio. On paper, this collaboration makes about as much sense as socks with sandals. In practice, it absolutely slaps. The range has two blends and they couldn’t be more different, which is exactly how it should be. If you want something to ease you into the morning like a warm hug, go Laneway, a light-medium roast with milk chocolate, candied nuts and toffee. Smooth, sweet, and frankly quite likeable. But I went straight for the After Dark, a dark roast with notes of dark chocolate, cocoa and roasted nuts. I was not prepared for how good it would smell. I could have inhaled it like a perfume, it was that rich. Standing over the AeroPress at 7am, deeply sniffing ground coffee like a golden retriever at a barbecue. No regrets. The flavour delivered on every promise the aroma made, and the AeroPress method is so easy it’s almost embarrassing. If you haven’t tried it yet, winter is absolutely the time. The AeroPress Pink is also part of this collection and frankly it’s a gorgeous thing to have sitting on your bench. Both blends from $18, AeroPress Pink $99.95 at griffithsbros.com.au.
The Loo Roll That Made Me Smile – Who Gives a Crap Splash Edition
Yes, we’re reviewing toilet paper. No, we’re not sorry. The Splash Edition from Who Gives a Crap is filled to the brim with mermaids, sea monsters, adorable oysters and even a deep sea disco, each roll individually illustrated by artist @aley.wild. I loved the beach scenes. There’s something completely joyful about opening the box and finding all these beautiful little illustrations, plus something deeply unhinged about framing a loo roll as a collectible. And yet, here we are. Beyond the art, the product itself is excellent. 100% bamboo, double-length rolls, extra cushy 3-ply, and plastic free. And the real splash? 50% of profits are donated to help build toilets to keep waterways clean (and floater-free). A limited edition with a purpose. Snap one up before it sets sail. 48 rolls for $68, or subscribe for $58, at whogivesacrap.org.
The Chardonnay That Earns Its Place on the Table – Scarborough Wine Co.
There are wineries that make Chardonnay. And then there’s Scarborough Wine Co., a Hunter Valley family who looked at their land in the 1980s, ripped out all the Shiraz, and said: right, it’s Chardonnay or nothing. Bold call. Correct call. The first vintage was 1987, made in an actual garage. Thirty-something years later they are one of the most recognised names in the Hunter Valley and the Yellow Label Chardonnay is practically a NSW institution. The Yellow Label is where I’d start anyone who tells me they “don’t really drink Chardonnay.” It is rich and creamy with stone fruit and a lick of butterscotch, aged 12 months in French oak and absolutely built for a cold night and a roast chicken. This is not a wine that hides. It commits to the bit and it tastes great. But if you want to go further, The Obsessive is a single-vineyard expression with more power and a longer oak maturation. The name is earned. And then there’s Keepers of the Flame, the most interesting of the range to me. It’s a small-parcel, limited-edition wine made by the next generation of the Scarborough family, Jerome, Sally and Liz, collaborating across viticulture, marketing and winemaking. Each vintage is slightly different, shaped by the season and whatever parcel of fruit looked especially good that year. It’s elegant where The Obsessive is powerful, and it’s the kind of wine that makes you want to read the back label. Shop the full Chardonnay range at scarboroughwine.com.au.
Stay warm, stay fed, and remember: winter is not a punishment. It’s just summer with better excuses. And if you missed our Good Summer Guide, we forgive you.
