Food glorious food. That’s our motto this issue. At the time of going to press, we have been enduring some stormy weather here in Sydney and our friends in Newcastle, the Central Coast and the Hunter Valley have copped a real battering. This kind of weather can put a dampener on every activity, except eating. And what better time to huddle up at home and cook big pots of warming, comfort food.

Our cover story highlights several regions in NSW that are leading the way in great quality food and wine. While the Hunter region is well-known as NSW’s premier wine destination, there are others like Mudgee, Orange and Cowra that have quietly built a reputation over the years for premium wine. And then there’s Port Macquarie, the surprise contender that’s got in on the wine act. But all areas are more than equal to the task of turning out innovative, award-winning cuisine using fresh, local produce. So when the weather calms down, grab your designated driver and enjoy what’s on offer.

We receive many letters each month from readers commenting on how often they see other drivers flout road rules, as well as the general lack of courtesy shown on our roads. Some we print in the Torque Back section below but lately there have been too many to publish. So we got them all together and compiled a list of top five behaviours that make you see red on the road, and a few extra ones that almost made the top five. Check out our 'Driving me crazy' story and add your comments to our blog.

Another topic that is causing lots of confusion is what you should expect when you get your car serviced. For our guide on car servicing click here, where you’ll also find details of NRMA MotorServe. I recently got my car serviced there and, while you might say I’m biased, I must say they are the only mechanics who didn’t treat me like I was an idiot just because I’m a female.

Needra D'Souza Editor in Chief