SUMMER WINES TO TRY

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“Strawberries, cherries and an angel’s kiss in spring. My summer wine is really made from all these things.” summerwine S o wrote Lee Hazelwood and sang Nancy Sinatra. Those same summer fruit scents are evident in many of today’s lighter wines, making them just right for long hot days, and balmy nights. One of those is rosé, which has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. Rosé wine fl avours are generally more refi ned versions of the grape variety used to make them. Many are made from pinot noir grapes, yet also pinot meunier, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, and almost any red grape variety. Think fruitier fl avours of strawberries, raspberries and cherries.

HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:

SANGIOVESE ROSÉ - fruity but dry with notes of fresh strawberries, green melon, and roses. SYRAH ROSÉ - bold, dry wine with notes of olive and cherry. CABERNET SAUVIGNON ROSÉ - savoury, dry, and tastes more like red wine with notes of red capsicum, blackcurrant, and spice. WHITE ZINFANDEL - sweet rosé with fl avours of lemon, melon, and strawberry. PROVENCE ROSÉ – a classic wine, fruity and light, with notes of strawberry and rose petal.

BY LYNDA PAPESCH

PINOT NOIR ROSÉ - delicate yet crisp, with notes of apple, strawberry, and melon. PINOT MEUNIER ROSÉ - primary fl avours include cherry, raspberry, and strawberry with subtle hints of rose, mineral, and spice. MERLOT ROSÉ - dry and a beautiful pink hue, with aromas and fl avours of redcurrants, quince, strawberry and peach, and a touch of spice.

The new Hornby Club is for the whole family! Come and try our awesome indoor and outdoor playgrounds, buffet every Sunday, family-style restaurant, and our kid-friendly cafe. Open every day from 8am. Join for just $34 per annum.

read the label

BY LYNDA PAPESCH

DID YOU KNOW?

Wine bottle labels should be a mine of information, and in particular will advise the percentage of alcohol per volume. Buying wine may be a frustrating task if you don’t know much about the varieties, what foods they will pair with, and what to expect when you twist the cap off and pour.

That’s where wine labels come to the fore. Knowing how to read the front and back labels on a wine bottle will make it easier to choose, especially if you like a particular variety or style.

Front labels will tell you the name of the wine producer, the country of origin and the variety. That helps if you have tried and liked wine from a specifi c country and region. Useful information on wine labels includes the brand or estate name, the grape variety, the vintage or year in which the grapes were harvested, and the alcohol percentage by volume. The lower in alcohol the wine, generally the lighter it will be in body.

Back labels are just as important to read. They often include health warnings such as ‘Contains Sulphites’, whether they’re suitable for vegetarians or vegans, and also information about the wine, food pairing options, and tasting notes. For example, many will say if they have been aged in oak, the type of oak (French, American etc), and what fl avours are present on the nose and palate.

Will you share your heart this Valentine’s Day?

CHAMPAGNE + LOVE CAKE

LAKEHOUSE RESTAURANT Lake Hood - Ashburton

A stunning lake side restaurant and functions venue, open for lunch and dinner. Enjoy our NEW fully covered and heated dining area on the deck for the ultimate in lakeside dining with beautiful views over the lake to the alps. The perfect venue for functions – weddings, family celebrations or a day trip for lunch. 5mins off the main highway from Ashburton.

Lake Hood Drive, Lake Hood, Ashburton Ph 03 302 6064 info@lakehouselakehood.co.nz

Find us on: www.lakehouselakehood.co.nz

INDIAN ROOTS Halswell

Indian Roots. Well, it’s a Love Story. It’s been a decade of nostalgia and yet hard to forget the fragrance of fresh grounded spices by the streets, those aromatic flavours of Old-Delhi dishes and the endless whistles of the pressure cooker. Our love for food and passion for the right flavours encouraged us to present Indian Roots, a brand with a vision to create memories through great food and people.

SALA COFFEE Wigram

Studies show that even the smell of coffee reduces stress! We pair good coffee and fresh food just for you, whatever your stress level. Good vibes on the house.

1 Treffers Road, Wigram Ph. 021 155 5538

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LITTLE RIVER CAFE & STORE Little River

We are famous around Canterbury as specialists in rustic home-cooked savoury and sweet foods. We have heaps of great gift ideas in our store, championing all that is local and you will not find a better wine or craft beer selection anywhere on the Peninsula. Open 7 days.

FORTH LUCK GIN Canterbury

Located in the Cust hills of Canterbury, New Zealand. The vision started with a love of distilling and creating. Organically sourced botanicals, no nasty chemicals or flavour enhancers. This results in a high-quality multi-award winning gin collection. Made in small batches, providing a quality and personal experience of full flavour gins with love from the Forth Luck family.

www.forthluckgin.co.nz info@forthluckgin.co.nz

Find us on: @forthluckgin

THE ONE NEXT DOOR Little River

Located in the heart of Little River, right next to Silostay, The One Next Door is now open for lunch and evening dining. Wood fire pizza, sharing plates, grill and a fully stocked bar.

4247 Christchurch Akaroa Rd, Little River To Book: 03 662 9988

Find us on: @The_one_nextdoor