The Decanter team brings you 20 refreshing and great-value wines to help you beat the summer heat.
Provence rosé, Picpoul de Pinet, Muscadet, Albariño, Vinho Verde: all familiar wine styles that make for perfect summer drinking, wines with high refreshment value that have become deeply associated with sunshine, outdoor dining and conviviality.
Classics are classics for a reason, yet there are lots of wines beyond the obvious picks that are waiting to be opened at your next summer gathering – and are also lots of fun to try out.
To get the most enjoyment out of your wine choices this season, here are five summer drinking hacks and 20 wines to seek out.
Summer isn’t all about rosé… but don’t underestimate its ability to get spirits in the pink
Coral, onion skin, fucshia, raspberry or petal pink, colour is an important factor for many people when choosing rosé.
But regardless of the hue, rosé still needs flavour if it’s going to please a crowd.
Beyond Provence, look to northern Spain, Greece, Tavel (Rhône) and Pays d’Oc for rosés of real character.
Reds deserve their place in the ice bucket, too
Don’t be afraid to treat some red varieties like whites.
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Reds that are unoaked, light in body and tannin, and fresh in aroma and acidity will love a moment in the fridge.
Gamay, Cinsault, Grenache, Poulsard and País are grapes that often work chilled.
Try orange this summer
You might be surprised at how versatile and accessible orange wine can be, with many examples offering up summery flavours and great food-pairing potential.
Is sparkling red the next big summer drink?
Fruity in flavour, bubbly and rounded in texture, great with food – and served refreshingly chilled, there’s no reason why sparkling reds couldn’t be your next summer wine crush.
Don’t overthink it
Keeping things cool is your only major concern when it comes to enjoying wine in the summer months.
Beyond that, focus on trying different things, finding your style and sharing that experience with others.
If you want to pop an ice cube in your glass of rosé, just do it. If you forgot to put your fizz in the fridge, chuck it in the freezer for 30-40 minutes and crack open the red first – never mind the tasting order.
There’s no better way to branch out and try new things than in the warm, comforting glow of great friends.
20 wines for perfect summer sipping
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Join NowNatalie is Decanter's France editor, commissioning and writing content on French wines (excluding Bordeaux) across print and digital. She writes Decanter's coverage of Languedoc wines, as well as a monthly magazine column, The Ethical Drinker, which unpicks the thorny topic of sustainability in wine. She joined Decanter in 2016.
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