We are well and truly into the warmer time of the year now, and my rocket and salad patch is producing a bountiful supply. The lemons are falling off the tree and this leads me to wanting lighter meals and wines to match. The heavier reds and whites can go to the back of my cellar, for drinking next year, and I am now on the hunt for crisp refreshing whites and lighter styles of red wine. I get to taste hundreds of wines each year, and below you will find my go-to, affordable, everyday wines, that are doing it for me. Enjoy!
Some of my recommendations for the warmer summer months (most under $20 per bottle):
La Zona Prosecco NV (King Valley, VIC)
Prosecco makes the sparkling wines for which the Veneto region of Italy is famous. It is also well suited to the King Valley region in Victoria, and Chrismont’s La Zona Prosecco is one of Australia’s finest. Subtle green apple aromas, a crisp clean zesty palate of apple, melon and delicate bubbles, freshly shucked oysters—the perfect marriage.
Vidal Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (NZ)
The 2015 won numerous awards around the globe, including three International Trophies. The 2016 follows on in the same vein. Made by New Zealand’s most awarded winery, Villa Maria, this wine is an amazing value for money! Gooseberry and guava notes on the palate lead to a long refreshing finish. Grilled scallops, please!
Pasqua Pinot Grigio 2015 (Italy)
Light and crisp with lovely notes of apples and citrus, this wine is slightly lower in alcohol (12%), yet packs loads of flavour into every glass. Close your eyes and you could be forgiven for thinking you are holidaying in the Mediterranean.
Serve with char-grilled octopus.
Pikes “Traditionale” Riesling 2016 (Clare Valley, SA)
A generous and immensely enjoyable wine, filling the mouth with lime, lemon and apple flavours, perfectly braced with acidity. Now in it’s 32nd consecutive vintage! Thai green chicken curry is a perfect match.
La Vieille Ferme Rose 2015 (Rhone, France)
The red wine for white wine drinkers, or the white wine for red wine drinkers—whatever way you approach this style of wine is up to you. Such a versatile wine, this pale pink rose has a lovely nose of rose petals and citrus fruits. It is great value and a perfect introduction to rose. It is great with all manner of Asian cuisine and summer lunches. Yet, it always screams out to me, “Pan-fried salmon!” I love it!
RockBare Chardonnay 2015 (McLaren Vale, SA)
Sourced from the cooler regions of McLaren Vale, this great drop is made in small batches of only the purest fruit—laden with crisp, natural acidity, a lick of spice from French oak, and a nutty complexity from lees stirring.
BBQ chicken salad, please.
Josef Cromy Pepik 2015 Pinot Noir (Tasmania)
This easy drinking and elegant wine is packed full of Tasmanian goodness. Ripe dark cherry aromas lead to a spicy palate full of bright red cherries and raspberries, with subtle juicy tannins and a lingering finish. Drink with BBQ lamb chops, good friends and philosophical conversation.
S.C. Pannell Tempranillo/Touriga 2015 (McLaren Vale & Barossa Valley, SA)
Tempranillo and Touriga are indigenous to the warm, dry Iberian Peninsula of Spain and Portugal. They are ideally suited to the South Australian climate, and Steve Pannell is the master winemaker embracing these varieties in Australia. A lovely balance between the red fruit characteristics of Tempranillo, and the darker plum pudding fruits of Touriga, this juicy medium-bodied red wine should be present at your next BBQ. The future of Australian winemaking is represented in this bottle! This goes well with tapas and cheese.
By Alfie Pardoe
