The best picnic wines for summer: 11 brilliant bottles (and one beer) for every outdoor feast

From crisp whites and refreshing rosés to barbecue-friendly reds, convenient canned wines and a standout alcohol-free option, here are wine columnist Giles’ top picks for the perfect picnic drinks this summer.

Hello! With the weather heating up, I’ve had a lot of people asking for recommendations for picnic wines. I say a lot; there have been three, but that’s three more than I normally get, so statistically that’s a spike.

Anyway, it got me thinking about the picnic drinks, and there’s more to it than meets the gingham blanket. You want something easy to open, wines that will go well with picnic foods (sandwiches can be tricky to pair), and something alcohol-free for any drivers/non-drinkers. So, after much thinking and quite a bit of sipping, here are my perfect picnic drinks.

I’ll stay in Spain for my next recommendation, the Cune Monopole Rioja (N D John, £10.50). I’m a huge fan of white Rioja, but for a picnic, you don’t want anything too oaky. The Monopole is unoaked, which allows the glory of the Viura grape free rein. Pale gold with intense aromas of white currant, apple, kiwi, pineapple and banana, in the mouth it’s just as fruit-driven, but a savoury salinity adds complexity. Sip on its own or with pasta salad or savoury nibbles.

When it comes to convenience, you can’t beat cans. Canned wines have been around for a while now, and while the early ones were so sulphurous you’d expect the region of production to read ‘Hell’, they are now as good as their bottled counterparts. Take the Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc (Tesco £3.65 per 200ml). Classic Kiwi Sauvignon, with lashings of gooseberry, rhubarb, and grapefruit, alongside limes, grass and green peppers, these are ideal for picnic foods like quiche, couscous, and roast salmon.

Summer calls for rose and I have two crackers to recommend. The first is a new wine from a long-time favourite, the Marques De Caceres Excellens Rose 2024 (Fine Wines Direct, £13.99). Pale of colour, deep of flavour, this beguiling wine marries red and black berries with a refreshing burst of lemon and nectarines before apricot and orange zest come in at the finish. Just the thing to partner with a hummus and roasted vegetable wrap.

For an ultra-modern take on Rioja rose, try the Beronia Rose (Ocado, £11.50). Mid-pink, the nose offers red cherries, loganberries, grapefruit, and blossom, while in the mouth, there’s a delicious interplay between strawberries, raspberries and lemon, with minerals and gentle tannins adding texture. The screwcap makes life so much easier, and this easy-going gem is lovely on its own or with sausage rolls.

Sauvignon and Semillon are a wine marriage made in heaven. From the Grand Crus of Bordeaux to the breathtaking blends of California, the complementary combination of freshness and richness is hard to beat. One of the best I’ve tasted in some time is Strandveld Vineyards’ Adamastor 2022 (Perfect Cellar, £23.95). Golden with an abundance of peaches, pears, melon and rhubarb on the nose, on the palate it’s richer and gentler than you might expect. Age has mellowed it and brought forth hints of almonds and honey that sit well with orchard fruits and creamy oak. I happily drank this on its own; my own lament was it wasn’t a magnum, but I can see it being lovely with a mixed bean salad.

Over the years, I’ve said some horrible things about Vinho Verde, calling it a ‘green wine’ as that’s the colour you’ll go when you drink it. Recently, I’ve grown to love it, finding it often offers cracking wines for little money. The best I think I’ve ever tasted is the Barao do Hospital (Perfect Cellar, £24.95). While Vinho Verde can be made from a wide variety of vines, this is pure Alvarinho that’s benefited from cooling ocean breezes. The pretty nose is populated by floral and citrus aromas, with added interest imparted by yeast and saline. Bone dry, but with a creamy, honeyed edge, melon, pear and lemon take centre stage, with support added by crushed nuts and a prickle of white pepper to the end. Enjoy this with quail’s eggs, fish dips and crackers, or mushroom pâte.

‘Iconic’ is a term that gets bandied around in wine circles with the regularity of a ‘vintage of the century’ declaration in Bordeaux. FYI, there have so far been 10. When it comes to Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc (Majestic £31/£25.50 on a mixed six) it’s an accolade that’s well-deserved. I first encountered it in 1993 at a Christmas tasting at Harrods, and it blew us all away. Tasting it again last week, I was struck by how it manages to be so intense and yet so approachable. Aromas of gooseberry, lemon and lime, green peppers and cut grass leap from the glass. These are all on show on the powerful palate, but delve deeper, and you’ll find tropical fruit and leafy blackcurrants too. Serve this classic with seafood, white cheeses or rocket salad.

And now for something completely different. A beer that’s aimed squarely at wine lovers. Chorus (Chorus, £19.95 per 75cl) is a fine English sparkling beer with a distinctive wine character. I was a little perturbed when I saw it weighs in at 12% as memories of memory-robbing trappiest beers from my youth rang monastic bells, but like a fine sparkling wine, the alcohol is barely noticeable. Pale gold, the nose is full of orchard fruits and yeast. On the palate its full flavoured with mealy apple and bramble, finished off with a creamy, biscuity tone. Try this with a cheese pasty or a slice of game pie.

Mobile barbecues have allowed the hardcore picnicker to cook up a storm. If you’re looking to do so, here are a couple of red wines to partner a steak, roasted veg or grilled haloumi.

First up, the Errazuriz Single Vineyard Pinot Noir (Majestic, £15/£12.50 on mixed six). This is the best Pinot Noir you can buy for under £20. Silken and seductive, it’s loaded with juicy red and black berries, all of which are underlain by tangy cranberries, hints of orange zest and mint, and served with cream. Medium-bodied but with good intensity, it’s a lovely summer sipper.

The Wirra Wirra Church Block Shiraz (Waitrose, £16) offers power and complexity. Inky blue/black, the nose is a brooding blend of crushed currants, green peppers, charcoal and cedar, with mood-lightening floral touches at the edges. In the mouth, it’s powerful but gentle, the mass of spiced blackcurrant and raspberry fruits, softened by vanilla, mint chocolate, coffee, and savoury earth.

Cheers!

Giles

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