An Expert Picks Her Favourite Summer Wines
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WHITE WINE
Côtes du Rhône Blanc 'Les Silènes', Le Plan des Moines, £14.99
Country: France
Why I Like It: This is the perfect white for summer. Crisp and refreshing, it has a lovely gentle richness and mouthfeel, but with no oak flavour. It also has a very long finish, which means you can savour it for longer. And because it’s not so well known, it’s also remarkably good value.
Pair It With: Salads, chicken and lightly spiced Asian food.
Available here
The Society's English White 2022, £9.95
Country: UK
Why I Like It: English wine has come on leaps and bounds in recent years. This is a very enjoyable bottle from the Three Choirs winery in Gloucestershire which, at less than £10 a bottle, is a great value mid-week option. Light, fruity and not too sweet.
Pair It With: Cheese and crackers – my default meal when I’ve no time to cook.
Available here
Sensale Sibiliana Grillo, £9.95
Country: Italy
Why I Like It: This is an excellent value white which is full of juicy peach notes, pithy grapefruit and a hint of crystallised ginger. It’s an organic bottle and the taste will transport you straight to a Sicilian vineyard.
Pair It With: Grilled veg and aromatic Thai or Vietnamese dishes. That said, it’s versatile enough to go with most dishes.
Available here
ROSÉ WINE
Guilhem, Moulin de Gassac Rosé, IGP Pays d'Hérault, £10.89
Country: France
Why I Like It: This hits the spot if you have a party and want to serve a good value Provence-style rosé. It has refreshing acidity on the palate, and pure, fresh flavours of red berried fruits leading to a crisp finish. It’s summer in a glass, dangerously easy to drink and never lasts long.
Pair It With: Delicate seafood dishes, summer salads and berry desserts.
Available here
G & L Moschofilero Roditis Agiorgitiko Rosé, Kintonis 2022, £8.95
Country: Greece
Why I Like It: It’s always fun to serve something a little different, and this playful, fruity Greek rosé fits the bill perfectly. With a pleasant impact on the nose, it has notes of citrus, redcurrant and strawberry. Dry and light enough to enjoy on its own or with supper.
Pair It With: Mediterranean dishes like Greek salads, antipasti, and grilled meat and fish.
Available here
Puech Haut, £18.99
Country: France
Why I Like It: I love everything about this wine, from its peachy hints and herby white tea notes to its gorgeous, frosted bottle and glass stopper. It’s a great alternative to your classic Provençal rosés with its summer berries and stone fruit feel. There's an underlying fullness there too. Pure elegance.
Pair It With: Delicate flavours such as ceviche, shellfish salads or even a simple pasta with a fresh tomato sauce scattered with basil leaves.
Available here
Whispering Angel Provence Rosé, £19.99
Country: France
Why I Like It: The ubiquity of this wine means it’s now something of a cliché, but there’s no denying that opening a bottle of Whispering Angel with a group of girlfriends guarantees a great evening. It’s been a favourite of mine for several years as it’s wonderfully dry and crisp with delicate summer berry fruits balanced by citrus zest acidity.
Pair It With: Paella, risotto and summer veg.
Available here
SPARKLING & CHAMPAGNE
Bolney Estate Cuvée Noir, £28
Country: UK
Why I Like It: Bolney Estate in West Sussex is producing some excellent English sparklers right now, but you can’t beat its classic brut for a special occasion. It’s an elegant sparkling wine with floral and brioche notes, combined with zesty citrus fruit, honeysuckle and elderflower. Incredibly well balanced and with just the right hint of sweetness, it’s delicious.
Pair It With: Seafood or fish and chips.
Available here
Wiston Estate Blanc de Blanc NV, West Sussex, £38
Country: UK
Why I Like It: Wiston Estate in West Sussex is another great producer of English sparkling wine. Its blanc de blanc is comparable – if not better – than many champagnes. It’s blended from older vintages with crisp notes of green apple, kumquat and a flinty minerality.
Pair It With: Oysters, seafood or a lovely ripe brie.
Available here
Domaine du Landreau Crémant de Loire, £17.95
Country: France
Why I Like It: Produced in the same way as champagne, a good crémant like this can offer exceptional quality fizz at the fraction of the price of its more illustrious counterpart. Expect notes of lemon, green apple, toasted hazelnuts and almonds.
Pair It With: Canapés or on its own as an early evening aperitif.
Available here
Franciacorta Brut Ferghettina NV, £21.95
Country: Italy
Why I Like It: This makes for a delicious alternative to champagne. Made from chardonnay and pinot noir grapes in the rolling hills of Franciacorta, it’s lightly aged for a couple of years to add body and flavour. Excellent value for a bottle that tastes far more expensive than it is.
Pair It With: Seafood and smoked salmon blinis.
Available here
For more information and to find out about at-home wine cellars, visit SpiralCellars.com
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