Women’s Day is almost here. Maybe this year, you decided you’re going to have a girls’ night. Whether you and your gal pals decide to stay in or go out for the evening, you’ll need some yummy drinks to loosen things up. These chick-centric wines do the trick – and make great gifts, too. Happy Women’s Day, ladies … cheers!

Chateau Del Rei

Best for an afternoon picnic

Bubbles are your friend. In general, and specifically on Women’s Day. This sparkling wine in a can is stylish and refreshing when you’re drinking outside. They have the sparkle and fizz we love in champagne, but cost less and taste totally unique. There’s something for everyone in the range: The original sweet Chateau Del Rei, the fresh and fruity Chateau Del Rei Sparkling Dry as well as the Chateau Del Rei Sparkling Semi-Sweet Rosé with a seductive rosy complexion. It’s still bubbly, but it’s a bit lighter in style … and price point. All you have to do is pop the tab on the can and indulge!

Around R13.99 per can or R74.99 for a six-pack from your local bottle store

Roodeberg Classic Rosé 2019

Best for the vegan dinner party

Pairing wine with vegan meals may seem like a daunting task – and that’s because it kind of is. But this vivacious rosé, which delights with subtle aromas of strawberry, candy floss and raspberry intertwined with hints of rose petals and Turkish delight, is a good fit and pairs very well with grain-based dishes and other vegan foods. A meticulously crafted blend made predominantly of cabernet sauvignon grapes, this alluring salmon-pink rosé is fresh and crisp with good acidity and a fruity long finish. It’s also ideal for relaxed get-togethers and for when friends pop over.

Around R89 to R95 from your local bottle store

Rickety Bridge The Pilgrimage Semillon 2017

Best for eating pasta

As far as a wine that pairs well with pasta, we recommend this limited-edition bottle. It’s light and versatile and a natural match for pasta – it was basically made to complement the dish. Initial freshness on the nose opens up to complex citrus and zesty lime with underlying floral aromas. An extraordinarily satiny palate of honey, nougat and citrus is perfectly balanced with caramel sweetness and a beautiful lingering creamy finish. Rich and intense yet fresh, it finishes regally and perfectly dry. It’s a great table wine packaged in a magnificent heavyweight bottle with a blue wax seal.

R450 from specialist wine merchants

TOKARA Shiraz 2018

Best for a dinner that’s heavy on the red meat

If you know that red meat is going to fill up most of your menu, you need to choose your wine according. For an oddball choice that still works, we love shiraz with red meat. Displaying a dark cherry colour in the glass, this one has aromas of plums, blackberries and briary fruit emanate with underlying notes of dried herbs, black olives and rosemary. Flavours on the palate are quite spicy with a good support of red fruit notes. The mid-palate is juicy yet the finish is dry with beautiful fine-grained tannins on the finish. It’s a perfect pairing with roast pork loin, quail or duck breast.

R125 from your local bottle store

Fat Bastard Chardonnay 2019

Best for having seafood

A chardonnay isn’t everyone’s favourite wine. Some people could be afraid of that buttery, oak flavour that’s inherent in chardonnay. But this extremely well-priced one is rich, round, fruit-driven and food-friendly – and it’s really just exquisite with any type of seafood. Before you take a sip, breathe in the expressive tropical fruit aromas intermingling with rich, buttery notes and undertones of vanilla. Then, take a sip and relish the full, creamy texture on your palate followed by a fruity intensity. Every sip is followed by an uplifting citrus finish that can only be described as tasting like … more.

Between R85 and R95 from your local bottle store

Steenberg Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc

Best for drinking alone

Sometimes, you’re your own best company … and you should toast to that! This one is highly subjective, so be the master of your own destiny and pick whatever you want. However, this is our top pick, which accentuates everything from triple-cream cheese and truffles, to caviar and cake. One of the most iconic and eye-catching sparkling wines on the market, the nose bursts with aromas of passionfruit, pink grapefruit, melon, guava, mango and green fig, while the palate is fresh and zingy with hints of pineapple and passion fruit with a long, lingering aftertaste and a refreshing finish.

R145 from your local bottle store

Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Exclusive Rosé

Best for knocking back a few glasses with Mom

Sharing a bottle with Mom can be fun. It’s also the only way to really get some of the family secrets out in the open. So, what to drink? We hate to beat a dead horse, but champagne. This ‘real’ champagne inspired by the ‘first bloom of spring’. It’s lively and refreshing, perfect for alfresco sipping and delicious with Japanese cuisine. And you should treat her … she’s your mom! Exquisitely adorned with the delicate pink petals of the iconic cherry blossom set against a beautiful blue sky, a cavalcade of redcurrant and raspberry notes combine with a hint of strawberries.

R780 from your local bottle store

Robertson Winery Sparkling Brut Rosé

Best for curing a hangover

Sometimes after a night of drinking with your girls, you kind of just want another drink with brunch to cleanse your palate, so to speak. With a lively burst on the palate and aromas of wild strawberries, this pink and dry sparkling wine will really help set your head back to straight … without putting you down for the count. It’s a sophisticated sensation filled with fruity and wonderful floral notes, and we just love the sophisticated and attractive packaging. You can also enjoy it with flavoursome canapés – just make sure you serve it at the ideal temperature of between 4° and 9°.

Between R65 and R75 from your local bottle store