LibbyHoliday Hosting should be spontaneous and fun. With a well-stocked bar and a few kitchen basics, you can entertain a crowd fairly easily. Being a little bit organized ahead of time makes any causal affair seem effortless.
This holiday season we’re keeping our favourite wines on hand. Impress your guests with a spread of tasty temptations and you’ll be the talk of the town.
It doesn’t have to cost a bundle to invite the gang over, either. In partnership with Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits, we’re toasting friends and family with these signature wines.
HOLIDAY HOSTING – WINES WE CAN’T WAIT TO TOAST WITH
Lend a sparkly feel to your elegant affair with the affordably priced Freixenet Rosé IGT. Rosé adds a dash of glamour and goes down easy with almost anything. From spicy to sweet, this wine pairs perfectly with a smorgasbord of food, so you can serve it with a spread safely.
We suggest mini brie and strawberry jam grilled cheeses with this classic Rosé. Freixenet’s balanced wine is sweet without going overboard. And this stunning bottle is downright covetable.
White wine lovers will want to reach for a refill of this fresh and crisp wine from New Zealand. Matua Sauvignon Blanc Hawke’s Bay brings coastal and citrus notes to this approachable wine. Waves of grapefruit and fresh herbs offer a clean finish.
Matua’s natural feel lends itself to vegetarian or seafood bites, like these garlic mushroom toasts with gorgonzola or creamy blue cheese.
REDS TO EXPLORE AND SAVOUR THIS SEASON
Red wines are a must-have for any menu. Include a few reds to complete your bar and unlock the potential of everyone’s favourite colour wine. 19 Crimes Shiraz Durif parcels together a full-bodied Australian Shiraz with a touch of Durif, better known as Petit Sirah. The result is a smoky bold slightly jammy wine. Share with friends by the fire with roasted walnut and butternut squash toasts with bacon and crispy sage, or a layered charcuterie board with all the fixings.
Also from Australia, Lindeman’s Cabernet Sauvignon offers a polished bottle at a very approachable price. With deep berry reflections and a slight plum finish, this wine doesn’t need to be decanted but reveals beautiful deep reds in the glass. Lindeman’s Cab Sauv lends itself well to beefy mains or rich stews, or appetizers like these open-faced roast beef sliders with creamy horseradish and caramelized onions.
These wines are priced to share, give or stock a few away in the wine cellar.
This post has been sponsored by Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits. Always drink responsibly and never drink and drive.
All images by Libby Roach.