The crew, which includes Vampire Diaries stars Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley, are all connected to Sydney friends Tim Holmes a Court, Kate McMahon and Daimon Downey, who organise the annual Catalina New Year's Day Arrival party. The invite-only bash, described by one insider as ''harder to get into than a nun's undies'', has grown in its three years into a massive double bill that starts on New Year's Eve aboard floating harbour party spot The Island. Stars such as Dorff come just to be there.

Dorff led the festivities at both - riding the shoulders of revellers, dancing up a storm and flirting furiously with Dobrev and several female guests.

''He was going for it big time,'' said a fellow guest. ''He flew into Sydney to party, and he didn't disappoint.''

The party posse's inner circle reports that Dorff is emphatically single. And if he does hook up while here, it probably won't be with the likes of Dobrev.

He recently told a German magazine that despite having romanced Reese Witherspoon and Milla Jovovich, he's quit dating actresses. He claims they are ''annoying'' and only talk about work.

Les Hill's crush on winemaking

Actor Les Hill wasn't sure if art was imitating life or the other way round when he was offered a lead role in Crushed, a movie set in NSW wine country.

The House Husbands and Underbelly star has been quietly working on his own wine label, Seven Sundays. The range of Hunter Valley-made drops, owned by Hill and friend David Flowers, has been praised by wine buffs and has just begun to take off in overseas markets such as China and Brazil.

When Hill was asked just before Christmas to play a Mudgee winemaker in Crushed, he wondered if his grape qualifications had helped. But it was pure coincidence.

''The Crushed team had no idea I was involved with wine,'' he tells S while on a break in Far North Queensland before returning to filming in early January. ''It was an unexpected irony.''

Crushed is a whodunit set in a winery, and also stars Sarah Bishop (Deadbeat Dads), Roxane Wilson (Home and Away), Aaron Glenane (Drift) and Jamie Irvine (Anzac Girls). The independent flick, produced by writer-director Megan Riakos, lead actor Bishop and LA-based producer Robbie Miles follows the story of Ellia, who returns to her family's winery when her dad is murdered there.

''My character, winemaker David Rose, is a suspect,'' Hill says. ''It's a gripping script. It keeps you guessing all the way through.''

During filming he's been busy picking up tips from the chief winemaker at Mudgee's Burrundulla winery, the Crushed location.

''Seven Sundays has been a huge learning curve for me,'' he says. ''When we started four years ago we had no idea what we were doing. If I'd known then what I know now I wouldn't have got into wine. But now I wouldn't change it for the world.''

We look forward to seeing Hill and crew toasting the release of Crushed with a drop of Seven Sundays sparkling white.

As soon as shooting wraps, Hill is off to LA for pilot season, his first shot at the US market.

King delivers an heir

He's known as Sydney's king of New Year's Day, so there couldn't have been a better date for restaurateur Maurice Terzini to welcome a new baby.

On January 1, as Terzini's restaurant was setting up for its famed annual NYD party, the Bondi Icebergs Bar and Dining owner celebrated the arrival of a son.

Cesar Harold Terzini was born at the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick in the morning, successfully distracting his dad from preparing to host international celebs and Sydney's A-list at the 12th Annual Icebergs New Year's Day Party.

Terzini's partner, fashion designer Lucy Hinckfuss, was in labour on New Year's Eve when S caught up with the anxious dad-to-be as he hovered near Hinckfuss' room, waiting for the overdue bub's debut.

''I can't say much right now as I just want everyone to be safe and sound and everything to go well,'' said the fiercely private Terzini. ''The timing is pretty interesting, though.''

Hours later, little Cesar was out and taking his first look at the world as just a couple of kilometres away, his dad's restaurant was filling up with the likes of Adrien Brody, Victoria's Secret model Erin Heatherton and football players Mitchell Pearce and Heath Grundy.

The Icebergs NYD party, first started by Terzini and his friend Black Angus from Sneaky Sound System in 2002, has become established as the hottest ticket in town to celebrate new year.

This time, though, no celebrity could compete for the boss's attention with the most important VIP of the day: baby Cesar. S sends congratulations to the Terzinis.

Co-stars keep it coy

Are they or aren't they is the question preoccupying fans of US hit TV series The Vampire Diaries, as rumoured couple and co-stars Paul Wesley and Phoebe Tonkin roam Sydney together.

The pair were doing little to dispel the goss at the exclusive New Year's Day bash at Bondi Icebergs, spending plenty of time up close and personal - but Wesley was keeping it coy when he refused to allow photographers to shoot him with Tonkin. Perhaps he was sparing the feelings of ex-wife Torrey DeVitto. Wesley's divorce from the Pretty Little Liars actress was finalised just before Christmas after a two-year marriage.

At Icebergs, local girl Tonkin maintained a polite silence about her relationship with Wesley, but insiders tell S things are hotting up.

It doesn't appear they're letting the seven-year age gap (she's 24, he's 31) stand in the way of some quality time together. And fans are glued to Instagram for the next photo of the pair at play with pal and Tonkin's The Originals co-star Nathaniel Buzolic. He's already posted shots of the three at the beach. Feeling like a third wheel, Nate?

Morsels

It was set to be the newest, most glam New Year's Eve bash in town - until the posh people of Palm Beach said no. Cranky Fins, a cool new bar and restaurant at Palmie from the team behind celeb-riddled Bondi hotspot Bucket List, was ready to host a glittering NYE party with a pretty guest list and flowing cocktails. But residents of the wealthy hideaway complained, and the celebration was cancelled at the last minute. ''It's a shame,'' said a rep for Cranky Fins. ''But you have to respect the neighbours up here.''

While the CBD was party central on New Year's Eve, bar tsar Justin Hemmes snuck away from the action to visit his new baby, Manly Wharf restaurant Papi Chulo. The Latin American-inspired eatery officially opened with minimal fanfare on NYE, and Hemmes spent time at his new favourite spot to make sure all was well. ''I love it over here,'' he says. ''The people are genuinely pleased to have us. It's been the warmest welcome I've ever had for a new venue. I was brought up around beaches and it's like coming home.''

ac@amycooper.id.au
Twitter: @CocktailAmy