Wines to open and share, not intellectualise about

Reliability, affordability, accessibility. There are vast numbers of people who look for a tasty, consistent, affordable drop in their wine choices, and today’s selection introduces just that in the form of two companies who excel in producing large volumes of wine at price points that won’t break the bank.

These are not wines to intellectualise over, but bottles destined to be opened and shared with abandon. Available across the land in every supermarket and most Bottle O’s, often cheaper on promo, you could say that they democratise wine. Cheers to that.

NV Brown Brothers King Valley Prosecco

 
Price RRP $16.99 or 4 x 200ml pack $20.99
Rating Excellent
 
Fresh & bright, peach, 
white flowers, a touch 
of nuttiness. A burst of 
fruit in the mouth, fruit 
sweet yet nicely crisp 
and dry on the close. 
Touches of stonefruit, 
a wisp of orange/
mandarin peel adds an 
engaging counterpoint 
to the fruit sweetness, 
with good mousse. 
Really hits the 
refreshment factor. 
The nose and palate 
open out with air, great 
bang for buck here.
 

 

NV Jacob’s Creek Reserve Prosecco

 
Price RRP $15.99
Rating Very Good to Excellent
 
Perfumed, hints of 
musk, shifting to 
nuttiness and pear as 
it takes on air. The fruit 
bursts out of the glass, 
stonefruits setting the 
pace with gum and an 
underlying sense of 
coolness. Softer 
mousse with the nutty 
nuances carrying 
through to the palate 
with time. I could see 
"evaporation" 
happening quickly 
here as this is very 
easy drinking.
 
 

NV Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc

 
Price $13.99
Rating Very Good to Excellent
 
Musk overlaid on a lightly 
honeyed aspect, perfume, 
flower petal. A whisper 
more fruit sweetness here, 
apple, stonefruits, a touch 
of honey and a grapey 
quality. With aeration, 
pea pod, chopped herb 
& grassiness reveals 
itself, a waft of 
baguette/breadiness 
also on the palate. 
Typical Sav Blanc 
zestiness more evident 
with time, giving nice 
freshness.
 
 

NV Brown Brothers Prosecco Rosé

 
Price RRP $16.99 or 4 x 200ml pack $20.99
Rating Very Good to Excellent
 
A bowl of red berries, 
strawberries and 
cream, flirts with a 
savoury nuance 
alongside bready/
yeasty notes, fleshing 
out nicely in the glass. 
The palate offers some 
hard candy notes 
giving a perception of 
light sweetness but 
there’s excellent 
zestiness that keeps it 
nicely balanced. A light 
touch of sweetness 
mid-palate but closes 
dry.
 
 

NV Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Moscato

 
Price RRP $13.99
Rating Very Good to Excellent
 
Freshly cut grapes, 
perfume, honey, a 
wisp of rose petal. The 
palate continues the 
journey, and just what 
you’d expect of the 
variety. Fresh grapes 
with a smear of honey 
and they’ve got the 
balance right. The 
grape and honey notes 
linger in the mouth, 
good flavour depth, 
closing crisp & bright. 
Well made and would 
be a lovely gateway for 
people getting into 
wine.
 
 

2022 Brown Brothers Light & Refreshing Moscato

 
Price RRP $16.99 or 4×200ml pack $20.99
Rating Very Good
 
Fruit cordial, grapiness, a 
schisty note, dry honey 
coming through. Brimming 
with flavour though the 
sweetness is very 
evident, sweet & grapey. 
They’ve retained the 
natural grape sugars 
here: this is a low 5.5% 
alc; a great option for 
those looking for a lower 
alc drink. Soft and 
supple, intensely sweet 
and honeyed and will 
charm those that revel 
in sweetness.
 

 

Seasons - By Alison Lambert  - Available for purchase now!

The Otago Daily Times and Alison have collaborated to bring you her first cookbook – Seasons.  

This book is the ultimate year-round cookbook. Seasons is filled with versatile recipes designed to inspire creativity in the kitchen, offering plenty of ideas for delicious accompaniments and standout dishes that highlight the best of what each season has to offer.  

 

$49.99 each. Purchase here.

$44.99 for ODT subscribers. Get your discount code here.