It is time to make the most of the fleeting UK sunshine! So fire up your BBQs, stock up your picnic baskets and don't forget your sunscreen because it is shaping up to be an epic summer full of plenty of outdoor fun and activities. To help you on your way we have all of the essentials to make any sunny soiree a hit.
A great selection from fizz to fish, rosés and reds and of course crisp and refreshing whites. Below we have just a small intro to all of the fantastic products that are perfect for this season and will get you well on your way to a summer for the best summer yet!
Clover Hill Tasmanian Cuvée NV
A versatile fizz will brighten any occasion and add a touch of festivity and class to your gatherings. This unique bottle is made using grapes cultivated in Clover Hill's Tasmanian vineyards, the Clover Hill Tasmanian Cuvée NV harmoniously blends three primary vintages and it is this blend that imparts both freshness and intricate nuances within the same glass. The wine undergoes a partial malolactic fermentation process, and matures on yeast lees for a minimum of two years. This process guarantees the vivaciousness and intensity synonymous with Clover Hill's signature style.
With a vibrant emerald tint, this wine presents a gentle and velvety effervescence. The aromatic profile is filled with captivating hints of zesty citrus, crisp apples, brioche, and cream. On the palate, indulgent flavours of crisp apple pie and tangy lime unfold. A wonderful aperitif that is sure to impress.
Soalheiro Pet Nat Alvarinho NV
When blue skies are visible overhead the best thing to do is get outside and pop open a zesty bottle of wine and share with friends. We have the perfect candidate in this Unique Portuguese bottle.
This is a sparkling wine inspired by the ancestral method is made naturally with minimal intervention. Made using a single fermentation finished in the bottle it is a brilliant expression of this wonderful grape variety that is famous for it's use in crisp and refreshing whites that pair perfectly with seafood. It is dry, with some tropical and stone fruit notes and a leesy minerality. Perfect for an aperitif or for sharing with friends under a blue sky.
There are not many grapes as synonymous with sunshine as Albarino. This native Galician white is everything you would want in a citrus led crisp white with loads of character.
Raised among his grandfather's vineyards in the 1930s, Benito Santos went on to become one of the defining figures in Rias Baixas winemaking. Helping to define the region's signature Albarino wines and was instrumental in the creation of the Rias Baixas D.O. in 1988. The organically farmed vineyards are in the Val do Salnes which is the coolest, most maritime part of the region. Fermentation is made using only the natural yeast present on the grapes, giving complexity and a natural expression of their terroir.
Intensely mineral and bone-dry, this is textbook Albarino at its thrilling best. Lemon, lime and peach fruit plays alongside the salinity and there is a pleasant roundness of body to balance the exceptional acidity. Brilliant to pair with fish or seafood, particularly anything fried like calamari.
Domaine Grandpre Cuvee Minotaure 2022
Nothing screams summer like a chilled glass of pink from Provence. The region in the South of France is famous for its refreshing and pale rosés that are just perfect when indulged outdoors in the sunshine.
Domaine Grandpre owns 26 hectares of vineyards in the foothills of the Massif de Maures where the vineyards are interspersed with the estates olive trees and beehives. The vines are farmed organically, and very little sulphur is used in production. They harvest the fruit very early in the morning, when there is a chill in the air, which helps preserve freshness and minimises oxidation.
The wines in this region are based around some of the Rhone style varieties, such as Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvedre. The Cuvee Minotaur is a blend of all three grape varieties, from their oldest plot of vines, on south facing slopes. The fruit reaches optimum ripeness in this site, and has more depth and complexity than the basic Grandpre cuvee. This is a versatile food wine, it works just as well with charred food on the BBQ or spicy Asian food.
Albourne Estate Sussex Rosé 2022
For a stunning local rosé that fully encapsulates a glorious British garden party, look no further than Albourne Sussex Rosé. Albourne Estate is a family-owned vineyard and winery overlooking the beautiful South Downs, just 8 miles from Brighton in the heart of the Sussex countryside. They craft small quantities of award-winning still and sparkling English wine using their own sustainably grown grapes.
With the palest of pink hues this Sussex Rosé is elegant, refreshing and very moreish. Made from de-stemmed and crushed Pinot Noir, a Provençal-style rosé that delivers a fresh crisp mineral palate with delicate aromas of red summer fruits. As ever, this wine is perfect for sipping or food matching. We recommend to drink chilled at around 6 – 8°C, preferably in the sunshine with friends!
Mandrarossa 'Costadune' Frappato 2022
We of course can't forget about reds when we're talking about AL Fresco dining. A light style with acidity and low tannin can be just the right thing for the BBQ or even for sipping as the sun goes down.
Mandrarossa winery began production in 1999 after 20 years of studying the terroirs of Sicily. Diverse planting in the vineyard was at the heart of their project. They planted vines by the sea for the moderating sea breezes and milder temperatures. For their Frappato wine, the vineyards stretch along south and west facing hills, on clay and sand soils, 250 meters above sea level.
Frappato is an old Sicilian grape variety with peasant origins. In the past it has been relegated to a blended wine, often mixed with the better known, Nero D’Avola. Unlike the deep and dark Nero D’Avola grape, Frappato is lighter and fresher, with red berry fruit, roses and violets. There is a touch of sweet spice. Juicy sour-cherry notes really lift the wine, making it an excellent aperitif when chilled. Powerful, yet pretty with medium acidity and low tannins making it suitable for Mediterranean vegetable dishes, or grilled white meats straight from the BBQ.
Pormenor Nat'Cool Ginga, Douro Valley 2022 - £22.49 (1 Litre) Natural, Vegan
What could be more perfect for picnics and barbecues than a litre bottle of delicious 11% natural red? Light and suitable to drink lightly chilled yet packed with delicious ripe red fruit, Pormenor's Ginga Tinto is certainly going to be my go-to red this summer!
Pormenor translates to 'the little things' and winemaker Pedro Coelho is dedicated to highlighting, through low intervention winemaking and careful sustainable farming, the little things that make the Douro Valley unique. In particular this is his dedication to producing wines from field blends, old vines of interplanted varieties all harvested and vinified together.
The Nat'Cool project was started by fellow Douro winemaker Dirk Niepoort and he encouraged others to make fresh, authentic wines from Portuguese local varieties under the Nat'Cool label. Coelho's interpretation comes from an old field blended vineyard, harvested early for freshness and fermented naturally without additions.
The resulting wine is a vibrant pale pomegranate red, with aromas of fresh summer berries, a touch of orange zest and stony minerality typical of Douro reds adding a twist of savouriness to the juicy finish.
La Morandina Moscato d'Asti DOCG 2022
For those of you craving a touch of sweetness, a wonderful choice is a lightly sparkling Moscato. These low alcohol dessert wines are the perfect balance between freshness and sweetness.
The La Morandina estate draws its name from the Morando Family, a lineage deeply rooted in the Piedmont region since 1580. Presently, the estate possesses over 21 hectares of vineyards strategically positioned within the heart of the most esteemed production zones.
100% White Muscat - Through a deliberately unhurried and natural fermentation process, the wine's effervescence unfolds in an alluring and persistent way. The resulting wine embodies a remarkable freshness, presenting a vivid array of floral aromas underscored by peach and citrus with a balanced sweetness.
For an ideal food pairing, during the summer months, its charm is beautifully accentuated when enjoyed alongside a fruit salad composed of ripe peaches and succulent strawberries.
We have so much more to offer this summer season so keep an eye on this blog for regular recommendations and inspiration for your next outdoor escapade.
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