Did you neglect to make Mother’s Day plans? By now, it may be too late to secure a table at her favourite brunch spot. Rather than compromise, treat your mother to a home cooked meal. The effort is far greater and the impact will likely be as well. If you are cooking at her place though, just make sure you clean up too. And don’t forget the wine.
I would never deign to stereotype mothers so suggesting wine is not straightforward. The most important thing to remember is that you are honouring your mother and she deserves nothing but the best. If you don’t already know what wine she likes to drink (shame on you), find out and treat her to the finest example. For my Mum, that means rosé and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I’m starting with these and have added a few other homeruns.
Once you’ve figured out which bottle will suit her, you can plan the menu around it. Brunch is a Mother’s Day classic. Call it lunch if she isn’t a fan of eggs. In either case, a long, leisurely afternoon meal will give you time to catch up and savour a few glasses together.
2014 Les Fleurs du Mal, Rosé • Cevennes IGP, France • $13.29
Pure pink pleasure at a very reasonable price. Mouth filling and fleshy, it offers juicy cranberry, succulent strawberry and tangy nectarine notes. Serve with a vegetarian frittata accompanied by green salad and goat cheese. A lunch sure to transport all to the South of France. How’s that for a Mother’s Day gift?
2014 Innocent Bystander, Moscato • Victoria, Australia • $17.39
You could be checking off a lot of boxes with this. Pink, frothy and sweet with flavours of candied rhubarb, orange water and roses that delight. Best of all, it's light in alcohol (5.5 per cent) which means guilt-free daytime drinking. If your mother has a thing for desserts, this the way to go. Perfect for fruit salad and pastries.
2013 Antonio Camillo, Principio Ciliegiolo • Maremma Toscana IGT, Italy • $21.69
If your mother has a preference for red, here’s a cheerful wine that’s sure to bring a smile to her face. Crafted from the Ciliegiolo grape (which means little cherry), this charming, medium weight red bursts with pure bright red cherry and hints of Mediterranean herbs. It will sit well with lunch especially if you are whipping up a Tuscan style banquet. Now there’s an idea.
2014 Dog Point, Sauvignon Blanc • Marlborough, New Zealand • $27.79
You’ll be setting a new standard with this slightly pricier Sauv Blanc. But come on; it’s your mother! Expect a step up in concentration and complexity from lower priced examples along with intense minerality and a beautiful creamy texture. Still super lemony and delightfully pungent with tropical fruit, melon and grapefruit. Made for a seafood feast.
n/v Michel Loriot, Authentic Meunier Blanc de Noirs Brut • Champagne AOC, France • $52.19
This is the time to indulge your mother’s Champagne tastes. Made from the lesser-known Pinot Meunier grape, Loriot’s Blanc de Noirs is slightly buttery and round yet still vibrant with lots of red currants. Friendly and fruit-forward, it’s perfect for afternoon sipping and a great solution when egg dishes feature heavily in your repast. Great value in the realm of Champagne.
