Late last year we decided it was time to get to know the neighbours. We’d moved to a new house at the beginning of January and had meant to do it earlier, but covid got in the way. With restrictions eased it was time to have all the people we’d chatted to in the street over for a drink. But what do you give people you don’t know to drink? Do they actually drink alcohol even?

Flashback to our first house and alcohol would not have been on the menu. A lovely Lebanese family lived at number 51, and an elderly teetotal couple at 55. They were both great neighbours. Abdul greeted me as a brother and dished out free cashew nuts – we lived next door to a milk bar. We returned the favour by helping four of his six children with homework over the six years we lived there. When the kids saw me with a beer in hand they warned me that I would go to ‘the fire’. I got the feeling from the current neighbours that booze would be more acceptable.

A quick Google search revealed that ‘love thy neighbour’ comes from the Matthew 22:37-39 ‘thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’ which felt like a good brief – what did I want to drink?

I decided beer, bubbly, pink and white were required. And, just in case, a light red. Obviously I had a budget and while I didn’t want to impress people (I’m sure there’s a proverb about that) I also didn’t want to disrespect them.

Beer was easy – my favourite, Moretti. As fresh as alpine air with a silly hat and moustache. About $50 for 24.

Bubbly – Arras NV, one of Tasmania’s finest. It was clean, balanced and did the job, but it had a hole in the finish. I felt a bit stingy not getting Champagne – particularly when next door brought some Mumm (and went back for more). Since then, I’ve tried another Tassie NV called Pirie which is much better (2 for $50 at Vintage Cellars). Huon Hooke gave it a rating of 95 and I’m not surprised. It’s won lots of awards and I’m quite sure it would beat most basic NV Champagnes (but not Veuve Cliquot Cuvee St Petersburg which is well worth trying if you can find it).

For the white I went for a Chardonnay, staying true to myself and chose Lightfoot Myrtle Chardonnay – I mentioned this in the last blog, a great drop from Gippsland. Also worth considering is Rob Nolan Yarra Valley Chardonnay, about $20 from Shorty’s Liquor.

For rosé I chose the ever reliable Le Pont from the ever reliable Le Pont bottle shop, made by Dominique Portet and under $20.

I looked to Lightfoot Pinot Noir for the light red and nobody drank any of it. That could have been the weather – it was a very hot day. It’s closer to $30 than $20 and a lighter style than the Main Divide (see last blog) and I was happy no one drank it.

Since then we’ve started hanging out with our neighbours and enjoying their company – even the one who doesn’t drink. Ah, but does he have a good reason!