The Taste case: Allan Mullins picks wines for lazy long weekends

The only wines you need for the Easter weekend (or any long weekend, really) are in Allan Mullins’ hand-picked case of easy-drinking favourites

The Taste case

1 The one for the meaty braai

Woolworths Raka

Skipper 2017

There's always a derring-do energy to the wines made by the Dreyer family, probably inherited from their patriarch, Piet Dreyer, who was an oldstyle sea captain. This Woolies exclusive, a blend of six red wine grapes, will be welcome whenever chops and wors are on the coals. R99.99

2 The one for a long brunch

Chiaro Prosseco

I think the perfect brunch should include fruit, salads, crusty bread, cold meats, eggs, cheeses and definitely fish or meat from the Weber. The call is for something bright, lively, light, inexpensive and uplifting. This delicious prosecco ticks all the boxes. R109.99

3 The one to drink with all the chocolate

Woolworths Diemersfontein Chocolate Shiraz 2017

It’s not easy to find a wine that drinks well with the eggs, the slabs, the chocolatey desserts. Enter the much loved Diemersfontein Chocolate Shiraz. As a result of the use of

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6 toasted barrels, the wine has delightful dark chocolate notes, along with mulberries, cherries and a subtle spiciness. R94.99

4 The one for the lazy picnic

Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2018

When your picnic comprises a range of foods, from fish slivers to slices of peppercrusted sirloin, you need a versatile wine to match.

The Chardonnay in this blend provides citrus and freshness, while the Pinot Noir adds body, structure, and a tantalising aroma of raspberry. R99.99

5 The one for the big roast lunch

Springfield Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2018

It may seem bold to select a white wine for a roast lunch. However Springfield’s Wild Yeast Chardonnay is not just any wine. The Bruwer family has adopted many of the winemaking techniques of their forefathers, one of them being wild yeast fermentation. They use “risky mercurial wild yeasts”, which are found on the grapes, to ferment this Chardonnay. It has a success percentage of 60 percent but when it works, it’s truly brilliant. R149.99

6 The one for your fish braai

Springfield Miss Lucy 2019 The Bruwer family’s heritage harks back to family holidays at the sea – winemaker Abrie and his sister, marketing manager Jeanette, remember many childhood adventures in leaky clinker boats. Their Miss Lucy, one of many nicknames for the endangered red stumpnose, is made as a tribute to the essence of the ocean. An unusual blend of Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, it’s perfect with braaied seafood. R139.99