We’ve got a wine for that: how you can pair just about any moment with great Australian wine

We firmly believe that wine is the perfect pairing for almost every occasion. Whatever the mood, the food and the company, great wine has a place at the table. 

And this is made easy thanks to the great diversity of top-tier wines produced available to us all. These days, Australian wineries are growing a huge range of grape varieties, winemakers are embracing a plethora of wine styles, and great bottles are available across a selection of price points. So, whatever the occasion, there’s a wine for that. 

Heading to a mate’s dinner party? We’ve got a wine for that. Binge watching your favourite show on the couch? We’ve got a wine for that? Heading out to a family barbecue? Yeah, we’ve got plenty of wines for that too.

And to help you find the wines that best fit your specific moment, we’ve put together this quick guide of suggestions. Read on to see just how easy it is to find the right bottle.

Catchup with mates

When meeting up with friends – whether hitting a BYO restaurant, having a sip and snack session or getting around a long meal at one of your homes – there’s a huge selection of wines you can choose to pop down at the table. We immediately reach for easy drinking, highly slurpable wines that will appease just about every palate – think lighter-style reds (like gamay and syrah) and chilled reds as well as rosé, whole bunch pinot and riesling. Australia produces great examples of these wines, and you can dive in at any price point – gaining more complexity in every bottle as you spend more.   

When thinking about food, just about anything is on the cards for hanging with mates. Usually, everyone tends to bring a little something to a gathering, which is why we love to bring a good textural white like savagnin or pinot grigio. These can stand up to many dishes without overpowering them, so are a very safe and reliable bet.

Cosy moments

When you’re hiding at home under a blanket in front of the fire, out camping with the family or simply enjoying a classic Sunday roast at the pub, you have plenty of Australian wine options to choose from. When cosying up on a cold day, we really love juicy and vivacious examples of barbera and grenache – they are perfect to sip while admiring a fire. The most premium wines are also brilliant conversation starters, so you can relax with company and talk about the great complexity within your glass. 

But when you’re tucking into classic cosy moments dishes like a Sunday roast, we recommend a wine with a little more body, richness and structure. Malbec, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot will certainly hit this spot, complementing the usual proteins people eat at moments like this. When it comes to white to choose, we recommend cracking open a bottle of marsanne, rousanne or even an ages sparkling rose – they will more than hold their own in these situations, offering structure without being too overwhelming for those who aren’t into big bold reds. 

Date nights

Date nights are for couples looking to treat each other to something a bit special – going beyond the usual. This can either mean leaning into total indulgence (totally ignoring the monthly budget) or doing something small but meaningful to show your partner that extra bit of love. For date nights, sparkling wine is always a fabulous choice – with Australian wineries creating some of the finest examples in the world. Australia is also known for making incredible chardonnay and riesling, with the top-tier bottles the perfect addition to any night in with your favourite person. 

Celebrating a birthday? You can spoil your partner by finding a great birth year shiraz or semillon (both of which age remarkably well). And fortified wines are the perfect date night nightcap – either premium bottles or more affordable options will be great accompaniments to dessert or drank without food as you wrap up the evening. 

Lazy afternoons

Few things compare to a lazy afternoon spent in total relaxation mode, forgetting the time and long lit of tedious responsibilities. These moments differ vastly from person to person – think binge watching trashy television all day, escaping reality while reading your favourite new book, or hitting up your local pub to watch the footy or hang out with mates. For these moments, you want something easy and delicious that dosn’t need to go with food.

Red lovers should opt for a light pinot noir or a slightly more structural cabernet while those after a white choose great examples of fiano and chenin blanc – both of which are surging in popularity across Australia. These are wines you can really take your time with as you while away a lazy day.

Sunny days

Wine loves a good hot day – and pairs brilliantly with just about anything you get up to while the sun is shining? Barbecues, picnics, poolside hangs – all of these moments call out for a great bottle of Australian wine. 

Fun Italian and Mediterranean varieties are our go-to, as they are best friends with sunshine and barbecue meats. Pecorino, vermentino, sangiovese, tempranillo and even an easy-drinking GSM will hit the spot – especially when you pick lively, fresh and youthful examples of these wines. Don't be afraid to reach for a chilled red or amber wine either.

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