Four Cousins Bubbly turns any event into an occasion

Monday, 22 August, 2011
Van Loveren
Pop the cork on Four Cousins sparkling wine, the bubbly that adds sparkle to any occasion. This fun, no-nonsense range can be enjoyed throughout the year, whether as an accompaniment to a fiery curry in winter, a cocktail at a social engagement or pool-side refreshment on a hot summer's day.
Four Cousins is one of South Africa’s best loved and most popular wine brands that incorporates a selection of easy to drink, widely available bubblies too. Whether you have friends over for a late-morning brunch, a year-end office get-together, are celebrating a special occasion, winding down at the end of the day or simply looking for a great compliment your meal – you’re sure to find one in the Four Cousins range. To boot, the three sweeter styles in its small constellation of sparkling wines have lower levels of alcohol.

The fragrant Four Cousins White exudes gentle honeysuckle perfume and flavours of luscious apricots, nougat and rich tropical fruit salad. It’s the perfect sundowner, served with slices of fruit, but just as delectable alongside spicy oriental food. The flame-coloured Four Cousins Blush too has a floral scent, but it is flavours of tropical fruits, peaches and raisins that linger. Crack open a bottle as an aperitif, or serve with desserts. Equally good as an everyday bubbly is the Four Cousins Red, with flavours of ripe plums, strawberries and exotic spices. The ruby-red wine has a soft rose petal perfume and is great at any time, especially with spicy foods, desserts and fruit salad. Enhance a meal of seared tuna with a glass of Four Cousins Sauvignon Blanc Brut, a light refreshing wine. It’s good too with smoked salmon, shellfish, creamy pasta, ham or white meat in general and presents subtle aromas of tropical fruit.

Why not try something a little different? This recipe showcases the versatility of bubbly; something fun to incorporate some bubbly pizzazz.

Four Cousins Summer Jelly
Round off a great meal with this light, low fat and more-ish dessert.

Ingredients:
(serves 4)

300 ml water
55g caster sugar
500 ml Four Cousins Blush Sparkling
1 sachet gelatine (3 tsp)
150 g fresh strawberries

Method:

Put the water and sugar into a small saucepan over medium heat and stir to dissolve the crystals. Raise the heat and bring to boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, then remove the pan. Add the gelatine to the sugar mixture and whisk quickly until the gelatine is completely dissolved. Add the Four Cousins Blush, give it a brief stir to mix and set aside to cool slightly. Pour the mixture into another bowl and refrigerate for about one hour or until it starts to thicken. Stir in the strawberries and divide the mixture then between 4 serving glasses and refrigerate overnight, or until set. Serve with a glass of any Four Cousins bubbly.

Four Cousins is a family-owned wine enterprise situated on the banks of the Breede River in the Robertson wine valley. Its sparkling wines are available nationwide and retail at around R45 each.