We’ve got a wine for that: how you can pair just about any moment with great Australian wine

We firmly believe that there's a wine for almost every occasion – whatever the mood, the food or the company.

And this is made easy thanks to the great diversity of top-tier wines available to us all. These days, Australian producers are growing a huge range of grape varieties, winemakers are embracing a plethora of winemaking styles, and great bottles are available across a wide selection of price points. So, whatever the occasion, there’s a wine for that. 

Heading to a mate’s dinner party? We’ve got a wine for that. Binge watching your favourite show on the couch? We’ve got a wine for that? Heading out to a family barbecue? Yes, we’ve got a wine for that too. In fact, for each of these occasions, there's a huge assortment of excellent Australian wines to choose from.

And to help you find the wines that best fit your specific moment, we’ve put together this quick guide of suggestions. Read on to see just how easy it is to find the right bottle.

Catch-up with mates

When meeting up with friends – whether hitting up a BYO restaurant, having a sip and snack session or getting around a long meal at one of your homes – there’s a huge selection of wines you can choose to pop down at the table. Generally, we tend to reach for easy drinking, highly slurpable wines that will appease just about every palate – think lighter-style reds (like gamay and syrah) and chilled reds as well as rosé, whole bunch pinot and riesling. Australia produces great examples of these wines, and you can dive in at any price point.   

When thinking about food, just about anything is on the cards for hanging with mates. Usually, each guest tends to bring something for the table, which is why we also love to bring a good textural white like savagnin or pinot grigio. These can stand up to all kinds of dishes without overpowering them, so are a very safe and reliable bet.

Cosy moments

When you’re hiding at home under a blanket in front of the fire, out camping with the family or simply enjoying a classic Sunday roast at the pub, you have plenty of Australian wine options to choose from. For those times when we are cosying up on a cold day, we really love juicy and vivacious examples of barbera and grenache – they are perfect to sip while admiring a fire. The most compelling examples are also brilliant conversation starters (boasting great complexity and unique expressions of place), so you can relax with company and talk about what's in your glass. 

But when you’re tucking into classic Sunday roast dishes, we recommend a wine with a little more body, richness and structure. Malbec, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon will certainly go well with red meats – the tannins cutting through the fattiness. When it comes to whites, we recommend cracking open a bottle of marsanne, rousanne or even an vintage sparkling rosé – they will more than hold their own in these situations, offering structure without being too overwhelming for those who aren’t into big bold reds. And lastly, chardonnay and roast chicken are great friends, so you're always safe to enjoy that pairing.

Date nights

Date nights are for couples looking to treat each other to something a bit special – going beyond the usual. This can either mean leaning into total indulgence (abandoning the monthly budget) or doing something small but meaningful to show your partner that extra bit of love. For date nights, sparkling wine is always a fabulous choice – with Australian wineries creating some of the finest examples in the world. Australia is also known for making incredible chardonnay and riesling, with the top-tier bottles the perfect addition to any night in with your favourite person. 

Celebrating a birthday? You can spoil your partner by finding a great birth year shiraz or semillon (both of which age remarkably well). And fortified wines are the perfect nightcap – either premium bottles or more affordable options will be great accompaniments to dessert or enjoyed without food as you wrap up the evening. 

Lazy afternoons

Few things compare to a lazy afternoon spent in total relaxation mode, forgetting the time and long list of tedious responsibilities. These moments differ vastly from person to person – think binge watching trashy television all day, escaping reality while reading your favourite new book, or hitting up your local pub to watch the footy or hang out with mates. For these moments, you want something easy and delicious that doesn’t need to go with food.

Red lovers should opt for a light pinot noir or gamay while those after a white can choose great examples of fiano and chenin blanc – both of which are surging in popularity across Australia. These are wines you can really take your time with as you while away a lazy day.

Sunny days

Wine loves a good hot day – and pairs brilliantly with just about anything you get up to while the sun is shining? Barbecues, picnics, poolside hangs – all of these moments call out for a great bottle of Australian wine. 

Fun Italian and Mediterranean varieties are our go-to here, as they are best friends with sunshine and barbecue meats. Pecorino, vermentino, sangiovese, mencía and even an easy-drinking GSM will hit the spot – especially when you pick lively, fresh and youthful examples of these wines. Don't be afraid to reach for a chilled red or amber wine either.

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