Wine suggestions for the festive season
Wine suggestions for the pre-festive season
At this time of year there are plenty of-festive season gatherings with friends and family. Occasions range from casual afternoon drinks, evening BBQs to dinner parties so here’s a selection to get you in the mood, including a new beer...
Step Rd Sparkling Chard/Pinot Noir NV - buy this wine
Superb bubbles to simply celebrate life! From Langhorne Creek with aromas of fresh green apples and wild strawberries with the essence of croissant. Upfront fruit flavours with a creamy mid palate and crisp acid finish.
Enjoy: Share with friends on its own or sip with seafood, especially shellfish.
Angoves Red Belly Black Chardonnay 2007 - buy this wine
From the Riverland, Limestone Coast and McLaren Vale, this wine is bright pale straw with green hints, and shows abundant white peach and citrus on the nose. The palate is soft and luscious with nectarine and lemon flavours being supported by spicy vanillin oak.
Enjoy: with scallop kebabs from the BBQ
Grant Burge Thorn Eden Valley Riesling 09 - buy this wine
This wine is pale straw in colour, with youthful green highlights. It has aromas of brown lime and subtle lemon with floral, spice and mineral characters. The palate is well rounded and shows similar flavours of florals and lime, with crisp acidity leading to a fresh, dry finish. This wine shows excellent balance, integration and length.
Enjoy: with a fresh seafood salad, crayfish or rock lobster preferably!
Society Tasmanian Pinot Rose 2009 - buy this wine
Not many Pinot Roses can be found on the market today and there's a good reason - they are not easy to perfect and only a few producers can do it well. This one is made by esteemed Tasmanian winemaker Julian Alcorso. Lovely acid and strawberry fruit tinkle on the palate and the finish is dry and long. Cool climate conditions give elegance and intensity of flavour to a wine style that shouldn't be overlooked.
Enjoy: on a casual afternoon on the deck, discussing holiday plans with friends grazing on cheese, dips and crackers.
KWV Lifestyle Pinotage 2008 - buy this wine
Pinotage is South Africa's signature variety. Created in 1925 it's a natural cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. Upfront plum and raspberry fruit flavours with some fruitcake, violets and toffee. An ideal red for the warmer months.
Enjoy: in the late afternoon sun with smoked chicken or quail.
Craggy Range Aroha Pinot Noir 2006 - buy this wine
Craggy Range is up there as one of NZ finest - a stunning Pinot! Black cherries and savoury notes are evident in the glass. The palate is soft with flavours of black cherries forest floor and spice. It has complexity and length and the soft tannins give a smooth mouth feel and finish. This wine shows why Martinborough in NZ has such a great reputation with Pinot Noir.
Enjoy: with close friends and slowly at this price!
D’Arenberg Stump Jump Red GSM 08 - buy this wine
From McLaren Vale in SA. Could this be the perfect wine for everyday consumption? It goes very close. Berry fruits from plums to red currant, with some savoury body and texture from the Mourvedre , the Stump Jump would be superb at double the price!' The Canberra Times, November 2007.
Enjoy: along with marinated eye fillet from the BBQ.
Brothers in Arms 6th Gen Res Cab 06 - buy this wine
Absolute pedigree. A single estate Cabernet from the Metala vineyard in Langhorne Creek that dates back six generations - wow! First plantings date back to 1891, making the vines close to 120 years old. Intensity is experienced at every level. Dark berry and savoury flavours can be chewed through, it's big, flavoursome and in one word a masterpiece.
Enjoy: with friends around the dinner table digging into the last of the Spring roast lamb
John Boston Premium Lager - buy this beer
100% natural with no preservatives or additives. Prime Australian malted barley is paired with premium local hops. The result is a well balanced and highly drinkable beer that’s medium bodied and malty, with a refreshing crisp bitterness. Noble hops are added late in the brewing process to further balance the beer, giving it a floral, slightly herbal and spicy hop finish...
Enjoy: with pre-dinner/BBQ canapés or fresh seafood
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d'Arenberg Wines
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