There's nothing better than being part of the rolling babble of five females, lazing around with your shoes off and feet up, painting each other's toenails while Meg Ryan's on the TV - unless there's also a glass of wine cupped languidly in your hand!
Queensland's vineyards enjoy the same sun, sweet fresh breezes and sultry nights that we do - is it any wonder that they create wines that are as gorgeous as us?! Queensland winemakers are getting very creative, now making new herbal accent wines, toffee rosés, and shirazes more complex than a Bold and the Beautiful plotline, all available locally. We check out the best of the sunshine state for a chick's night in.
Bunjurgen Estate Vineyard - The Colonial Past:
We love this wine's deep purple colour and a rich, earthy flavour.
Soak it up with:
Rich reds are great with cheese and chocolate. Try pieces of Bueno chocolate by Ferrero or a rich blue cheese.
O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards - Platypus Play UnwoodedChardonnay:
A great summer wine, with tropical fruit flavours dominating, and a crisp acidity which makes for a clean finish. This white really fills up the palate - not for wine wusses!
Soak it up with:
Truffled popcorn is divine with chardonnay. Toss truffled butter, salt and pepper together with the popcorn once cooked, for the most glamourous night on the couch ever!
Aussie Vineyards - Piper Rosé:
Superb, because this rosé has hints of strawberry, raspberry, toffee and confectionery on the nose and a vivid taste on the tongue.
Soak it up with: Lots of seafood darling!
Warrego Wines - Fiona's Folly:
This is a great low-alcohol chardonnay/viognier which is consistently sold out - yes, you'll have to pre-order for your chick-flick fest! It is only 8.5% alcohol, so for those that don't drink as regularly, Fiona's 'Folly' is your ingenuity!
Soak it up with:
Grab some Thai or Chinese takeaway for this slightly sweet, unwooded wine.
Wedgetail Ridge Estate - Gee Spot:
We love this herbal blend Semillon that will have you saying 'Gee - that hits the spot!'. For those who get couch-lock after two glasses of wine, Gee Spot is blended with gingko, guarana and ginseng… hopefully toning down your hangover by minimizing the 'sipper's stupids', and instead helping pep you up for dancing. An exotic taste - and what a cool label!
Soak it up with:
Grab some sushi, or make your own - or Bhuja snacks are an easy and tasty alternative.
Clovely Estate - Double Pruned Shiraz:
Because of a smaller harvest of more concentrated grapes, this wine makes for a rich, complicated flavour, making it even harder to get to the bottom of than your husband's brain!
Soak it up with:
Kettle's chips and dip, especially onion-flavoured, to go well with shiraz.
