Mocktails Sevilla Red Sansgria (0%), £9.99 for 4 x 200ml, Selfridges
Made from grapes sourced in Italy’s Chianti region, serve this brilliant alcohol-free bottle over ice and you’ll barely miss the booze. Simple and splendidly tasty.
Pierre Jaurant Sud de France Rosé 2020 (12.5%), £6.49, Aldi
At last! A great-value southern French rosé that tastes as good as the splash-out fancy bottles. Fruity and sleek, this is no-brainer pink to pour all summer long.
A A Badenhorst The Curator White Blend 2020 (13%), £8.99, Waitrose
Blended by one of South Africa’s best winegrowers, this is the ultimate all-rounder for warm days. With nibbles, a picnic or a full-blown barbecue, it’s utterly scrumptious.
Finest Valle del Limarí Shiraz 2019 (14%), £8, Tesco
How is this under a tenner? Fulsome, plush, silky and fruity, it’s a dark Chilean delight of a wine to please a crowd or sip with a feast.
Tio Pepe Fino ‘En Rama’ 2019 (2021 bottling, 15%), £8.95 half bottle, The Wine Society
There’s Fino and then there’s En Rama by Tio Pepe, which feels like a green olive has been turbocharged with a zillion volts. No finer chilled drink to pour with tapas.
Bouvet-Ladubay Brut Saumur (12.5%), £11.99 as part of mixed six, Majestic
Currently my favourite fizz – so fruity you barely notice it slip down. A hidden gem from the Loire that makes every moment feel more fun. I adore it – and it’s a steal.
Beak Brewery Lulla Table Pale (3.5%), £3.99, beakbrewery.com
Craft beer’s next level. Order a case of this fresh, light, exotic beer – or better yet, head to the brewery outside Lewes and sip it cool and direct from the source.
M&S Classics No 3 Gavi 2020 (12.5%), £8, Marks & Spencer
Looking for a light bright Italian white to keep on standby in the fridge? This has got all your bases covered and it’s racier than a supersonic nectarine.
Fairtrade Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (13%), £6.50, Co-Op
Sleek as a blackcurrant on a waterslide, this feelgood red is terrific value as well as supporting great causes in Argentina. Barbecue days are sorted.
Doorly’s 5-Year-Old Rum (40%), £27.75, thewhiskyexchange.com
You need good rum this summer – this is a golden blend that’s hard to beat for an ace all-rounder. Sip over ice or serve in cocktails. Gorgeous.
Pewsey Vale Riesling 2020 (12.5%), £13.99, henningswine.co.uk
If you want a real slice of luxury, this South Australian Riesling is as springy as a lime on a pogo stick. Simply stunning served with shellfish.
Sxollie Golden Delicious Cider (4.5%), £2.20 for 500ml, Sainsbury’s
Fruity, sparkling and sumptuous, this is a treat for a picnic and pairs splendidly with hot spicy dishes. Beautifully made – contains no additives.
Nikka Days Whisky (40%), £32, Waitrose
Think again on whisky – this Japanese blend of grain and single malt will redefine it for you – so refreshing. Try it in a highball with sparkling water, ice and a slice of lemon, it’s liquid leisure.
Karma Drinks Karma Cola, £1.75 for 300ml, Ocado
Organic and Fairtrade, part of the proceeds go to the cola nut growers in Sierra Leone. This tastes like real-deal cola to me – fabulous for all the family.
Achroous Gin (41%), £34.99, electricspirit.co
A multiple award-winner with a striking orange bottle, this is juniper in laser-beam form. Serve it with top tonic and a slice of lemon for the G&T of your life.
This article was originally published in YOU Magazine, Mail on Sunday, 4th July 2021
