Richard Whitbread
Stumped for the right wine to offer your guests? These fruity ideas for non-alcoholic punches, cocktails and wine pairing options will make entertaining easy this festive season.
FRUITY BEER COCKTAILS
Place sugar cube into champagne glasses, add a splash of strawberry liqueur and top up with a peach flavoured beer or apple cider.
CHERRY MOJITOS
Place 500g frozen cherries, 1 1/2 cups caster sugar and 2 cups water into a saucepan, stir over a low heat until simmering. Simmer for 10 min. Cool and strain into a jug. Take 8 glasses and add 2-3 mint leaves to each glass with a squeeze of lemon. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, muddle the mint and lime juice together. Top each glass with ice, and divide the Cherry Mojitos Base and 2 cups white rum between the glasses. Top glasses with soda water to serve. Serves 8
TOP 5 BEERS & WINES
A lightly chilled rose makes a great accompaniment to salmon, ham and prawns and is perfect to serve at this time of the year.
La Planchelière d’Anjou Rosé – $18
Looking for a beer option to serve or for gift giving. A great all round option is a light style pale ale.
John Boston Pale Ale – $19 for 6 pack of bottles
Try a pinot grigio, this dry (or semi dry) white white is fruity than a sauvignon blanc. Perfect with seafood, pasta and salad.
Balliamo Pinot Grigio – $15
Love the bubbles this is a great gift choice for that someone special. Serve it with canapes.
Champagne Duperrey Permier Crut Brut NV – $58
Perfect for our Aussie climate, pinot noir is a light-bodied red with wild fruit flavours. Serve it with roasted meats like pork, lamb and glazed ham.
South Island Pinot Noir $21.99
Prices are RRP. All are available at BWS and Dan Murphy’s.
KIWIFRUIT & MINT PUNCH
Make a syrup with ¾ cup each of sugar and water, allow to chill. Place syrup into blender with 8 peeled and chopped kiwifruit, juice of a lemon, and ¾ cup mint leaves. Blend until smooth. Serve over ice, topped with dry ginger ale. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs. Serves 8-10.
Fruity Vodka Punch- Try this mix with a splash of vodka.
Fruity Daiquiri – Fill a blender container with ice and crush. Spoon into glasses and top with a splash of white rum and some of the kiwifruit mix.
Not quite what your looking for? For more fantastic drink ideas perfect for the festive season. Try one of our 5 SIMPLE DRINK IDEAS.
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