Prosecco in the park: 5 tips for an unforgettable picnic

The humble picnic has come a long way. What was once a casual affair, can now be a decadent experience filled with frivolity, fun and of course, Prosecco. Indulge in gorgeous cheeses, sip flutes of bubbles and hang some fairy lights, and you’ll have a recipe for the perfect romantic picnic.

Location, location, location

When it comes to scenery, we’re spoilt for choice in Australia. So why settle for the local park when you can up the ante? Try your city’s Royal Botanic Gardens, drive a little further for a lush forest view or venture seaside for an ocean backdrop.

Once you’ve chosen your location, you can buy accessories to match. Bunting and solar powered fairy lights are perfect for a garden setting, while driftwood and lanterns complement beachside affairs.

Start the picnic by popping a chilled bottle of Prosecco. We suggest a dry style Prosecco from Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. The cooler climate produces tart fruit flavours with an elegant finish.

A cut above the rest

Enhance your picnic setup by decorating with freshly cut flowers. They not only look beautiful, but they add a layer of romance. For a vintage style picnic, try bunches of lavender in Mason jars, tied with string. If you’re after a little more colour, try bunches of pink and blue hydrangeas. And if nature is your thing, opt for native wattles and bottlebrush.

While you’re arranging the flowers, get inspired by sipping on something pink and blossoming with flavour. We recommend a vibrant Sparkling Rosé or Sparkling Moscato – something dry but still fruity. Their lively and refreshing styles are ideal for a hot day on the picnic rug.

A signature cocktail

A grand picnic deserves a grand cocktail. So add a little magic by creating something imaginative and delicate. For a summer cocktail, try a this Plum and Prosecco Smash. (We suggest pre-making the plum syrup at home.)

Ingredients

• 2 plums
• 6 thyme sprigs
• Juice from one lemon
• 4 tbsp. thyme simple syrup (1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of water, bring to a boil, remove from heat, add thyme sprigs, stir, and let cool. Chill until ready to use)
• 1 bottle of Prosecco or your favourite Sparkling

Peel, chop and muddle plums with the thyme simple syrup and lemon juice. Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker and pour over crushed ice in flutes. Finish with Prosecco and garnish with extra plum slices and sprigs of thyme.

The perfect spread

Food makes the picnic, so it’s worth spending a little extra time sourcing fresh ingredients and preparing the spread at home. In summer months, we love mini Caprese sandwiches. You can keep them vegetarian or add prosciutto for a salty kick. Add flair to their presentation by wrapping them in baking paper and tying with string.

Pairing cheese and Sparkling is a picnic must. We suggest a drier Brut style of Prosecco for a soft, buttery cheese such as a Triple Crème Brie, or Spanish quince paste with crackers. We also love a baked brie with a roast fig, walnut and honey topping – depending on what’s possible with your location – which would go better with an extra dry Prosecco.

It’s all in the detail

You’ve chosen the location, designed the menu and now it’s time to select the smaller items. Metal cutlery can be clunky and plastic cutlery comes across as more cheap than cheerful. Instead, try for wooden cutlery; it’s light, durable and charming – as well as biodegradable. When choosing napkins, stay away from paper and invest in fabric. Not only are they reusable, they add a level of dinner party sophistication.

A luxurious picnic deserves a luxurious Sparkling. If you can, we recommend going for an opulent Prosecco from Italy’s Valdobbiadene region. The growing region, along with Conegliano, is applying for UNESCO status to join the world heritage list, so you can be confident its Prosecco is of the highest quality.