It’s the time of year to gather with friends and family, look back on the year gone by, and look forward to the year ahead. Now, we all know that a party’s not a party without a tipple (or two) and some tasty nibbles to pass around the room, so sit back and relax as we uncork the Profood Party Guide – your complete holiday round-up of all things epicurean!
As festive as Rudolph’s bells, the sound of popping corks is always a cause for celebration. Whether you’re a champagne purist or partial to a prosecco, we have a line-up of bubbly to make your party pop!
Send off a vintage year in style with this Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Millésime 2008 Champagne by celebrated family vintners, Legras & Haas. Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, this complex bubbly is party-ready now, but equally good to lay down for a few more years if you prefer your sparkle with a little more maturity.
For something a little easier to quaff, the house’s Champagne Cuvée "Brut" Tradition is made from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, adding a fruity freshness to its finish.
But it’s not just France flying the flag for sparkling wines – Italy packs its own effervescent punch with the ever-popular prosecco. Founded in the 1900s, Tenuta Giavi is serious about producing the best possible quality prosecco from their hilltop winery in Conegliano. This Prima Volta Brut DOCG Prosecco Superiore delivers a wonderfully floral bouquet with good acidity, making it perfect for discerning partygoers.
Pair your party bubbles with the crème-de-la-crème of party nibbles. This Adamas black caviar comes from Siberian sturgeon and is processed in the traditional “Malossol” method for an unforgettable flavour.
Refined and relaxed, a festive glass of red is always something to be savoured. Here are three of our favourite reds to enjoy in good company.
For a special celebration or a thoughtful gift, Tuscan winery Petrolo can always be relied upon to impress. Delivering sophistication and maturity, this 2011 Galatrona is crafted from 100% Merlot grapes for an intense, balanced and complex finish, leading respected wine critic James Suckling to award it a full 99 points.
Italian reds are renowned for their depth of flavour and this 2013 Rosso Di Montalcino by Casanova di Neri is no exception. Made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, this wine features complex maraschino cherry, violet and ripe red fruit notes.
Over to France, and this 2012 Chateâu Carignan Bordeaux is a spicy, aromatic but well-balanced wine that’s bursting with juicy, concentrated black fruit flavours and an intense, deep red colour.
Pair your warming winter reds with a classic selection of European cheese. This semi-hard Sirana Gligora Croatian truffle cheese is made from Dalmatian cow milk and black Istrian truffles from the Motovun Forest, adding a touch of decadence to your Christmas cheese board.
A perennial party favourite, you really can’t go wrong with a good selection of chilled white wine, and these three are topping our wine wish list this party season.
Step away from those same old Kiwi whites, and instead try this Myra Sauvignon Blanc from Tenuta Ansitz Waldgries. A crisp, organic wine with good minerality, this will convince even die-hard Southern Hemisphere fans that it’s time to try something different.
Cantina Terlano’s Terlaner is chock-full of exotic fruit flavours, with a rich and tangy finish that makes it a sure-fire crowd-pleaser.
Here's one from the Spanish marque, Terroir al Limit. Terra De Cuques blends 50% Pedro Ximénez and 50% Muscat d'Alexandria grapes to create a delicate, pale gold wine with complex herbal, liquorice and acacia layers.
White wine and seafood go together like tinsel and baubles, so treat your guests to Don Bocarte’s Cantabrian Anchovies, served simply on fresh crusty bread with heirloom tomatoes, for a rustic canapé with a rich-yet-subtle flavour.
So get those bottles uncorked and nibbles at the ready, let’s raise our glasses to 2016 and ring in a delicious 2017 in style – cheers!
Kate Farr is a co-founding writer and editor at Editors' Ink HK, a blogger at Accidental Tai-Tai and a mum to two little boys. With a husband who's an enthusiastic amateur cook and two young sons with big appetites to feed, mealtimes play a central role in Kate's home life. Motto: "Diet? What diet?' Follow her on Instagram.
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