Wine Wednesday - Wines For Summer

During the summer, everyone likes to dine "al fresco" and this informal, online "virtual" wine tasting is dedicated to the kind of wines that work in the great outdoors when the sun is up.

Week One - Wednesday 5th July

We start with two wines to be served well-chilled, both from the South of France. Firstly, a Picpoul de Pinet, the "Muscadet of the South" that makes a great accompaniment to seafood, and then that great wine of the summer- a delicate rosé made primarily from Cinsault.

• Picpoul de Pinet AOC, Terre de Eole 2021 - Retail Price £11.75
• Le Petit Balthazar Rosé, IGP Pays D'Oc, 2022 - Retail Price £8.80

Week Two - Wednesday 12th July

For those of us that prefer a red wine with our picnic, two wines immediately come to mind - Beaujolais from France and Valpolicella from Italy.  We have superior versions of both of these iconic wines, a Fleurie AOC and a Valpolicella Classico.  Best served lightly chilled.

Fleurie Héritiers, Château De Fleurie, Jean Loron, Fleurie AOC, 2021 - Retail Price £17.95

Valpolicella Classico DOC, Lonardi, Veneto, Italy, 2020 - Retail Price £15.95

Week Three -  Wednesday 19th July

When the barbecue is fired up and the burgers and sausages are getting the charcoal treatment, there is something that is "just right" about Barossa Shiraz.  Historically Australia blended their signature grape with Cabernet Sauvignon, something that would be unthinkable in France, but here we have a great example of the type.

Finally, strawberries and cream is of course a classic summer dessert and is often served with something fizzy.  However, most sparkling wine is dry, and desserts work so much better with sweeter wines.  The much-maligned "Asti Spumante" has a lesser-known upmarket version labelled "Moscato d'Asti DOCG", and our example is made by one of Piedmont's most famous wine producers - Pio Cesare.

• Binder JJ Hahn "Reginald" Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley, 2017 - Retail Price £17.95
• Moscato d`Asti DOCG, Pio Cesare, Piemonte, Italy, 2020 - Retail Price £21.99

As ever, this "virtual" event is delivered over "Zoom" with the wines supplied directly by our partners - Frazier's Fine Wines, at the discounted price of £87.00 including delivery.  Click here to order the wines.