The summer bank holiday is nearly upon us. I’ve decided to dust down the barbecue, grill up a storm for my family and relish some delectable wines on the patio. Splendid enjoyed in the late summer sunshine, these joyful, tasty wines are perfect with the sizzling flavours of your barbecue faves. Happy grilling and chilling – I hope the weather cooperates!
- 2021 Old Vine Garnacha, Bodegas Aragonesas, Campo de Borja, Aragón, Spain (£6.25, Co-op, coop.co.uk, 14%)
With a splash of Syrah, this bargainous, easy-swigging, low tannin Garnacha from northeast Spain makes for a convenient BBQ party red. Think crushed red berries and blueberries. Barbecued pork chops and leg of lamb will love its rich juiciness. Don’t serve too warm.
- NV Radacini Blanc de Noirs, Moldova (£7, Morrisons, groceries.morrisons.com, 12%)
You shouldn’t spend over £15 on a BBQ bottle. With all their punchy flavours, barbecues just aren’t meant for fine wine appreciation. Nothing can make an alfresco gathering sparkle quite like fizz. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon using the tank method, this tastebud-tingling, wallet-friendly Moldovan sparkler brims with red cherries, summer fruit and melon. Perilously easy to drink.
- 2021 Found Alicante Bouschet, Alentejo, Portugal (£8, Marks & Spencer, marksandspencer.com, 14%)
M&S’s ‘Found’ range concentrates on lesser-known grapes and regions. Alicante Bouschet is a red-fleshed, ‘teinturier’ (dyer) grape that makes (with controlled yields) plush, fruity wines in Portugal’s southernmost province, Alentejo.
With lashings of black pepper and black-fruited oomph, it’s just the ticket with grilled meats.
- 2022 Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva Pinot Noir, Leyda Valley, Chile (£8.50 Clubcard price, Tesco, tesco.com, 14%)
Here’s a spot-on Chilean Pinot Noir from the cool-climate region of Leyda Valley. Ripe, plump, luscious and redolent of red cherries, Victoria plums and raspberries, it’s fantastic value on the Clubcard price. Lightly chill for burgers, sausages, grilled salmon and barbecued chicken.
- 2021 Beaujolais-Villages by Louis Claude Desvignes (£11.16, Berry Bros & Rudd, bbr.com saving 20%, until August 31, 13%)
Brilliant, cool, floral, summer pudding-fruited, thirst-slaking Beaujolais-Villages, sourced from sappy, velvety Gamay fruit from hilly vineyards in the village of Jullié. Now on a 20 per cent discount at Berry Bros & Rudd and ready for instantaneous satiation. Pop it in the fridge for half an hour and see how it flutters happily along with most BBQ fare. The sort of summery red that begs you to take another sip, refreshing the palate in between mouthfuls. Such a revitalising contrast to the spice, smoke and heat of the food! Lovely stuff.
- 2022 The Society’s Exhibition Albariño, Pazo de Señorans, Rías Baixas, Spain (£14.95, The Wine Society, thewinesociety.com, 13%)
Salud to Albariño, the crisp, thick-skinned, high acid, never-cheap star grape from rainy Galicia in northwest Spain. Fashionable, aromatically floral-peachy-grapefruity-salty Albariño is a true testament to Spain’s contribution to the world of white wine. Don’t miss out on
this top-notch, unoaked, mineral-driven bargain from Pazo de Señorans.
It’s packed with succulent peach, nectarine, pink grapefruit and orange zest flavours. Sings with seafood (hello barbecued prawns/sardines!)
Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine
