Crowd-Pleasing Wines For Entertaining
Here are our tips — which apply to both guests and hosts — for pairing and pouring to match every recipe and party style from casual snacks to a full buffet
Reds
Vibrant fruit flavours, lower tannins and some crispness are features of reds that drink well in the warmer weather — when they can be lightly chilled for the ultimate refreshment.
Rib Shack Red Vintage Blend
Imagine yourself chowing down on grilled meat at a South African braai while sipping this smoke and pepper blend of Pinotage and Shiraz.
The Dreaming Tree Crush Red Blend
A California wine born for the outdoors, this blackberry-kissed, deep ruby blend has a medium-bodied structure that pairs well with red meat.
Pelee Island Ruggles Run Gamay Zweigelt VQA
Bright cherry and berry, plus a fresh note reminiscent of green herbs, make this light-bodied Ontario blend a match for barbecue sauce.
Whites
Stick with dry, food-friendly white wines with just enough brightness to stay vibrant in summer’s heat.
Yalumba Y Series Viognier
Plenty of tropical fruit aromas and a smooth, medium-bodied but dry palate of ginger and honey make this an aromatic sipper.
The Vinecrafter Chenin Blanc
It might be winter now in South Africa, where this wine is made, but it smells like summer fruit in a bottle: juicy pear, apple and peach.
Kacaba Unoaked Chardonnay VQA
Crisp fresh apple and pear and a whiff of honeydew keep this Chardonnay summer-fresh and dry.
Rosé
The dry, salmon-coloured Provençal style is a classic when pairing, but other wine regions and grapes offer inspired food-matching choices, too.
Ogier Côtes du Ventoux Rosé AOC
Delicately coral-coloured, this dry rosé from southern France has zesty citrus and herb notes with a hint of strawberry.
Chivite Gran Feudo Rosé
Spain’s signature Garnacha (Grenache) grape gives vibrant colour and intense berry flavours to this fruity but bone-dry rosé.
Trius Rosé VQA
Robust Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes go into a structured rosé that needs only a light chill to thrill.
