DINNER PARTY INSPO

01 Cauliflower-topped Puy and Mushroom Lentil Pie – chenin blanc Easthope Two Terraces Chenin Blanc 2019, $36

Full-bodied, smooth and dry with a hint of creaminess and a citrusmeets-honey flavour profile. Winemaker Rod Easthope buys his chenin blanc grapes from the small, meticulously nurtured Two Terraces Vineyard. A must-try for all white wine lovers and a great match with cauliflower, in all its delicious forms.

02 Fresh Beetroot Carpaccio with Goat’s Cheese – dry riesling Mount Edward Central Otago Riesling 2019, $25

White wine with red vegetables? It sounds like a strange match, but crunchy fresh beetroot and tangy goat’s cheese are beautifully balanced by dry riesling’s fresh lime and lemon aromas. Think of it the same way you’d use a citrusy dressing on a fresh salad. This is a match made in heaven.

03 Beetroot Fritters, Fresh Salad Leaves and Tangy Citrus Dressing – pinot noir Dog Point Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019, $49

Bold red summer berry flavours and ripe tannins add taut structure to this complex Marlborough pinot noir, which is made from certified organic grapes given wild yeast fermentation. The finished wine is aged for 18 months in French oak. This wine has great aging potential, but why wait when it tastes so divine with bold beetroot?

04 Lemon and Cardamon Cake with Coconut Cream – luscious riesling Whitehaven Noble Riesling, 2018 $26

Candied apricot meets lime zest with dialled-up flavour, and together they make the perfect match for a lemon dessert, especially one with spicy notes of cardamon. Riesling is usually relegated to the sweet wine camp, but this one highlights the freshness that acidity brings to the table to balance sweet flavours.