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What to drink with blueberry pie

The pie is warm, the vanilla sauce is waiting. Coffee is a fine start – but if you're in the mood for something else, taste the whole dessert first.

Ole Sommelier · 3 min

Alko

Season

Mushrooms and sherry – autumn's best umami match

Why does sherry work so surprisingly well with chanterelles and truffle? We look at fino, amontillado and orange wine for the season's mushroom platter – with concrete tips across several price ranges.

Ole Sommelier · 6 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

The August Wine – Light Enough for Summer, Warm Enough for Autumn

As the back-to-school season approaches and evenings take on that golden August tone, it's time to swap the spritz for something rounder. Here is the guide to rosés and light reds that hit the mood perfectly – neither too light nor too heavy.

Ole Sommelier · 7 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

The Evening Drink You Forget to Plan

The food is eaten, the grill is out – but the night isn't over. Here are the drinks that keep the conversation going well into the night, without you needing to overthink it.

Ole Sommelier · 7 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

Beer on a picnic – five styles that hold up in the heat

Not all beer tastes equally good from a cooler bag on a warm summer day. Here are the styles that actually thrive in the heat – and some concrete bottles to pack into the blanket basket.

Kristine Craft · 6 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

Cava for the Grill – Spain's Best Summer Bubbles

Prosecco has long stolen the spotlight, but this summer it's cava's turn. The Spanish sparkling wine classic from Catalonia pairs surprisingly well with barbecue, tapas, and warm summer evenings – and the price is usually a pleasant surprise.

Ingrid Importør · 6 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

Aquavit on Ice – the Norwegian Summer Cocktail

Did you know that aquavit is one of the best longdrink bases of summer? Ice-cold, with citrus and fizz – this is the Norwegian summer cocktail you've been missing out on for far too long.

Magnus Mixmaster · 7 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

Tinto de Verano – Spain's Best Summer Drink

It's not a cocktail, it's not just wine – it's something much better. Tinto de verano is the Spanish summer drink that Norwegians barely know, yet it makes Iberian beaches unbeatable. We take you to the root of the recipe and show you how to make it at home.

Ingrid Importør · 7 min

Vinmonopolet

A QUESTION FOR THE SHELF?Your buddy matches this week's stories with the shelves in your store.ASK KOMPISEN

Season

White Rioja – Summer's Best-Kept Secret

The Viura grape produces fresh, herb-driven white wines in Rioja that most Norwegians have never tasted. It's time to do something about that – especially now that the terrace is calling.

Ole Sommelier · 6 min

Vinmonopolet

It is better to drink life than to eat it.

— GUSTAVE FLAUBERT

Season

Pét-nat: everything you need to know about spring's wildest bubble

Unfiltered, lightly hazy and full of life – pétillant naturel is the sparkling wine world's answer to freedom. Here is everything you need to know about the style that has taken Norwegian wine cellars by storm.

Ingrid Importør · 7 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

Green Asparagus and Light Red Wine – Spring's Surprising Pairing

White wine with asparagus is conventional wisdom – but is that the whole truth? We explore which light, chilled red wines actually make green asparagus an even better experience at the table this spring.

Ingrid Importør · 7 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

Elderflower in Bloom – Turn It into Summer in a Bottle

May and June bring one of nature's most sought-after ingredients: elderflower clusters. Here is everything you need to know about picking them, making cordial, and using it in drinks that taste of pure Norwegian summer.

Ingrid Importør · 7 min

Vinmonopolet

Did you know?

Oak barrels can contribute up to 70 percent of whisky and cognac's flavor through aging.

Season

Rosé for the Weekend Grill – Choose the Right Style

Not all rosé is created equal. Here is the guide that helps you choose between Provence elegance, fresh Basque sparkle, and Norwegian alternatives – based on what actually ends up on the grill.

Ole Sommelier · 6 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

White Asparagus and White Wine – Spring's Most Beautiful Pairing

White asparagus is in season for only a few weeks – and few ingredients place such high demands on the wine in your glass. Here is the guide that ensures you always get it right.

Ole Sommelier · 6 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

Sparkling Tea – Spring's Most Surprising Aperitif

Kombucha and sparkling tea are claiming their place at the festive table – and they genuinely compete with sparkling wine on taste and elegance. Here is everything you need to know to serve them properly at Easter and the first outdoor barbecue of spring.

Ole Sommelier · 7 min

Vinmonopolet

Without wine, hearts, or music, there is no real cuisine.

— MARCELLA HAZAN

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The Citrus Wave That Saves the Easter Table

Yellow citrus notes in light white wine, natural cider and non-alcoholic alternatives do more than freshen up the glass – they tie the entire Easter meal together, from starter to dessert at the cabin.

Kristine Craft · 6 min

Vinmonopolet

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Easter Lamb and Beer – the Forgotten Pairing

While wine gets all the credit with Easter lamb, the perfect beer glass is sitting there waiting. Here is a thorough rundown of which beer styles actually elevate the classic lamb – with concrete tips for the Vinmonopolet shelf.

Kristine Craft · 7 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

Spring Onions Belong in the Cocktail Shaker

Spring's first vegetables from the market are taking over the bar. Radishes, spring onions, sugar snap peas, and asparagus become unexpected cocktail ingredients that give drinks a freshness no citrus press can match. Here are five recipes that prove it.

Ole Sommelier · 6 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

The Jam That Became Winter's Best Ingredient

In the fridge sit the three jars left over from last autumn. Maybe the homemade raspberry jam was a little too tart for toast, or the lingonberry jelly brought too little Christmas spirit. But in the glass? That's where the magic happens.

Ingrid Importør · 7 min

Vinmonopolet

Season

When the light returns and rosé moves to the front of the fridge

Snow is still on the ground, but the days are getting longer. It's time to stroll into the kitchen and make room for the first drinks of spring – light, floral, and ready to herald a new season.

Ingrid Importør · 6 min

Vinmonopolet