Lynnette Hudson, an experienced winemaker and wine advisor, knows a thing or two about how to impress with wine. Here she's created her inaugural selection of wines to help you serve up the perfect evening!
Bubbles always creates a happy mood, and nothing says a celebration, like Champagne -
Pol Roger Brut NV
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier
Taste: Powerful and attractive nose, the palate is crisp yet balanced by a creamy rich texture.
Best with: An aperitif with canapes or fish/seafood
Style: Crisp, dry white wine with bubbles. View here.
Alternatively, keeping to a budget but want to have fun and set the mood with bubbles -
Sentio Prosecco Extra Dry
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Variety: Glera
Taste: Fresh, clean and fruity, great drinking.
Best with: Canapes
Style: Fruity, white wine with bubbles. View here.
Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay 2017
Country: NZ
Region: Kumeu, Auckland
Variety: Chardonnay
Taste: Consistently NZ's best Chardonnay producer. rivals the best of Burgundy, France (the home of Chardonnay). Rich, mouth filling with a refreshing finish, ultimately drinkable.
Best with: Seafood and white meats.
Style: A dry white wine of medium body. View here.
Belcolle Barbera D'Alba 2016
Country: Italy
Region: Piedmont, gorgeous region, a must visit when travelling to Italy.
Variety: Barbera
Taste: Lots of bright, juicy fruit; boysenberries with hints of soy sauce. Soft tannins but finishes strongly with refreshing acidity.
Best with: Pork and duck or serve with cheese at the end of the meal.
Style: Brightly crimson coloured wine with a structure similar to an intense Pinot Noir.
Torbreck Old Vine GSM 2016
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa, South Australia
Variety: Grenache, Shiraz, Mouvredre (sometimes called Mataro in Australia)
Taste: Spicy complexity on the nose, generous round strawberry fruit from the Grenache, tannin and acidity from the Shiraz and dark savoury fruit from the Mouvredre.
Best with: Gamey meats.
Style: A full bodied red wine showing a finely judged blend of these famous French grapes. View here.
Concha Y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Merlot 2015
Country: Chile
Region: Rapel Valley
Variety: Merlot
Taste: A rich, full bodied wine, generous rounded fruit with lots of ripe plum and dark chocolate flavours.
Best with: Red meat, especially casseroles and stews.
Style: A full bodied, dry red wine with round, mouth filling fruit. View here.
Piedra Negra Gran Malbec 2011
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Variety: Malbec
Taste: Exotic aromas; very perfumed notes, a full bodied wine with velvety tannins. Now 8 years old and showing some complexity due to bottle age.
Best with: A big piece of steak as Argentina is the home of steak, hence a wine to match.
Style: Deeply coloured, voluminous, fruity red wine. View here.
We've enlisted the help of Lynnette Hudson, an experienced winemaker and wine advisor, to pull together a Reserve Selection of wines.
Lynnette has worked in numerous wineries across the world, and is not only experienced in making wine, but knows a thing or two about how it tastes!
