Three ways to revisit House of BNG brut rosé this winter

Bubbly may not be the first thing people reach for in cooler weather, but House of BNG Brut Rosé makes a strong case for staying on the table. With bright acidity, soft berry notes and enough structure to pair with richer seasonal dishes, the MCC shifts easily from summer staple to cold-weather brunch pour.

When temperatures drop, most people instinctively reach for red wine. Fuller-bodied pours and rich winter food pairings tend to dominate the season, while bubbly is usually reserved for summer celebrations, rooftop brunches and year-end occasions.

Still, certain sparkling wines lend themselves surprisingly well to cooler-weather eating. House of BNG Brut Rosé — developed by media mogul and long-time MCC enthusiast Bonang Matheba alongside Cape Wine Master Jeff Grier — has enough acidity to cut through richer food, while its strawberry, red berry, and red apple notes keep it approachable and easy to drink over a long lunch.

Here are three ways to approach it differently this season: 

Cocktail approach: Keep the citrus clean 

The Brut Rosé already carries soft berry and citrus notes, making it an easy base for a more grown-up take on the classic mimosa.

Instead of orange juice, lean into:

• Fresh naartjie juice
• Grapefruit slices
• Orange peel
• Rosemary or thyme ice cubes

The result feels fresher and more structured than a mimosa, while still keeping the MCC profile intact.

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Pairing note: Rich food loves acidity

One of the reasons sparkling wine works so well with food is acidity. The Brut Rosé cuts through buttery, creamy, and salty dishes particularly well.

Pair it with:

• Mushroom quiche
• Smoked salmon bagels
• Parmesan fries
• Baked cheeses
• Croissants with preserves
• Charcuterie boards with soft cheeses and cured meats

The berry notes in the wine become more noticeable against savoury flavours, while the bubbles keep richer dishes from feeling too heavy.

The aesthetic approach: Treat it like a lunch wine 

Instead of saving bubbly for celebrations, treat Brut Rosé the way you would a good white wine at a long lunch.

Serve it alongside shared plates, warm pastries, and snack-style dishes rather than formal canapés. Cooler weather naturally shifts entertaining indoors, making MCC feel less occasion-driven and more integrated into the meal itself.

Sometimes, revisiting a familiar bottle is simply about changing the context around it.

Availability:

House of BNG is available nationwide from retailers including Woolworths, Norman Goodfellows, Checkers Sixty60, Makro, Takealot, Tops! and Ultra Liquors, with prices starting at approximately R300, depending on the retailer.