Summer is here, the season of holidays, al fresco eating and long warm evenings enjoying a long cool drink.
And isn’t it good to know that, whatever the weather or occasion, your local SPAR has all you need; from salty crisps to chicken kebabs; from crisp white wines to juicy, jammy reds.
So next time you pop into your local Spar you check out the new UpTempo and Tasteheads wine ranges which are gradually replacing Taste and Letter Collection. The bold and colourful labels should make them easy to spot and naming the new wines by style makes finding your favourites even simpler.
Food and Wine pairing made easy
Have you ever been baffled about which wines to offer guests or what pairs best with your supper menu? We're here to help with a few hints and tips to help you find the perfect wine:
- Country of origin - You can’t go far wrong by matching the food of a country to the wine that’s produced there. Pizza with Pinot Grigio or Mediterranean roasted vegetables with a refreshing Southern French dry rose. Matches made in heaven.
- Body and richness - Try matching the body and richness of the food to that of a wine: hearty casseroles with big, bold red wines or fresh, delicate sushi with a light, refreshing white wine both work well.
- Flavours - Foods with high acidity work best with wines with a similar tart flavour – the briskness of the wine lowers how much acidity you taste in the food, and vice versa. This also works for salty food: try Sauvignon Blanc, one of Spar’s Crisp Tasteheads wines, with some salt and vinegar crisps. Amazing!
- Tannin – that’s the drying sensation you get with some Bold flavoured red wines and comes from the grape skins or stalks in the wine making process. Not keen? Then match the wine to some protein like meat, cheese or a creamy sauce and the tannins will seem to soften. More magic!
- Have what you fancy - There are no rules when it comes to pairing, if your favourite wine is Sauvignon Blanc and you can’t abide big red wines then don’t opt for Bold reds, enjoy your lovely crisp and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc. After all, food and wine are there to be savoured and enjoyed!
The sun’s shining (hopefully), so fire up the barbecue, grab the tongs and chill some bottles of SPAR's own-label wine for the perfect get together for family and friends.
There’s a wide selection of BBQ favourites in your local SPAR now, from chicken thighs and wings to burgers and sausages. A smooth red wine is a great choice for BBQ favourites. We love a glass of Malbec at this time of year, pick up our new Tasteheads Malbec in stores now, it's fabulously smooth, a vibrant red, and packed with ripe fruit flavours
Or pair your BBQ meat with a bold red; chicken kebabs with a jammy red or a cool smooth, buttery white wine with your favourite food.
Summer weekends are made for strolling to local parks to enjoy an impromptu picnic. Pick up a wide-range of fuss-free picky bits for an afternoon of feasting, cloud watching or games playing. And don’t forget a chilled bottle or two of SPAR wine.
Your local SPAR has you covered with a selection of Hummus, dips, mixed olives with feta and chicken drumsticks. Pair with some sparkling flavoured water or treat yourself to a glass of wine, a floral or crisp white or a cool, smooth red.
After a busy day there’s nothing more welcome than chatting with neighbours, reading a book and enjoying a chilled glass of wine with some snacks.
SPAR’s hand cooked crisps call for a summery dry rose or why not opt for some fizz and pick up SPAR's silver medal winning prosecco. Looking to make an impromptu platter? Pick up some antipasti and anything else you fancy. The best thing about sharing boards is that you can add pretty much anything you want, making it easy to cater for all your guests (or just treat yourself).
A little bit of drizzle doesn't need to spoil your plans this summer. If you want to BBQ and showers are in sight, set up a reliable shelter in advance. Whether it’s a pop-up canopy, a sturdy tarp, or a generous patio umbrella, a bit of cover can keep both your grill and your guests dry—so the only thing sizzling is the food.
If your al fresco plans have been spoiled move the party inside and enjoy SPAR’s great pizzas and tear and share dough balls straight from the oven. Add a salad sharing bowl, some continental meats and a glass of crisp white wine and relax….
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