Whether your celebration is Christmas, Hanukkah, summer holidays or raising a glass to the end of 2020, it’s a special time worthy of a dive into the cellar to dust off the ‘good’ stuff. Drinks Trade Online spoke to Australia and New Zealand’s top winemakers to reveal what the experts will crack open this festive season.
Katherine Brown, Brown Family Wine Group
This Christmas I am drinking light and fresh style reds, think a young Nero d’Avola, Gamay or a slightly chilled Pinot Noir. These wines that have not seen time in oak, are full of red berry and fruit freshness, perfect match with our family tradition of duck confit on Christmas eve. My wine of choice: Innocent Bystander 2020 Nero d’Avola.
Richard Mattner, Pepperjack Wines
We’ll start Christmas Day with a Pepperjack Sparkling Shiraz with brunch (pancakes with fresh fruit and cream), then with the main meal – roast turkey with roast potato and veggies – we’ll open an old Wolf Blass Black label from the cellar and Pepperjack Grenache. Homemade apple crumble for dessert with a Wynns Pedro or a glass of Mr Pickwick Tawny, delicious!
Steph Dutton, Penfolds Wines
Spending time with friends and family will be appreciated that little bit more this year as the festive season rolls around, and RWT is often shared due to its opulence and aromatic allure. Memories are made, occasions are marked, and generosity is plentiful.
Sue Hodder, Wynns Wines
I look forward to enjoying one of my favourite pairings this Christmas – our 2018 Wynns Black Label Shiraz with BBQ prawns and a chilli ginger sauce.
Spring Timlin, Squealing Pig
For Christmas lunch, we’ll be sharing New Zealand Paua, thinly sliced and flash-fried with butter, served with fresh rocket and a squeeze of lemon. This wine matches perfectly with the Squealing Pig Sauvignon Blanc, with its bright citrus characters, and balanced acidity – delightfully refreshing on a summer’s day!
Clare Dry, Seppelt Wines
This festive season my family and I will enjoy our traditional Roast Turkey lunch, alongside a glass of chilled Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz – a classic Christmas pairing with a uniquely Australian twist.
Tom Carson, Yabby Lake
The 2010 Yabby Lake Late Disgorged Cuvee Nina, this wine has been on lees for ten years and was recently disgorged and released to our database. It just looks incredible at the moment, so complex, so fine and so powerful, we didn’t add any dosage, so it’s bone dry, but extremely fresh and zesty, a great way to start the lunch. Next is 2018 Oakridge Local Vineyard Series Willow Lake Chardonnay, a winery at the top of their game, old vines in deft hands, a super fine sophisticated Australian Chardonnay stunning with the seafood. 2013 S C Pannell Adelaide Hills Syrah, the Jimmy Watson winner from 2014. I still have a few tucked away in the cellar. Classic cool- grown Syrah in the hands of one of Australia’s best, seven years old, just hitting its straps. Finally the 2017 S C Guillard Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Réniard, a very traditional producer making stunning Burgundies from vines planted in 1950, 2017 is a beautifully balanced wine that is at once fine and detailed but concentrated and brooding.
Vanya Cullen, Cullen Wines
I will be enjoying the 2018 Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay paired with abalone followed with our Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon with roasted vegetables. Oh, and the 2007 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc with oysters, if I can get them.
Ben Cane, Cape Mentelle
Heading to the Queensland tropics in the wet season for Christmas, I see copious amounts of fresh seafood washed down with crisp white wine in my future! Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon is just the ticket; maybe a little Cape Mentelle Chardonnay for that citrus laced ceviche on the beach!
More to come next week.
