MikeBennie's legendarypicksforthe
annualdelicious. Christmaspartyareshifting
focusandwecan't waittoraiseourglasses.@mikebennie101 @mikebennie101NEWDIRECTIONGRIFTERSERPENTS
KISSWATERMELON
PILSNER,$5EACH
Allhailthemixoffruits
andbeers!InnerWest
SydneybrewersGrifter
producethisscintillating
pilsnerwiththegentle
sweetnessandtartnessof
watermelonjuice.Wow.
Sorefreshing.I imagine
servingthiswith...huge
wedges of watermelon.JILLYMIAMIBAGNUM
(1.5L),$59A boutique
wineproducerdoinga
bright,crunchy,zero-
additivered(ish)winein
a caskis soverythrilling.
It'sa reallygoodexample
ofa fresh,young,vibrant
winebestservedreally
cold.Thisoneis comingto
theChristmaspartytobe
matched with Cheezels.MARIONETTEDRY
CASSIS,$46Marionette
producesan'Australian
cassis'witharoundhalf
thesugarofFrenchtypes.
Marrythisblackcurrant-
richliqueurtoAustralian
sparklingwineandyou've
gotanauthentic,local,
KirRoyalecocktailfor the
festive season.SPINIFEXROSÉ2018,
$26Havinga rangeof
go-toroséfromhigh-
qualityproducers(at
reachableprices)is one
ofmysuperpowers.Here's
onefromthatlist,froman
outstandingBarossaValley
producer.It is dry,offering
rose-hip-tea-meets-light-
raspberry-juice vibes.
So good.LAKEYFARM
HEATHCOTEVERDELHO
2018,$28Verdelhois a
much-malignedgrape
varietytypicallyknownfor
producingtropicalfruit
juice-likewhitewinesoften
ofquestionablefreshness
andsweetness.Thisone,
however,is summery
drinkingpersonified,more
interestinganddrierthan
most examples. For salads.EVERYYEARTHEdelicious.team
celebratesthefestiveseasonwitha
seriouslygoodparty.Nottobrag,but
whenyou’vegota rosterofincredible
chefsthescopeis amazing.Alongwith
theall-starfoodteam,JohnSusmanof
Fishtalesspreadsaroundastoundingly
goodseafood,whileAnthonyPuharich
ofVic’sMeats,andMitchEdwardsat
PorkStarssupplythechoicestcutsforthe
upmarketbarbecue.It’sa seriousshindig.
I dothedrinks,whichcomeswithequal
partsjoyandtrepidationforguests.My
enthusiasmforthenewandunusualcan
goeitherway.I havetobringmyA-game.
FouryearsagoI rolledin withnative
botanicalshrubsandtriedtowow
everyonewith‘Aussiespritzcocktails’.
TheywentdownprettywellbutI nearly
floodedthebathroomwithiceslurries.
ThreeyearsagoI figuredeveryone
wantedorangewineandrosémadefrom
obscuregrapevarieties.Sure,therewasn't
alotofvariety,butthestylesarefood-
friendly.ButColinFassnidgeyelling,"Make
mea properdrink,mate!"whilehewas
turningsnagsis etchedintomymemory.
Lastyearwasallaboutpetnatsandwild
fermentedbeers.Anarrayoffermented
sparklingwines,frompaleyellowthrough
todarkred,appeared.Alongside,Produce
Award-winningWildflowerbeersemerged.
Capturingthezeitgeistlikea lightingbolt
ina masonjar,thedrinkssuredidfly.
Thisyearthere'llbehigh-qualitybut
affordableAustraliansparklingwines
sowecansplashthingslikecassisand
Australian‘Campari’intothem.Alongside,
I’llbebringing,tangy,tartandthirst-
quenchingfruitbeers,wherelocalbrewers
useseasonalproducetospikelight,more
bitterstylestoenhancedrinkingpalates.
There’sgoingtobesummerywhites.
Pure,clean,joyousthingsthatrequirelittle
attentionbutmarrysuperblywithseafood,
andchilledlightredwinesforColinand
hisbarbie.Thisyearis aboutembracing
a breadthofwinesanddrinks that are
done better, but simply.delicious.com.au/drinks
ToperusemoreofMike’s
favourite drinks.FARMHANDSEMILLON
SAUVIGNONBLANC
2018,$15It'soften
difficulttofindgood,
affordableorganicwines,
sotheFarmHandrangeis
fertilegroundtoexplore.
Thiswineis thebestfrom
currentreleases– a fresh,
tangy,grassywhitethat
shoulddowellwithfancy
seafood platters.MIKE BENNIE IS ALSO CO-OWNER OF A SYDNEY-BASED WINE AND LIQUOR RETAIL BUSINESSDRINKS.
52 delicious.com.au