A Cool Sommelier Shares Her Top Bottles For Summer
Summer is when I stop pretending I want big, serious wines. As the weather shifts, I find myself chasing bottles with tension and energy, saltiness and crunch. Wines that feel as alive and frivolous as a summer’s evening with no obligations. My go-to hearty winter reds change to pours that can be chilling down in a bag of ice in my bike basket while en-route to wherever my friends have set up camp. I want things that taste good slightly too cold, work with the smell of suntan lotion and somehow disappear before sundown…
NV Pét Nat ‘Balmy Nights’, MJ Becker, Hunter Valley
This is exactly the kind of sparkling wine I want to drink in hot weather. Cloudy, energetic and wildly refreshing, it has that slightly untamed pét nat character with soft bubbles, citrus peel and tart orchard fruit, but it still feels clean – hydrating almost – and disappears fast.
Pair with: Oysters, anchovies, salty crisps and stuffed vine leaves.
Available at DVINECELLARS.COM
NV ‘Interconnections Part 2’ Chardonnay & Pinot Noir, Woodfine Wine, The Chilterns
Classic English sparkling is still having its moment but I love discovering something that feels original. Woodfine Wine is a microscopic vineyard just 40 minutes from Marylebone and owner Rich farms entirely regeneratively. This particular cuvée of chardonnay and pinot noir chardonnay is made in the Col Fondo method. The chardonnay offers tension and citrus freshness, while the pinot noir brings a little red fruit softness and texture. It’s more serious than pét nat but far more fun than the typical UK champagne lookalikes.
Pair with: Smoked salmon, hard cheeses or absolutely anything with aioli.
Available at WOODFINEWINE.COM
2024 Rosé ‘La Galoche’, Domaine Saint Cyr, Beaujolais
This is the rosé for anyone who is just a bit over Provence-style versions. It’s juicy, crunchy and full of bright red berry fruit but with a mineral freshness that keeps it on the right side of grown-up. You can drink it straight out of the fridge or leave it to warm up a bit for extra texture.
Pair with: Charcuterie, barbecued veggies and pizza.
Available at UNCHARTEDWINES.COM
2023 Blanc ‘Nord-Sud’, Anna Martens & Eric Narioo, Adelaide Hills
A nicely priced white which is full of sun-kissed energy. There’s citrus, white flowers and a slightly waxy, saline character that makes it as good with food as without. It’s giving very long-lunch-in-linen energy until it’s late and you remembered you didn’t bring a jacket. I love wines like this in summer because they work in so many different settings: lunch in the sun, dinner outside, even as BYOB to a restaurant with spicy food.
Pair with: Turkish flatbreads, grilled white fish, courgette dishes or Vietnamese salads.
Available at FORESTWINES.COM
2021 ‘White’, Štajerska Kollektiv, Styria
This is one of those bottles that sommeliers love because it comes from somewhere you’ve likely never heard of (Styria in Slovenia) and sits somewhere between fresh and savoury. There’s dizzying brightness in all the best ways but also texture, herbs and a slightly alpine feel that’s incredibly refreshing in warm weather. It feels sophisticated without trying too hard.
Pair with: Potato salad, schnitzel (which originates in the Austrian part of Styria) and salty, tinned fish.
Available at NEWCOMERWINES.COM
2022 Grenache ‘One Bad Man’, Yo El Rey Wines, Bot Rivier
Chillable reds are basically summer essentials at this point, and this one is a cut above the rest. All juicy red berries, spice and softness but still light enough to drink anywhere in between fridge cold and slightly chilled. It’s the wine version of the BBQ that slowly turns into a house party.
Pair with: BBQ food, lamb skewers or smoked aubergine/dips.
Available at WINESHOP.BEDALESWINES.COM
2023 Pinot Noir ‘Black Pinot’, AMI, Bourgogne
This is the bottle I’d bring to a summer dinner party if I really wanted to make a scene. It has the Burgundy stamp, it has the Burgundy profile but thankfully not the windpipe blocking Burgundy price tag. Inside the bottle, it has all the freshness and delicacy you want from pinot noir: sour cherry, wild raspberry, that subtle earthy spice but again put it on chill and it becomes a gluggable favourite.
Perfect pairing: Roast chicken, mushroom dishes and salami-topped pizza.
Available at LACABOTE.COM
2023 Blanc ‘What Time Is Too Late To Go To Bed?’, Wein Goutte, Franken
An elite name. Even better wine. Zippy, citrusy and easy to drink, with just enough texture underneath to keep it interesting, it’s made by a couple of cool customers Emily and Christophe in Germany’s Franken region. These varieties – if you’re able to pronounce them – will likely get you through to the finals of University Challenge.
Pair with: Tempura anything, fish tacos and grilled okra.
Available at RAWWINE.COM
2022 Rosato, Manon Farm, Adelaide Hills
This has a bit more structure than your average rosé and it’s not cheap, but think of it like a good red: savoury, detailed and versatile at a summer table. There’s wild strawberry fruit, blood orange and a lovely herbal note that feels very Mediterranean, despite being from a biodynamic farm outside of Adelaide. It’s the kind of rosé that makes you question what rosé can really be, outside of the common summer plonk.
Pair with: Seafood, especially grilled octopus or tuna, crudo or grilled aubergine.
Available at TUTTOACASA.WINE
2022 Qvevris Kisi, Georgia
I love Georgian wines all year round but never more than in summer as they offer up texture and character while still feeling fresh. As much as I want to gate-keep, I’m actually impressed M&S has stepped up and released this cuvée, made with kisi, one of Georgia’s 525 native grape varieties. Made the old-school Qvevri way (aka buried clay pots: iconic), expect loads of texture and layered flavours of dried fruit, spice and tea.
Pair with: Spicy rice, noodles or curry and grilled halloumi.
Available at OCADO.COM
Vinca Canned Rosé, Sicily
Not even sommeliers are immune to the pull of canned wine, especially when you get 187ml of it and can pass it off as a ‘healthy glass’. Made in collaboration with organic Sicilian grape growers across Italy and three old school friends from London, this rosé Syrah is what you need when you don’t want to overthink your drinks.
Pair with: Olives, almonds and prawn cocktail crisps.
Available at TESCO.COM
Roter Mulatschak, Meinklang, Austria/Hungary
Light and juicy, serve this chillable red in any summer setting and take note as everyone follows suit next time. Made from biodynamic overlords Meinklang on the Austria/Hungary border, this bottle is all sour cherry with a sprinkling of black pepper.
Pair with: Prosciutto and cured meats, and soft cheeses like brie.
Available at VINTAGEROOTS.CO.UK
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