The Shortbread Showdown '25: Recipes & Results! - Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery
December 22, 2025


The Shortbread Showdown '25: Recipes & Results!

The 2025 Shortbread Showdown was the biggest yet, featuring FOUR shortbread cookie and wine pairings. Guests enjoyed a leisurely stroll around Sue-Ann's antique dining table, enjoying all four pairings in turn and voting on their favourites at the end.

Here are the contenders for best cookie and best cookie/wine pairing:

 
Lemon Shortbread with Riesling Loved By Lu

A buttery shortbread with a delicate lemon flavour that enhances the citrus notes in our best-selling Riesling Loved By Lu, $20.95.

You'll find the recipe HERE

Lemoen-Brosbeskuitjies with Fancy Farm Girl Foxy Pink

Sue-Ann fell in love with this orange shortbread cookie on a visit to South Africa in 2001. Rich with citrus notes, but snappy in texture (thanks to the use of shortening instead of butter), this little burst of sunshine is perfect with our bright and juicy Foxy Pink rosé, $19.95.

You'll find the recipe HERE

 

Cheddar, Bacon, Black Pepper & Chive shortbread with Gritstone Cabernet 

Sue-Ann's grandmother made a variation of this shortbread every year and if you've never had a savoury shortbread before, this is where you should start.

Rich, buttery and stuffed with bacon bits, sharp chives and (in this case) smoked Cheddar, it's a biscuit to be reckoned with. Pair it with our bold, bodacious Gritstone Cabernet ($34.95) for a grown up cookie experience. 

You'll find the recipe HERE

 

Traditional Scottish Shortbread with Howard's Icewine Vidal 

An absolute classic, this recipe is nothing more than butter, flour and sugar. Rich and simple, it is the ideal counterpart to our complex, award-winning 2017 Howard's Icewine Vidal ($24.95-$39.95). 

You'll find the recipe HERE

 

And the winners are?

FAVOURITE SHORTBREAD & WINE PAIRING: 

Lemon Shortbread with Riesling Loved By Lu

FAVOURITE SHORTBREAD COOKIE

Cheddar, Bacon, Black Pepper and Chive 

 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this fabulous weekend of wine and...butter! 

 

Merry Christmas!