As a graphic designer I’m often attracted to beautifully designed labels…but if I’m deliberating between two bottles of wine, the one with a little gold sticker gets the final say. I usually buy wine on special in the $10 to $15 range. If I’m feeling fancy, or buying a wine for a BYO birthday dinner I’ll upgrade to a $20 to $25 bottle. I don’t often go over that because I don’t have to – there are delightful wines to be had for under $25.
The New World Wine Awards takes wine just seriously enough for your garden variety wine drinker. They’ve just announced their Gold, Silver and Bronze winners – all under $25. A panel of experts double-blind taste test over a thousand wines so you can be confident that the hard yards of wine tasting has been done for you.
Thanks to the New World Wine Awards, I have a $150 New World voucher to give away so you can embark on your own gourmet adventure. Look for the gold sticker next time you’re in New World and explore a new bottle with confidence.
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.
To enter, simply comment below with your favourite food and wine pairing.
Terms and conditions at the bottom of this post. NZ only.
The awards started 14 years ago, coincidently, the same year I was eligible to buy wine. I think it’s safe to say that both the wine industry and my personal tastes have developed significantly over these years and I’m excited to share 3 stunning wines with you.
New Zealand wines dominate the awards with a small number of overseas entries as well. I’ve selected reds from their Gold category winners: two are New Zealand made and the other is an organic wine that’s a little bit different all the way from Spain. These wines are absolutely delicious and I’ve designed a menu of easy tapas to match. Enjoy these as individual food and wine pairings or invite some friends over and enjoy all of them at once. I’ve purposely set up these recipes so they use the same 200°C oven…because who really needs to fiddle with oven temps when there’s delicious wine to be had?
Enjoy, be adventurous, and please cook responsibly!
Chorizo and prawns with roasted capsicum
Pair with: Mesta Tempranillo 2015 (Spain), $15-20
Ingredients
- 2 red or yellow capsicum, deseeded and roughly chopped
- 4 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 150g spanish chorizo, thickly sliced
- 150g prawns, shelled and deveined
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 cup red wine
- A pinch of chilli flakes
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 200°C.
- Place peppers onto a baking paper lined tray, toss with 2 tbsp oil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and reserve until required.
- In the meantime, heat 2 tbsp oil in a large frying pan and once hot, add onion and chorizo. Cook for 5 minutes on medium high heat, stirring occasionally.
- Add prawns and garlic and cook for a further 3 minutes. Add tomato paste and wine and scrape the pan to deglaze.
- Simmer for 2 minutes until sauce has thickened. Stir in roasted capsicum, chilli flakes and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve hot with a glass or two of Mesta Tempranillo 2015.
Goats cheese crostini
Pair with: Mission Estate Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2015, $20-25
Ingredients
- 1 baguette
- 3-4 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 200g soft goats cheese
- A punnet of cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced
- A handful of fresh basil leaves, chiffonaded (cut into ribbons)
- 2 tbsp vincotto or balsamic syrup
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 200°C.
- Slice a baguette into 15mm angled slices and arrange onto a large baking sheet in a single layer. Brush both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 4 minutes per side until golden.
- Once golden, remove from oven and carefully spread each crostini with a heaped teaspoon of soft goats cheese. Top with sliced tomato and basil. Place on a platter and drizzle all over with vincotto or balsamic syrup.
- Serve warm or at room temperature with a glass or two of Mission Estate Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2015.
Prosciutto wrapped asparagus spears
Pair with: Esk Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015, $20-25
Ingredients
- 24 fresh asparagus spears
- 200g prosciutto
- Black pepper
- Cooking oil spray
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 200°C.
- Cut or tear prosciutto into strips if not already in strips. Trim asparagus of any woody ends. If possible, buy thinner asparagus spears. If using thick spears, wrap each one individually with a piece of prosciutto, if using thinner spears, wrap in bundles of twos or threes, winding the prosciutto along the length of the spears, keeping the tips exposed. Place on a baking tray.
- Spray with oil and season with freshly ground black pepper. Bake for 8 minutes.
- Arrange on a plate or platter and serve warm or at room temperature with a glass or two of Esk Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015.
Giveaway terms and conditions
- To enter, simply comment below with your favourite food and wine pairing.
- One entry per person.
- R18. Open to NZ only.
- It is the responsibility of the winner to redeem their prize at a New World supermarket.
- Prize consists of a $150 New World voucher. May not be exchanged for cash.
- Should the winner not be contactable within 48 hours, Bunny Eats Design reserves the right to draw a new winner.
- Competition begins 26 October 2016. Entries close Sunday 13 November 2016 and winner will be drawn Monday 14 November 2016, contacted by email and announced here and on Facebook.
This post was made possible by the good folks at the New World Wine Awards. Opinions are my own.
Bunny Eats Design 
Really love a hearty lamb shank on mash with rich gravy served with a glass of montepulciano ( yummy rich red)
Steak with freash salad love red 😊
I’m normally a buttery chardonnay with fish or grunty cab sav with steak kind of guy, but with summer coming that prawn and chorizo recipe with a nice glass (or two) of Tempranillo might get this man of habits to change his way – it looks uber-yum!
On any given occasion, if I had to choose one to drink I would go for a pinot gris – the Thornbury one sounds delicious! I have been playing with wine and desserts lately and the Esk Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir would be excellent as a gel or jelly with my blackcurrant forrest – toasted meringue, chocolate crumb, blackcurrant coulis and ice cream.
Oysters and bubbles….
I love Cranberry camembert stuffed chicken breast on a bed of wild mushrooms with a side salad paired with Soljans Gewurztraminer
A good Shiraz with a beef casserole with a gremolata
I have to admit to being a bit of a novice when it comes to wine – I never know what to pair with what so I stick to wines I know I like (pinot gris is my number one). A good pinot gris with pan fried snapper and gorgeous fresh salads is perfect for summer, also goes well with a tasty platter…
Cheese & crackers with Savignon Blanc 🙂
I love pear, Parmesan and rocket it makes the most delicious salad!!
A true love story is when you pair Waipara Hills 2014 Pinot Noir with Brazillian Corriander Steak skewers.
The light yet full red perfectly compliments the refreshing zing of blended coriander.
An absolute must try!
Thanks,
Izzie
🙂
So hard to pick one but having just got my hands on some new season waitbait at the Marlborough Farmers Market, I’m going with whitebait fritters (bite size) with lemon wedges, chipotle mayo, and a glass of Nelson’s Fossil Ridge Chardonnay
Rustic Italian, well seasoned steak sliced over a bed of rocket and shards of good Parmesan – paired with a nice Chianti
Love your prosciutto asparagus idea, I eat a lot of asparagus at this time of year and particularly like it grilled in olive oil with a dollop of creme fresh and fish eggs (caviar) on top, this with a glass of toi toi Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is my idea of heaven.
I love oysters & prosecco, a wedge of a sharp Blue cheese with a nice glass of Gewurztraminer or a baked cheese soufflé with a summer reisling. And now I’m salivating……
A good shiraz with a beef hot pot!
A spicy Thai Red curry with Browns Brothers Dolcetto & Syrah. This wine is a bit different because you serve it chilled so goes great with a hot curry.
Seafood with champagne is my ideal pairing!
My favorite would be a Korma curry with a good Marlborough reisling like Giesen. Hmm yum
Lamb (best if slow cooked with gravy) paired with Roaring Meg Pinot Noir with its lovely texture of berries making the lamb dish absolutely delicious that melts in your mouth.
I’m not much of a wine person to be honest so I’d go for something sweet maybe a desert wine with cheese and crackers for nibbles
I realllly love a good crispy skinned salmon with a refreshing Pinot Gris!!! Anything from NZ 🙂
Love chicken casserole with a good Sav Blanc
Im not a wine peson but chorizos and prawns would go with any drinks. Great recipes.
Seared salmon fillets with aioli mayo and lemon pepper, seared asparagus also, and a nice glass.of white sparkling banrock station…cheap, affordable and divine as a combo
Thornbury red with a nice homemade lasagne. I know that sounds rich! It is indulgent!
Love a Syrah with pear and blue vein chesse with micro greens on a light cracker, not exactly tapas but so good
Goats cheese crostini and mission-estate-reserve-gimblett-gravels-syrah sounds amazing!
Salmon fillets with asparagus paired with a sparkling white wine or Riesling
Chorizo and prawns with a tomato base sauce and roasted vegetables
Pair with: Mesta Tempranillo 2015
We love a platter of Whitestone cheese and crackers with a good Sav Blanc
Chicken satay on rice with a Sauvignon Blanc.
Neudorf Rose’ and BBQ prawns with the long Southland twilight’s through summer. Perfect 😊
Freshly caught snapper panfried or barbacued and a chilled glass of a delicious sauvinion blanc is my favourite pairing.
A glass of Pinot Gris paired with my husbands delicious creation of pan fried salmon with whipped avo dressing , Agria potato hand made fries, and a side of brocolli and carotts it is amazing !
For me nothing beats a good cheese and crackers with wine but will definitely be trying your Goats Cheese Crostini. Sounds really yum
Oh my I love the Montana Pinot Gris winemakers series with some Devine Calamari so delicious
Pino Gris with BBQ seafood.
Barbecued scallops wrapped in bacon are amazing with a buttery chardonnay!
A good one i love is Pegasus Bay 2013, Sauvignon semillon and barbecued mussels little onion handful of dill, pinch of cumin and freshly ground black pepper. The perfect match mmmmmmm 🍷
Chorizo and prawns with roasted capsicum paired with Mesta Tempranillo 2015 (Spain),
Aussie Shiraz or Hawkes Bay Syrah paired with dark chocolate is my indulgent treat. 🙂
I’m being a bit decadent here, but my ideal combination is scallops and crayfish cooked in garlic butter, paired with a glass of Soljans Estate Fusion Sparking Muscat…mmmmmm
My ultimate food and wine pairing would have to be a Thai seafood salad called Yum Talay with Giesen Estate’s Riesling! My favorite Thai dish with my favorite wine!
At the ripe old age of 43 I have tried and tested a few wines and can confidently say Pinot Noir is my absolute favourite drop, especially so with a deliciously rich and hearty Lamb dinner.
Your Tapas look delectable darling ! The Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus Spears particularly caught my eye, and what a coincidence – best served with an Esk Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir ! I will definitely pair these when wanting to impress a special guest. Thank you for the recipes and superb suggestions.
A spicy Thai curry and a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc!!
Love asparagus will try these they look yum go nice with pilot noir
2013 pegasus bay Sauvignon semillon and barbecued mussels
barbecue with a little onion, a handful of dill, a whiff of cumin and freshly ground black pepper perfect match
When im feeling lazy and tired on a Friday night, a dry Rosé and a massive cheese toastie with as many cheeses as I happen to have in the house does me very well 👌
So naturally my favourite of the three above is the goats cheese, because cheese.
I would match a thai whole fried fish and spicy beef stir fry with the champion Villa Maria Private Bin Hawkes Bay Rose 2016 🙂 I think this would be a perfect meal
Can’t go wrong with a lovely piece of fish and a nice salad with a glass of Chardonnay!
My favorite matching would be a whole free range butterfly chicken marinated in tandoori paste and baked in the oven with 2016 Villa Maria Private Bin Hawkes Bay Rose
Yum! I was about to suggest a Pinot with prosciutto wrapped asparagus spears before I even scrolled down so that’s definitely my favourite, so delicious
I would go for a simple traditional Roast Lamb and a red wine
Or seafood and a crisp medium white
I don’t know a lot about wine …but I do like a glass with a meal
How am I meant to choose a fav?! But seriously – Merlot is always great and would personally go for something vegetarian to pair it with… preferably something that includes melty camembert 😉
Bubbles and crayfish
Brie and Pinot gris
Roast chicken and Thornberry Pinot Gris
Goats cheese crostini with a nice red, I think it was the hunter one that I tried and liked
Pinot noir with a good beetroot risotto 😋
I love riesling with crayfish! It’s a classic New Years feast at our house.
Salmon & Rose for me!
I will choose to eat a nice & fresh Ceviche with a glass of the RieMontana Waipara Riesling ! It’s a Really good match, I love to match them both !!! ❤
*Montana (not RieMontana )🙊
Slow cooked pork with Pinot Gris is perfection 🙂
Man o War Valhalla Chardonnay with a Peking Duck Pancake. Mmmmm!!
Mushroom, Brocoli, Cauliflower & Onion Lasagne (with plenty of Parmesan cheese) paired with a great Pinot. 🙂
Love love love an awesome steak with a glass of Shiraz… can’t beat it!
An old fashioned roast with a hearty red
Very much in love with Wairau River Wines Pinot Noir Rosé with smoked salmon on seaweed rice crackers, topped with pickled ginger and baby watercress leaves!
Bubbly and homemade fresh vietnamese spring rolls with herbs for summer…
A nice steak with a good bottle of Chianti, can’t go wrong!
I love a pavlova with cream and fresh fruit with a cava or prosecco!
Vegetable sweet potato burger with asparagus, peas and dressed with some homemade Peri mayonnaise. Served with a glass of Rabbit Ranch Pinot Noir.
I’ve recently gotten into drinking red wines, in the past I’ve usually only liked white. My favorite red to drink at the moment is black cottage Pinot noir. I like to make lamb shanks in the slow cooker on a cold winters day with a nice fluffy mash to go with it. It’s very easy to drink a glass (or three!) of this lovely wine, very smooth without the sharpness of a Shiraz.
Yum! The recipe that goes with Syrah sounds like something I would be into. My fave wine and food pairing is def a nice chilled sweet red with some blue cheese and walnuts – great on a summer day! Or rose and strawberries!
The Ned Pinos Gris with a yummy cheese board- blue cheese, puhoi double brie, grapes, and 180 degree oat crackers! Yum…
My fav food & wine pairing will forever be Salmon Steaks with Boysenberry Wine…YUM 😉
I love a rich hearty tomato shin of beef casserole with a nice glass of Shiraz 👌
I’m going to say honey glazed chicken with a roast vegetable salad with cashew dressing with a delightful pinot gris 🙂
shiraz with beef stew
Gewürztraminer with a good hearty curry is always good 😊
Any seafood with sparkling wine but in particular paua done on the bbq
Spaghetti bolognese with a good shiraz delicious
Esk valley pino noir and Goats cheese crostini
Love a roast lamb with a cabernet or a cabernet/merlot blend.
Love salmon with lime aloli on bok choy with garlic roasted potato chunks paried with a resiling . Reslings go beautifully with salamon dishes mmmmmm devine 🙂
A venison dish I do matched with Mt. Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot…delish!!
Roaring Meg Pinot with a piece of steak cooked on the BBQ!!
A Colombo Pinot noir pairs perfectly with Gordon Ramsey’s spicy lamb shanks. A Pinot has enough body to hold up well against the juicy red meat, but still light enough so you can taste the chilli and not over power the dish.
I like the asparagus with Pinot Noir
Mmmm pesto gnocchi covered with parmesan cheese. Side of garlic pita triangles with tzatziki with a glass of Rose..
Halloumi salad, yum, salty sweet salad goes well with any sav I have to drink
Duck and Pinot Noir.
A dry Riesling and smoked salmon! So tasty.
A cabernet with a beef fillet.
A cabernet with a beef fillet.
Shiraz and steak. Yum
Diffently sav blanc with a platter
I’m still deciding which wines I love most .. and like most you start drinking white wine .. sav..with an assortment of cheese crackers nuts and fruits. Now I’ve just started pairing merlot with my steak dinners #winninginlife lol
Italian food.
Love Whitestone blue cheese with fresh pear and roaring meg Pinot noir. Love the combination creamy blue cheese crisp pear and beautiful light red.
Chardy and Salmon! Perfect in the summer or Pinot Noir and lamb!
Fish and risotto with a not too sweet Pinot Gris.
Goats cheese and Syrah cannot be beaten!!
I am definitely a pinot gris type! I enjoy it with a yummy platter of deli meats, fresh bread, dips, spreads, relish, pickles, all types of cheese & crackers!
Kumera feta baby spinach salad with sav
The chorizo and prawns with temparillo sounds amazing!
A yummy Lamb curry pizza with a gorgeous Gewurztraminer is a winner on warm evening at this time of year.
A guwerztraminer paired with a Thai green curry chicken 😊
I love having lemon cake or lemon meringue pie with the Jacobs Creek moscato!
Salmon Steak, and panfried scallops, baby minted potatoes, beans and homemade slaw with a Peter Yealand’s Pinot Giris perfection ❤
Eye fillet with a central otago pinot gris
Creamy pasta dish with a lush salad and a distinctive pinot gri
Can’t go wrong with raw oysters & lemon with a glass or two of a nice cold sav 🙂
I love the sound of prosciutto wrapped asparagus Spears with Esk Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015
I love shrimps…not a wine drinker though but would love a sip or two of a sparkling 🙂
Beef bourguignon with shiraz 😍😍
Cannot beat a delicious a crisp rose with fresh terakihi, lemony slaw and garlic potatoes!
Soft creamy chèvre cheese with a Pinot Noir and crusty bread!
Pinot Noir with wild pork ravioli in a Pinot Noir reduction
I love sav with smoked chicken fettuccini.
Caesar salad with a sweet Moscato wine
Eye fillet, mushroom sauce, roast potatoes, green beans & asparagus paired with a delicious Merlot
Chocolate and red wine 💕
A nice shiraz with our Moroccan Beef casserole
A Mission Gimblett Gravels Syrah and a cheeseboard to me are a marriage made in heaven!
Rose and Israeli food
hawkes bay merlot 2014 with a yummy new zealand lamb roast roasted veges corn peas gravy mint sauce 🙂
Sea salted popcorn with a glass of rosé – salty and sweet!
Pink Moët with chilli chocolate dipped strawberries
Roast pork with the trimmings and a riesling (the older the better).
Pinot Gris and any kind of seafood!!!
Love chicken or fish with a bit of lemon matched with stables ngatarawa gewurtraminer, suchba nice wine
You really can’t go past a nice poached South Island salmon on a bed of greens, drizzled with hollandaise sauce with a glass of chilled Pegasus Bay Riesling! My all time favourite.
Recently made a delicious crab curry and paired with a Martinborough Chardonnay. It was incredible!
Pinot Noir & Dark Chocolate
Green Goddess Bruschetta with Esk Valley Pinot Noir
Venison with a juniper berry jus and a good Syrah
Rabbit Ranch Pinot noir with my slow cooked beef ragu with pappardelle , simple rocket salad and warm crusty bread. Yum
Im really bad at pairing. I know fish is nice with a nice crisp sav. I love shiraz with steak. See youre probably “going what the…? ” oh well, as long as its cooked well, its sav, pinot noir or shiraz im easy
A crisp bottle of Reisling with a nice thai green curry
I am a cheese girl, so it would be a cheese board with Savignon Blanc ❤
Moules Mariniere made and drunk with Old Coach Road Sauvignon Blanc! Delish!
I love a seared lamb strip salad with feta, walnuts and pomegranate with a nice smooth Pinot Noir 😍
Oysters and champagne !
Tomato, mozzarella and basil on walnut and seed crackers with a cold rose. Not a meal per say but I tend to eat a whole bunch and call it dinner in the Summertime😊
Just have to put it out there. …really juicey med rare kangaroo steak rocket and feta salad with a food bodied fruity Barossa or Mc Lauren vale Shiraz. Mmmmwah!!
I love snacking on cheese and crackers with a glass of chardonnay 🙂