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Did you know that someone who has an intense and disciplined devotion to wine, enjoys researching and trying new wine, and considers themselves to be a wine savant and connoisseur is referred to as an ‘oenophile’. While most regular wine drinkers would undoubtedly share traits of an oenophile, without the time to become a full-blown, impassioned wine hobbyist, many of us still find it daunting and a little stressful to choose the perfect wine for the occasion at hand. This is especially true when you’re in a rush (late to a mate’s BBQ!) and standing in a store surrounded by literally hundreds of different bottles in an endless array of styles.
Red or white? Local or international? Paired with seafood or steak?
Choosing wine should be a fun and enjoyable experience, and you really don’t need to be an oenophile to match the perfect bottle with the occasion.
The below guide gives you some quick tips on how you can select the perfect wine that is sure to enhance the atmosphere and amp-up the sense of celebration at your next social gathering.
If you are finding wine selection overwhelming, a good place to start your decision-making process is to look at the weather.
Wine can magically bring out the flavour profile of your food and seasonal wine drinking presents an opportunity to share and experience a wider range of varietals and food pairings based on the time of year.
Creating special moments that are a quintessential combination of food, wine and the seasons, will heighten the senses and elevate the mood of the moment. A full-bodied red wine, for example, is delicious with slow-cooked comfort dishes; while refreshing lighter wines, like Sauvignon Blanc, are synonymous with summer sunshine and seafood.
Nepenthe’s collection of wines, sourced from premium vineyards in our unique and diverse cool-climate home in the picturesque Adelaide Hills, includes the perfect varietal for you to enjoy – rain, hail or shine!
Winter can inspire some wonderful choices of wine. You may be outside in front of an open fire catching up with your extended family after enjoying a traditional roast dinner with all the trimmings; you could be in a rustic ski lodge devouring a tray of rich, cheesy lasagne with friends; or you might just be sitting comfy in your trackies binge-watching watching the latest season of The Crown while enjoying a piping hot bowl of hearty lentil stew.
For all these occasions, full-bodied and bold red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz served at room temperature, pair perfectly with rich and heavy, rib-sticking winter dishes. A delicious, oaked and aged Chardonnay is also a fantastic match for winter warmers, especially creamy pasta dishes or baked chicken.
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As the weather begins to chill, it’s a great time to rummage through your cellar and enjoy a lighter-bodied red wine like Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is great to share with friends while grazing on a charcuterie board packed with cold meats, crusty bread and French pate. It’s also a delicious accompaniment to coq au vin (use it in the sauce, too!), mushroom risotto or duck pancakes.
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Rosé is the classic choice to have on hand for sunny, springtime gatherings outdoors. It pairs perfectly with spring vegetables, grilled fish or chicken, or take it along on a picnic with some antipasto and light tangy creamy cheeses like a Brie, Feta or Gruyere. And when the evening still has a little chill in the air, our crisp and peppery Grüner Veltliner is a match made in heaven for traditional Austrian Wiener Schnitzel, as well as spicy Asian dishes.
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When the weather heats up, there is nothing like sharing a bottle of light-bodied, crisp and vivacious chilled white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pino Gris at a backyard BBQ, picnic, or while al fresco dining at your favourite restaurant. These two varietals are the perfect accompaniment for beautiful fresh Australian seafood, and summer salads with tart vinaigrettes and lots of herbs. And nothing says summer fun and frivolity like popping a festive bottle of sparkling wine to get the party started.
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