AND TO DRINK…
Drinks editor Yvonne Lorkin suggests matches for these Made to Share dishes, as seen on pages 52-63.
Shared plates awaken a sense, no matter how small, of togetherness and celebration, so make things ultra easy on yourself by having a bottle of good sparkling on hand to umbrella all three menus. The André Delorme Blanc de Blancs Méthode Traditionnelle Brut NV ($34.99) is a fabulous example of French fizz without the champagne price tag. Made entirely from chardonnay, with aromas of peach and pear and soft nutty, lemony notes, it’s a little Burgundian cracker. unitedcellars.com FRENCH Chicken Liver Pâté with Apricot and Yellow Mustard Seed Relish Pissaladière
Baked Camembert with Thyme and Fig Preserves
These dishes carry gorgeous gamey and herbaceous notes, so I’d recommend the ME by Matahiwi Estate Wairarapa
Pinot Noir 2018 ($21.99). Sipping this gave me the same thrill as seeing Torvill and Dean perform Bolero for the first time in 1984. Their costumes were billowy and dark purple, and that’s how this wine looks and feels on the palate. It glides and slices across the tongue, leaving a saucy, spice-infused trail of flavour that’ll tempt another sip. matahiwi.co.nz GREEK Sumac Fried Mussels with Tzatziki
Pan-fried Feta with Honey and Oregano Dressing Ouzo-cured Salmon
This trio of tastiness call out for a wine bright with floral aromatics and a zesty, gum-tingling texture. The make-up of the multi-region, multi-varietal, multi-vintage even Untitled White Blend
NV ($24.99) is revealed only if you visit untitled.nz and punch in the batch number on the back label. Mysterious. But if that’s too hard, trust me that it boasts intriguing aromas of lemon, lime, nectarine, fennel and a squeak of apricot combined with crisp, vibrant citrus on the finish. glengarrywines.co.nz SPANISH Chorizo-stuffed Fried Green Olives
Potatas Bravas
Cockles with Green Sauce Your mood will turn magically Mediterranean if you serve these tapas with a bottle of a local version of a Spanish star. The Spade Oak Heart of Gold Gisborne Albariño 2015 ($20) is a big, bold, lemony, chalky white with flavours redolent of white peach and quartz dust. Richly structured and so so good with spicy Spanish food. Albariño has found a happy home in Gisborne. Hooray! spadeoak.co.nz