Italian accent
Add Italian flare to your drinks party with aperitivi of fritto misto and prosecco. Served with a zippy salsa verde, these cones of salty, golden-fried seafood are sure to be crowd-pleasers. Easy-drinking prosecco is the ideal partner, as the crisp acidity cuts through the fat.
Wine match: De Bortoli Prosecco, $18, debortoli.com.au
Twist on tradition
We all know that oysters and Champagne go hand in hand, but for an Australian take on this timeless marriage, team Martin Boetz’s zesty Thai-style oysters with a local sparkling wine made in the traditional method.
Wine match: Nepenthe Prestige Cuvée Chardonnay Pinot Noir, $20, nepenthe.com.au
Classic match
Richer seafood canapés, such as these smoked salmon blinis, cry out for a sparkling with a bit of bottle age. The toasty, brioche characters and extra palate weight of Australia’s most exclusive sparkling wine are more than up to the task of these opulent little bites.
Wine match: 1998 House of Arras 20th Anniversary Late Disgorged, $350, houseofarras.com.au
Coming up rosé
For meatier finger foods, such as peking duck pancakes or this lusty mushroom paté, sparkling rosé is where it’s at, mixing berry fruits on the nose with a full-bodied palate.
Wine match: Taltarni Taché sparkling rosé, $24, taltarni.com.au
