Lindeman's has sweet start to the new season

The sun was shining brightly on the first day of spring for the launch of the Lindeman's Sweet Seasons range of wines at Rathborne Lodge in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens.

Guests, including media personality, Tracey Spicer, and House & Garden Editor--in-Chief, Lisa Green, sipped on the new lighter alcohol wines as they learnt about the best spring recipes and gardening tips from Lindeman's ambassadors, celebrity chef Dominique Rizzo and garden guru Meredith Kirton.

The LINDEMAN'S Sweet Seasons range is targeted at wine drinkers who enjoy refreshingly fruitier styles of wine that are lighter in alcohol while maintaining their great fruit character and intensity.

The range joins the already popular LINDEMAN'S Early Harvest wines as the perfect lighter alcohol partners to spring and summer foods. They are set to become quite the hit over the forthcoming months as the weather warms up and spring produce comes to market.

The NV LINDEMAN'S Sweet Seasons Zibibbo is already a winner with its distinctive sparkle and lighter alcohol of just 7.5% alc/vol. It has gorgeous fresh, lifted aromas of musk, citrus, honeysuckle and spice with a palate of tropical sweetness and lovely acidity. Zibibbo is a growing category in Australia and is the Italian translation of the grape variety Australian grape growers call Muscat of Alexandria. The LINDEMAN'S Sweet Seasons Zibibbo has a touch of sparkle on the palate which makes it a perfect aperitif style -- perfect for pre-lunch drinks or an afternoon on the balcony.

Moving up by just one percentage point in alcohol is the 8.5% alc/vol 2010 LINDEMAN'S Sweet Seasons Blancello. The Blancello has some lovely floral and citrus notes with tropical fruit overtones which make it an excellent food wine. A delightful blend of aromatic varieties that is the perfect partner to light and tasty Spring salads and seafood.

The third in the Sweet Seasons trio is the 2009 LINDEMAN'S Sweet Seasons Dulciana -- a fruity and refreshing red wine that showcases rich and ripe fresh red fruits on the nose with dark berries, plums and subtle spice on the palate. With only 9.5% alc/vol, this wine is the ideal partner to spicy Asian salads, pasta dishes and it should be served lightly chilled for maximum enjoyment.

Continuing its support of Australia's finest garden festivals, LINDEMAN'S is launching the new LINDEMAN'S® Open Garden, a beautiful space for relaxing and celebrating a lighter lifestyle at Floriade 2010 in Canberra and at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show in 2011.

Held from 11 September - 12 October at Commonwealth Park in Canberra's city centre, the LINDEMAN'S® Open Garden will see a flurry of activity from the LINDEMAN'S® cellar door, to celebrity cooking demonstrations and a hanging basket competition for visitors.

LINDEMAN'S® ambassadors, Meredith Kirton and Dominique Rizzo, will hold cooking and gardening demonstrations at the LINDEMAN'S OPEN GARDEN, and will appear alongside TV and radio personality, Glenn Wheeler.