Summer Aperitif and friendships

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you would have seen that I recently got back from a week away in the Coromandel. We rented a house with a great big deck with one amazing view. To make the holiday even more special, one of my oldest and dear friends from Australia, Tash, her husband Dave and their two boys were able to visit us for three nights while they were here.

I was asked if I’d like to join Sip NZ Rose and New Zealand wineries to applaud all of the wonderful shades of pink on offer and the first National Rosé Day! Of course I couldn’t resist and thought that this deck, a summer aperitif and friendships set the perfect scene. While we will be celebrating for the entire month of February, today is the official #nzroseday. So are you ready to celebrate with me? You also have the chance to win $500 so read on.

Tash grew up in The Hunter Valley, a wine region a couple of hours north of Sydney, Australia, so naturally she was eager to try the local wine here and I was looking forward to host this. I was after a dry rosé for the aperitif, so I chose the one by Q Wine in the Waitaki Valley. This lovely boutique Saignee Rosé is refreshingly crisp and crafted from 100% Pinot Noir, which happens to be my favourite red grape.

I met Tash when we were in our early twenties both working in television. She had just moved to the city and we hit it off immediately. Funny enough, she seems to visit me around the world, first in Austria, Italy and then when I was living with Guillaume in France, and now here. Guillaume and I ended up getting married at her parent’s beautiful property in Pokolbin; she was my bridesmaid, I was also for her wedding and she’s the godmother of my daughter. So lets just say we have some history together.

Each evening after we put the children to bed, we sat around for an aperitif before a summer barbeque. There were always lots of laughs, stories old and new, a few world problems solved, but most of all an easy evening, all of us comfortable with our company.

To go with the soft colour of Q Rosé, I picked some hibiscus from the garden, served up some olives and then we let the sunset put on one beautiful show for us. It couldn’t have been more perfect.

Join us in celebrating all of the wonderful bottles of pink that this country produces. It’s happening throughout February, however today is the official #nzroseday so why not crack a bottle open at #roseoclock and share it on social media? You could also win $500 by going to the Sip NZ Rose site and voting for your favourite rose.

Cheers to good wine, great times and friendship!

Mel xx

P.S. A special thanks to my models, Tash and David and my husband photographer:)