Nothing says “summer” the way a glass of wine does and Liquor City, a national chain of more than 250 stores, only offers the best of imported house wines. Liquor City has grown into South Africa’s largest importer of Portuguese wines thanks to the success of its popular house brands.

Liquor City’s most popular and affordable imported wines is the Gatao and the Lagosta, which are both part of the most emblematic wines of the Vinhos Verdes, which is produced in an area of northwest Portugal with around 21,000 hectares under vine. Vinho Verdes carry no vintage as they are blends of various years, and are made effervescent with added CO2.

Vinho Verde is known to be a “green wine”. The name is appealing, but it can be a little confusing to consumers, since “green” simply suggests the wine’s young age and not its color. These wines are best when consumed while it is still young, usually within about a year.

The Gatao & the Lagosta wines goes well with the same foods that any light white wine will go with. These wines are great when paired with South Asian cuisine and seafood, especially lighter dishes like fried calamari, steamed littleneck clams, Funchal Fish Stew, or grilled shrimp. It also works well with salads and the hard-to-pair greener-tasting vegetables, such as asparagus. It’s so light, however, that it can’t stand up to strong flavors–a meaty pizza or a steak will overwhelm the wine, taking the taste away completely.

Young and fruity, a smooth, delicate, and fresh; a fun medium-dry wine meant to be enjoyed during the hot summer. It’s also ideal as a brunch drink instead of champagne.

*R42.99 at all Liquor City Stores nation wide

www.liquorcity.co.za