Itmightbethesillyseason,butlet’splayit
smart, saysMike Bennie.FortopChristmas
drops, choose quality over quantity.@mikebennie101 @mikebennie101FEELING
FESTIVE
EVERYDAY-DRINKING
FIZZ:LA PROVA
PROSECCO 2017, $25
Thefruitforthiswine,
made by the gregarious
Sam Scott, comes from
King Valley in Victoria,
renowned for Italian
grape varieties. This is
an exuberant, refreshing
fizzthatalsoshows a
touch of class.BEST-VALUEROSÉ
IN THE LAND:LUKE
LAMBERT CRUDO ROSÉ
2017, $25I’ve made
the call: this is an
outstanding rosé, and
the price is ludicrous.
It’s such a delicious thing
todrink.Adry,savoury
stylewithsour-cherry
tangandalickofherbal
things going on. Unreal.FOR CHOOK, PRAWNS
ANDSALADS:OAKRIDGE
OVER THE SHOULDER
CHARDONNAY 2017, $23
Oakridge is one of
Australia’s most renowned
chardonnay producers. This
is its ‘entry level wine’, yet
shows all of the DNA of its
finer offerings. It’s lean, racy,
refreshingandaperfect
thirst-quencher.UTILITY WHITE WINE:
MASSENA FIELD BLEND
2018,$28Thiswine
combinesahostofwhite-
grape varieties in a
textural, vibrant white
of fresh-cut stone-fruit
flavours and aromas, with
ahintofnougat/brioche
savoury-sweetness in the
mix (though it finishes dry).
Where are the cold cuts?FRESH, SUMMERY RED:
MALLALUKA GRS + NR
2018, $26Acurious
blend of pinot gris and
pinotnoirthatresultsin
a barely medium-bodied,
reddishwineofcrunchy
texture and rosehip tea
characters. Wow, is this
thing delicious! I imagine
itwithagoodchilland
a lot of leftovers.AS THE FESTIVEseason rolls around,
Ibecomeadefactotourguideforthose
who oscillate through my unusual, boozy
world. I get to advise on things to go
withroastchicken,whatwinestodrinkat
breakfast, and which Scotch whisky is best
for sedating argumentative Uncle Trevor.
Icounselonfreshyoungwhitesfor
seafood, the greatest new craft beers for
backyard cricket, which sparklers are a
dead-set bargain, and the top cocktail for
relatives who need a little impressing.
Iendupwritingmenusdictatingwine
styles for parts of Christmas lunch. Being
Jewish,theironyisn’tmissedwhenI’m
suggesting Hunter semillon for prawns
and sparkling reds to go with ham.
AsChristmas ebbs and Boxing Day
flows, it’s time to get on the recovery
wines,soatangy,‘adultlemonade’,off-dry
rieslingissuggestedfor‘hairofthedog’,
and sessionable, boutique brewery lagers
aredispatchedforthecricket.
NewYear’srearsitsheadandI’m
suddenlyaChampagneexpert.I’lllikely
leadthecohortsintoweirdandwonderful
pet nats, the naturally sparkling wines that
have become the darling of the natural
wineworld.Or,atapinch,somereally
excellent renditions of Australian prosecco.
Usuallyallofthisiswovenintoasense
ofdecadenceandapricepointassociated
with it. It’s a time when spending a little
extraongoodwineanddrinksdoesn’tgo
astray, but this season I’m going to be
suggestingmybest-ofbargains–
particularly wines that skirt below $30,
where I think some fertile ground is found.
Alongside ‘value’ wines, I’m highlighting
lighterspiritsandspritzcocktailsmade
withseasonalfruitorshrubs(cordials),
and supporting local breweries.
I’malsoadvocating‘lessismore
but better’ as a mantra. Conspicuous
consumption has been the rage for many
years,butthisseasonI’mpitchingat
elevatingtheexperience,ratherthan
forgetting it. Shout out for advice.delicious.com.au/drinks
Toperuse more of Mike’s
favourite drinks.
MIKE BENNIE IS ALSO CO-OWNER OF A SYDNEY-BASED WINE AND LIQUOR RETAIL BUSINESSSPECIAL-OCCASION
BUBBLES:STEFANO
LUBIANA BRUT RESERVE
NV, $39Biodynamic
farming underpins the
winemaking at Stefano
Lubiana, and this non-
vintagewinedrinks
likeahostofgreat
Champagne. It’s toasty
yet fresh, bready but
citrusy. It’s very good.DRINKS.
50 delicious.com.au