5 top drops to try at your race day soiree
Some people believe the spring racing carnival is about horse racing. Those who aren’t kidding themselves understand that it’s more an excuse for treating yourself to long lunches and better-than-usual wine. It’s also an ideal opportunity to get yourself off the beaten track and add something new to the repertoire. Here are some suggestions from wineries, wine stores and restaurants to aid you in the task. Giddy-up!
2018 Groiss Ried Hasenhaide Rosé, $29
Austrian winemaker Ingrid Groiss is renowned for her skill with rosé. Co-owner of online wine store The Local Drop, Jagdev Singh says it’s “bright, with the most gentle fizz … and screams spring with every sip. It’s made from a blend of hand-picked pinot noir and Zweigelt.”
Food match: Perfect with a lobster roll.
Bellenda Cosi E Col Fondo, $35
Fine wine buyer at the Prince Wine Store Roscoe Halligan-Rose says “Bellenda stands head and shoulders above most of the mass-produced examples. The focus here is on traditionally made, bottle-fermented wines that express their regionality, the kind of wine you want to pop at the start of a long lunch or dinner.”
Food match: Chicken sandwiches with lashings of mayonnaise.
2017 Oakridge 864 Chardonnay, $85
Oakridge Estate in the Yarra Valley is renowned for its chardonnay and this single block wine has the awards to prove it. It’s lean, elegant, complex, flinty chardonnay that compares favourably with premier and even grand cru burgundy.
Food match: Jersey milk brie, preferably handmade from Oakridge chefs Matt Stone and Jo Barrett.
2019 La Violetta Spunk Nat, $37
This pet-nat from Western Australia is highly recommended by wine store Magnum + Queens. It is, says co-owner Kirsten Dickie, “a super fun, party wine made with a blend of riesling and shiraz. It’s preservative-free. Gently sweet, crunchy texture and just the right amount of fizz.”
Food match: Pairs well with salty snacks and fried vegetables.
2017 Moreau Naudet Chablis, $65
The Chablis Bar at Japanese restaurant Kisume is an excellent venue for an apres-race debrief. Wine guy Philip Rich has this chablis available by the glass or the bottle. “This saline and minerally chardonnay spent 20 months on lees, giving the wine texture and a depth of fruit you don’t always see at village chablis level.”
Food match: Sushi or grilled fish.
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