Hit Refresh

Summery white wines.

With winter months now behind us, it is time to say goodbye to the richer, more unctuous styles in favour of more refreshing, zippier options. With the new vintage wines starting to hit the shelves, there are plenty of drops to choose from.

Something different, delicious and great value is the 2018 Feudo Arancio

Grillo ($20) from Sicily. It is a wine with a quiet entry, good weight and texture on the mid-palate and a delicious saline thread that lengthens and defines the finish. It is a superb accompaniment to sizzled squid or char-grilled octopus.

The 2019 McGuigan Bin 9000

Semillon ($25) is another terrific drop to drink as the temperature starts to rise. It is delicately perfumed with a bright lemony palate and excellent balance. Lovely on its own, though even more delicious alongside a plate of freshly shucked oysters.

Chardonnay’s versatility means that it can be a top choice for summer, particularly when sourced from a cool climate. With faint white-peach flavours and heightened acidity, 2017 Curly Flat

Chardonnay ($46) is a highly satisfying drink. Serve with a delicate white fish such as bream or flathead.

For sauvignon blanc lovers, a top choice is the 2018 Nautilus Sauvignon

Blanc ($25) from Marlborough. The high-toned lemon and passionfruit aromas draw you in from the start. It is light- to medium-bodied, allowing it to pair well with a wide range of foods.

In the hot weather, wine can warm up quickly. I recommend avoiding stemless glassware as the heat of your hands may cause the temperature of the wine to rise. While ice buckets can be useful, they sometimes chill the wine too much. My tip: serve the wine straight from the fridge and it will rise to optimum drinking temperature in no time. #

FFerrone ‘May Medium’ wineglasses, Becker Minty. Maculato tiles, Surface Gallery. Wall painted Wattyl Pearl Owl. Try these 2019 SINGLEFILE GREAT SOUTHERN RIESLING, $25 A bright, flavoursome riesling from WA with honeysuckle and white nectarine notes. 2019 PIKE & JOYCE CÉDER RIESLING, $26 Fabulously concentrated with ripe lime flavours and a long line of acidity. From the beautiful Adelaide Hills. 2019 BROKENWOOD SEMILLON, $28 Incredible lightness and purity with lemon and lime juice flavours. A classic Hunter Valley style. 2019 GROSSET SPRINGVALE RIESLING, $45 One of Australia’s best rieslings from the Clare Valley. Extraordinary brightness and purity with palate softness and generosity.