As summer is just around the corner, it’s time to prepare for the most iconic get-together in Australia: The summer barbeque with friends and family. Whether you enjoy a nice juicy steak, some succulent sausages, fresh prawns or a refreshing caesar salad to cool off, there always will be a spot for a bottle of wine to share with everyone. Here are some tips and wine pairings for traditional Aussie barbeque foods to liven up and impress everyone.
What Red Wines Pair With What Foods?
No Aussie barbeque is complete without a variety of classic barbeque meats. Pairing succulent and juicy red meats with bold, robust red wine varieties, such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot has always been the safe and smart choice, since the more pronounced and tannic a wine is, the better it counteracts the fatty meat to release the juicy goodness of the pairing. For the next upcoming family barbeque, we highly recommend the Bold McLaren Vale ‘Alasdair’ Shiraz and the hybrid ‘Wulver’ Shiraz to steal the show with.
Alasdair Shiraz: Rich and Flavourful
The McLaren Vale Shiraz is well-known for it’s often bold and powerful variety, and the Alasdair Shiraz is no exception to this. If you are a huge fan of bold Shiraz’s and smoky steaks or lamb roasts, this is a match made in heaven. The Alasdair Shiraz's deep plum and blackberry notes, with subtle touches of spice and vanilla, paired with smoky BBQ meats enrich the flavours to leave a mouth-watering sensation after every bite and sip.
Wulver Shiraz: Bold and Adventurous
For those who enjoy the Shiraz that the Hunter Valley is known for will find ‘The Wulver’ Shiraz to be the perfect fit in their BBQ meal. Enjoy notes velvety tannins with ripe red cherries and red currants as well as the classic Hunter earthy finish in this wine are a stand-out on their own, but when combined with grilled steaks or succulent sausages, this combo makes an amazing barbeque that more amazing.
What White Wines Pair With What Foods?
If you or other family members and friends are not big red wine drinkers or fancy some grilled chicken or fresh prawns instead, don’t worry, we have you covered as well. When it comes to poultry and seafood pairings, white wines, like Prosecco, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and many others, are the choice for their high acidity, zesty and refreshing flavours that complement the aforementioned foods. In particular, we suggest offering the crisp ‘Will O the Wisp’ Prosecco and the vibrant Saltire Sauvignon Blanc.
‘Will O the Wisp’ Prosecco: Crisp, Sparkling Goodness
There is no better way to beat the heat this summer than relaxing with a glass of crisp, zesty Prosecco at the next family barbeque, and the ‘Will O the Wisp’ Prosecco goes above and beyond to do the job. With refreshing green apple and crunchy pear characteristics and high acidity to give that little bit of a ‘zing’ at the end, it's no wonder why poultry and fresh seafood and prawns complement this beautiful wine so well.
Saltire Sauvignon Blanc: Zesty and Vibrant
For the Sauv Blanc enthusiasts, the Aussie summer is already the perfect time to enjoy this variety, so why not bring it to the barbeque and show off its amazing flavours. With notes of tropical passionfruit, gooseberry and undertones of white peach and melon, the Saltire Sauvignon Blanc alone is already refreshing and zesty, so combining it with grilled chicken and seafood like prawns or fish is only going to make this popular variety the talk of the barbeque.
With these amazing recommendations, the next big get-together has never been so anticipated. Just remember, when planning your next big barbeque with relatives and friends, these three tips will guarantee you will be the host every time this summer:
- For juicy red meats like steak, sausage, ribs and lamb, pair them with bold, powerful red wines.
- For light and fresh seafood and poultry, match them with light, crisp and refreshing white wines.
- To ensure everyone is happy, always offer both red and white wines to cater to everyones preferences.
