Has it actually been ten months since Christmas? I know as you get older, the months seem to get shorter, and time flies by, but here we are looking at November with the Race that stops the Nation, followed by Christmas and then the New Year. Wow, it’s time to start planning the drinks to stock up on to make these events special.
Champagnes
Champagnes come in different styles, but Brut is the most popular, and Australia, being the sixth largest product consumer, is always a great choice. The Melbourne Cup, Christmas and New Year can only get better with a glass of bubbles to get the celebrations underway. My favourites include Mumm, Piper Heidsieck, Tattinger or Moet, Chandon, and Veuve Clicquot. Right now, Liquorland has Royal Montcourt Brut Grand Cuvee at $40, and that price should get the party going.
Sparkling Wine.
The Australian equivalent to Champagne is the House of Arras in Tasmania, and nowadays, the costs are equivalent to Champagne. However, winemaker Ed Carr makes this possible if you want the best and prefer to support the local industry. For something from left field, serve a Seppelt Sparkling Shiraz; this could be the day’s talking point, available in non-vintage or vintage, an absolutely excellent wine. There are a number of Sparkling Shiraz on the market, a good alternative with the turkey at Christmas, and it’s an Australian classic made by a Frenchman using Methode Champenoise in the 1800’s.
New Zealand and Australian Sauvignon Blancs
The perfect wine to enjoy on a hot summer’s day, especially with shellfish such as oysters natural with a sprinkling of lemon juice over them. A recipe of ours entails covering each oyster with a slice of smoked salmon, a dob of sour cream, a topping of caviar and finishing with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Right now, Liquorland has The Ned and Rapaura Springs on special. BWS have Cape Campbell 2 for $24 and Kim Crawford 2 for $30 Australian Sauvignon Blancs are totally different to New Zealand wine and are more of a classic dry white style; try a Sauvignon Blanc from The Adelaide Hills or Margaret River; again, any food that carries a lemon dressing will suit. As with the New Zealand wines, these wines don’t particularly age well and are best drank young and zesty, so anything with a 2022 vintage and 2023 vintage will be drinking well. If you can find Wicks Estate at Dan Murphys, you will be surprised it is a very good wine; BWS also have Nepenthe Adelaide Hills at $19 and an old classic Western Australian blend, Evans and Tate Classic Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc at $16.
Riesling Australian
Riesling offers a wine style at prices that are probably not much more than twenty years ago, and because of the citrus characters of the wine, matching them with oysters with a lemon dressing or almost any white fish dish and chicken is a perfect match. Riesling grows well in every State regardless of climate. However, The Clare Valley, Eden Valley, and Barossa Valley in South Australia, plus a very good one from The Coonawarra with the Wynns Coonawarra Riesling, The Great Southern in Western Australia is another area to look for. Other favourites that can be found locally are Jim Barry ‘W’, Jim Barry Watervale $20, Yalumba Y series $10 and Taylors Clare Valley $16.
Chardonnay
Still the most planted white wine grape variety in Australia, it produces many great wines and grows well in every State. Jacobs Creek Double Barrel Chardonnay is a good choice.
Fiano, Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Vermentino
These are fairly new varieties worth a place on the table for lunch or dinner. They offer a difference from the more popular wines and are talking points about which wines tend to be.
Cabernet Sauvignon
This grape variety matches most red meat dishes, especially roast beef and steak. It also blends well with Merlot. The best regions for this grape are the Coonawarra and Margaret River. Taylors Clare Valley Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon and Wynn’s Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon are a couple that will grace the table.
Shiraz
Australia’s favourite son, there is a style to suit everyone. They range from medium-bodied to full-bodied and are priced to match your wallet. It is grown everywhere, but the best regions are the Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale, and The Clare Valley.
Taylors Jaraman Clare Valley Shiraz is as good as it gets.
Cheers.
Philip Arlidge [email protected] Eduardo Galeano
We are all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine. Anon. (or Philip Arlidge) Life is too short to drink bad wine.