It’s the season for long, luxurious lunches, and there’s nothing better than a laden table paired with the perfect bottle of wine.
However, that’s where the questions start in. Is it a session kind of wine you’d happily drink all afternoon or is it the kind of tipple you’d rather drink on occasion? How are you going to make sure that the vino of choice matches with your chosen lunch mains?
It is this type of dedication to the art of the long lunch that we decided needed further investigation. So, we spoke with the Head Sommelier of cult hotel QT Sydney, Samantha Belt, to uncover her best wine picks if you’re enjoying an extended daytime feast.
There are a huge range of wines on offer, so these select few can be considered your guiding light. Belt has even broken them down by your source of lunch protein (lamb, beef, chicken, pork, seafood, vegetables or grazing plates) so that you can be sure the wine will complement the menu.
Of course, if you aren’t in the cooking mood, you could always head down to the Parlour restaurant at QT, where the perfect combination of food and wine is designed by their all-female sommelier team.
The Best Wines To Try For Your Long Lunch
With lamb
Luscious lamb is best paired with tight, grippy Nebbiolo. You can never go wrong.
- 2021 Fletcher ‘Minion’ Nebbiolo, Pyreness/Yarra Valley VIC $127
- 2019 Vietti ‘Castiglione’ Barolo DOCG, Alba Italy $405
With beef
I recommend a Syrah or a Shiraz for a classic pairing. Shake things up with a Syrah (cool climate Shiraz) for a fresher style wine to carry you the distance.
- 2019 Eden Road ’Cullarin Block 71′ Syrah, Canberra District NSW $105
- 2022 Jasper Hill ‘Georgia’s Paddock’ Shiraz Heathcote VIC $290
- 2020 Rusden ‘Black Guts’ Shiraz, Barossa Valley SA $215
With chicken
Chicken is best matched with fresh Chardonnays. Chardonnay has seen it all, from rich, buttery and full to lean nervy and tight. Now we have a wonderful array that sit in between the two offering the best of both worlds.
- 2021 Lowe ‘White Gold’ Chardonnay, Mudgee NSW $115
- 2022 Vinden ‘Somerset Vineyard’ Chardonnay Hunter Valley NSW $154
- 2017 Shaw & Smith ‘Lenswood’ Chardonnay Adelaide Hills SA $230
With pork
Pork is perfect with a textural Rosé. Pork is such a delicate meat that it pairs so well with textural, extracted Rosés. Luckily Australia has plenty of them!
- 2021 Mada Wines, Nebbiolo Rose Canberra District NSW $80
- 2022 Farr Rising ‘Saignee’ Pinot Noir Geelong VIC $105
- 2022 Cobaw Ridge, Syrah Rose Pyrenees VIC $110
With seafood
Seafood works beautifully with a Rosé or flexible, textural white wine, depending on if it is shellfish, fish or crustaceans.
- 2020 Lo Stesso Fiano Heathcote VIC $92
- 2022 Grosset ‘Apiana’ Fiano Clare Valley SA $138
- 2020 Domaine Belargus ‘Ronceray’ Chenin Blanc Anjou AOC, France $270
- 2020 Las Vino ‘Albino PNO’, Pinot Noir Rose Margaret River WA $138
With vegetables
Spring vegetables meet their match with Sauvignon Blanc. Fresh and lean to compliment the sweet spring veggies.
- 2022 Shaw & Smith Sauvignon Blanc Adelaide Hills SA $85
- 2022 Sorrenberg Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Beechworth VIC $135
- 2019 Domaine Vacheron Sauvignon Blanc Sancerre AOC $155
With nibbles (cheeses and dips)
I recommend a light, aromatic blend or Riesling. Champagne is usually queen here, but we love an aromatic, zippy dry wine to drag you in and tease your taste buds with the snacks.
- 2022 Stargazer ‘Tupelo’ Pinot Gris Riesling Blend Coal River Valley TAS $95
- 2018 Loosen Barry ‘Wolta Wolta’ Riesling, Clare Valley SA $215
- 2018 Von Winning ‘UNGEHEUER’ GG Riesling, Pfalz Germany $222
With entrées (example Scampi Crudo)
Entrées are perfectly paired with a flinty, textural Assyrtiko.
- 2021 Kir–Yianni Assyrtiko Florina PDO $91
- 2018 Vassaltis ‘Nassitis’ Assyrtiko Athiri Aidani, Cyclades PGI $111
- 2018 Vassaltis ‘Santorini’ Assyrtiko Santorini PDO $140
With desserts (example: Tiramisu)
With chocolate pairings you need something rich and round to compliment the chocolate notes.
- 2016 Braida Brachetto d’Aqui DOCG $59
- 2008 Isole e Olena Vin Santo Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC $165
- NV Rallo ‘Vergine’ Soleras 20 anni Marsala DOC $200
