Consider your BYOs sorted for the season.
We’re well and truly at the party end of the year, which means we’re drafting up our out-of-office auto-replies and catch-ups are in full swing. Even if you tend to dodge the season’s big celebrations, these long, warm days are made for hanging out with friends – preferably outdoors, thank you very much La Niña. And there’s surely no better way to complete these moments than with great food and drinks. So, what should you pack in your go-bag this season?
With summer in the air, it’s all about light, zesty dishes, so we’re chasing wines that won’t drown out what we’re eating. And with the temperature rising, these wines need a high refreshment factor, too. For a quick guide to some of the best wines for summer – including five brand-new releases – read on.
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When life gives you lemons
It’s dry, fresh and full of citrus – what more could you want from a summer wine? If you also love a bargain, it’s time to explore riesling. Don’t let its reputation as a sweet wine keep you away – so many of our homegrown styles are deliciously dry. From South Australia’s Clare Valley, the Jim Barry Nurses Range Riesling is a lovely new classic example. And thanks to the winery’s partnership with The McGrath Foundation, proceeds from your purchase will help fund specialist breast cancer nurses.
For the ultimate seasonal food match, oysters are right up there. Thanks to the variety’s lime and lemon notes, it’s brilliant with anything that demands a squeeze of citrus. Seafood is excellent, as are many lime-drizzled Mexican dishes, especially those with a kick of chilli.
Summer in a glass
With a moreish salty finish, vermentino is a serious contender for capping off a day at the beach. Salt-licked and sun-kissed, vermentino is originally from Italy, but it’s proving to be another tough grape that thrives in our own warmer regions. Case in point, the Tread Softly Vermentino is the latest addition to this label’s moderate-alcohol range. With an ABV of 9.9%, this lively drop is packed with fresh lemon, apple and melon flavours, and just the right hint of spice. Need another reason to try it? For every six bottles sold, a native tree is planted in Western Australia – they’re on their way to a million.
Vermentino’s classic food match is sardines (it hails from Sardinia, after all), but almost any grilled fish will shine against this wine. With lifted fresh fruit flavours, vermentino can also go head-to-head with grilled light meats or vegetables, too. Time to crack out the barbecue.
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Tickled pink
Dry, pale pink rosés continue to punch above their weight, especially when it comes to keeping a crowd happy. For this reason, we’re excited to have the new Brim & Bloom Grenache Rosé in our hot little hands. If you like your rosés crisp, with berry and floral aromas, and juicy red fruit flavours, this bottle is our pick for when the group gets together this sunny season.
It helps that rosé is also immensely food friendly across the spectrum of flavours. It works just as well with barbecued veg and meats as it does with salads and seafood, but we think it’s truly in its happy place when next to charcuterie. Jamon’s never looked so good.
Hello sunshine
Summer’s long, al fresco lunches call for lively, refreshing wines, and sauvignon blanc more than fits the bill. With its typically showy fruit flavours – think passionfruit and gooseberry – sav is an ideal warm-weather wine. But a great non-alcoholic sauvignon blanc? That’s a win-win for all those long, sunny afternoons. Enter the Today for Tomorrow Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. These guys are working to deliver all the flavour, texture and terroir distinction you would expect from a premium sauvignon blanc out of New Zealand’s famed Marlborough region – just without the alcohol. It’s not just grape juice, either – the wine goes through all the same production steps as a regular sav, with the added final step of dealcoholisation to remove the alcohol content.
When it comes to dish ideas, sauvignon blanc is one of the few wines that works well with the season’s fresh greens. This bottle, with its hints of fresh, green tropical and citrus fruits, is crying out to be joined by a summery herb-filled salad and a plate of grilled asparagus.
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