Mother’s Day Wine Gift Guide! Plus refresh with Gruner Veltliner and fun food pairings with baby Amarone

With restaurants opening up and activities resuming, we are all very happily shifting gears and getting into the swing of things as we head into the summer months. 

Thanks to all for your support on the launch of our Somm Box series! To bring our exclusive collaboration with sommelier Kiki Sontiyart to life, we are holding a special sold-out dinner event on May 5th on the terrace at Aaharn set against the beautiful, historic Tai Kwun building to give members and their guests the opportunity to taste wines from the TOASST Somm Box in a specially curated food and wine pairing event. 

Highlights from the TOASST May box:

For our white lovers, we’re excited to feature a beautiful Premier Cru Gruner Veltliner for our members in this month’s box. Schloss Gobelsburg was run by Cistercian monks from the 12th century until winemaker and scientist Michael Moosbrugger took over in 1996. A Wine & Spirits' magazine's 'Top 100 Winery of the Year', the winery mixes organic viticulture with traditional winemaking. With lively white floral, orange citrus aromas and hint of white pepper, the Kamptal Reserve Renner Erste Lage 2018 evolves on the palate with a round, layered mouthfeel, mineral, if slightly seductive, salty lingering finish. 

Gruner is a great alternative to Sauvignon Blanc but this full-bodied version is also an option for Chardonnay lovers. This dry crisp white wine is an amazing pairing for everything from soft creamy cheeses to hard to pair vegetables. Think Camembert or paneer, classic Austrian pork schnitzel or fried veal cutlets, French country terrine with chicken, roast asparagus, fried baby artichokes or fresh Vietnamese spring rolls. 

Our red lovers who fancy Italian wines will find it hard to not reorder the Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella DOC Superiore 2018. Made in the "Ripassa"style, sometimes referred to as "baby Amarone", Valpolicella wine is passed over the dried grapes used to make Amarone wine. This wine from family owned Zenato is one for full-bodied, Italian red lovers. From vineyards in dry, loamy and calcareous soils near the shores of Lake Garda, this blend of native varietals including Corvina, Rondinella and Oseleta, features ripe intense black cherry and plum aromas, oak, vanilla, chocolate with mouth watering acidity and an elegant finish.         

A big intense red with a tinge of sweetness like this one stands up well to everything from classic Italian dishes of pizza and pasta to charcuterie and aged cheeses, grilled meats, roasts and game dishes. Think wine braised short ribs, mushroom risotto, lamb ragù or experiment with Vietnamese braised beef stew or Korean grilled beef bulgogi. 

With Mother’s Day  just around the corner on May 9th, pick up a Sparkling Box, TOASST x BYDEAU gift set featuring the perfect combination of wines and flowers, or snag the latest version of our popular Endless Summer box featuring just the right combination of sparkling, rosés and whites. Scroll down for gift ideas and how you can order in time for May 9th. 

Not getting a box this month and out of wine ahead of the long weekend? Contact our wine concierge at info@toasst.co or order a TOASST wine pack at our Wine Shop. Send us your feedback on the wines, tips or food pairing inspiration as you travel through your TOASST box on Instagram and Facebook.

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