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Spring celebrations



Spring has sprung! It’s time to crack open the cookbooks and call your closest companions to congregate after the long winter for merrymaking, marvellous meals, and majestic wines. Whether you’re preparing for a grand garden get-together or formulating a fun Friday night featuring flavoursome fare from your favourite local restaurant, Vintages is here to help you find good wine that pairs with good friends and good times.

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A blooming brunch | The most important meal of the day
 

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With spring comes new beginnings, and there’s no better way to begin than with a grand brunch with your compatriots. A light Provence rosé is easy to enjoy with brunch favourites like bagels topped with cream cheese and lox, flanked by a bowl of fresh berries. Soft, round South African white wines offer a full-bodied, oily texture, with flavours of Asian pear and honeysuckle that will harmonize with eggs florentine, or a ham-and-mushroom omelette with a side of hash browns. And Prosecco makes any occasion more fun while also being an excellent accompaniment to buttered Belgian waffles or a spinach-and-cheese quiche. (Don’t forget to save some for mimosas.)


Garden gatherings | Sunshine, snacks and sips
 

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With the temperatures finally rising, it’s time to spruce up the garden, sweep the deck, and impress your guests with your keen eye for outdoor decor. Patio gatherings are great for a variety of appetizing hors d’oeuvres. We recommend versatile wines that fare well with springtime sunshine. For savoury starters like sliders or bacon-and-cheddar pinwheels, serve a light, tangy Beaujolais or an earthy Pinot Noir. For lighter snacks like spanakopita, or pita chips and creamy aioli, a Niagara Chardonnay will offer a refreshing pairing, while a Sancerre will beautifully complement the herbaceous flavours.


The backyard BBQ | Big, bold, quality
 

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Speaking of dusting off the patio, it might also be a good idea to clean up the barbecue and give it a proper opening to the season. Enjoying the fair weather with BBQ ribs, beef-and-raisin kebabs, or mushroom burgers calls for a sumptuous, juicy wine to match. We recommend spicy, fruit-forward reds that offer flavours of boysenberry and cracked peppercorn to go with your grilled meat, like a Southern French blend or an Australian Shiraz. For herb-encrusted salmon accompanied by favourite sides like grilled veggies and potato salad, look for a lithe French rosé or a redolent New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.


Romantic rendezvous | For a night à deux
 

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Date night is sacred. Whether you’ve been together for three months or 30 years, make sure you don’t hold back on attentiveness… or quality. Bring out the good stuff for your romantic dinner: an aged Bordeaux or a bold California Cabernet Sauvignon will surely impress your date. Either one will be a great choice to complement lamb shanks, and you could even use a dash for the sauce. For butterflied broiled lobster tails with garlic butter, an oak-aged Niagara Chardonnay makes an excellent pairing. And if you really want to impress, what date night wouldn’t be improved by a vintage premier cru Champagne?


Steak soirée | Great glasses for choice cuts
 

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Of the many cuts of steak that can be prepared, there’s one factor that remains static: steak with a bold red wine is pure bliss. Whatever cut your local butcher recommends for gracing your cast-iron skillet, there’s a wine that’s sure to match. Flavourful, tender cuts like filet mignon or New York strip fare well with smooth Bordeaux or Californian reds. Denser steaks with more richness, like bistecca alla Fiorentina or rib-eye, love a firm Tuscan or Greek red. For those who like a healthy amount of seasoning on their dry-rub T-bone or marinated skirt steak, a spicy Chilean Carmenère is an excellent choice.


Takeout time! | Flexible options for dining in
 

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For occasions that require a call to your favourite local restaurant, there are plenty of picks that suit a plethora of culinary styles. If you’ve got a craving for Mediterranean, a Montepulciano rosso will fare well with lots of different cuisines, from Italian to Greek to Moroccan to Turkish. If you tend to default to your local smash-burger place, a peppery Australian red or a meaty Spanish Garnacha makes for a succulent combination. And for the indecisive who can’t choose between Thai, Indian, pho or hakka, a versatile wine with subtle flavours like a creamy Chilean sparkler will never disappoint.


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