The super power from Down Under continues to deliver consumer-friendly wines with good value — and sexy accents!

Most of us remember Australia exploding onto the wine scene sometime between the fall of Knight Rider and the rise of Baywatch. Australia brought us big, bold and boozy wines at pretty reasonable prices. The Aussie invasion empowered us, unlocking Pandora’s box and globally re-igniting a dozy passion for wine. All of a sudden we understood the labels and identified with the reliable flavours. For a while, wherever a little black dress went, a bottle of Wolf Blass Yellow Label was sure to follow.

Enjoy variations of classic cocktails while learning the re-emerging art of muddling.

Gone are the days of powdered bar mix and maraschino cherries. Today’s ambitious bartenders squeeze only fresh juice and don’t garnish with manufactured fruit. They create delicious tasting and beautifully looking cocktails by muddling, a century-old technique whereby fresh fruit and herbs are mashed together to extract their truest flavour. Mojitos, Mint Juleps and Bellinis have all seen a renaissance of late, and for good reason. They’re simple cocktails with few ingredients that turn an ordinary summer afternoon into something memorable (we hope!), but that doesn’t mean you can’t experiment with new versions of these classic cocktails.

Your definitive guide to matching wine, beer and cocktails to classic BBQ fare.

Now that summer is in full swing and you’re clocking copious amounts of time barbecuing your favourite seasonal meals, it’s important to know what booze is appropriate to serve with what dish. Well fret no longer, here’s a guide to matching almost any barbecue staple to wine, beer and even cocktails.