So summer is here, and there is always a dilemma of what to drink on a hot summer’s day. Yes, a cold lager is refreshing, but sometimes it’s nice to have something different, and lager is a bit much fattening liquid. Wine is perfect for a summer’s day. In this article, we will cover some great summer wines, and also give you a few ideas of how to serve it to make it extra special.

The first thing that comes to mind when talking about wines to drink in the summer is Sauvignon Blanc. This crisp, dry wine is perfect for summer drinking, just make sure you chill it well to get the optimum out of it. When looking for a Sauvignon Blanc, look for one that comes from New Zealand, as this white wine offers something a little more special. These wines are the best types of wine created from this grape, and the most applauded ones are the ones from the Cloudy Bay or Marlborough areas of New Zealand.

But what if you’re not too keen on dry white wine?

There are some really good German sweet white wines which, when chilled, are refreshing and add something completely different to the norm.

Also, a Portuguese friend of mine keeps her red wine in the fridge too. She doesn’t like white wine, and swears by a chilled red wine instead, which is great in the Algarve, where the temperatures get quite high.

For those of us not quite ready to chill our red wine, there is a middle ground. There are some spectacular rosé wines on the market. These are fantastic with picnics and BBQs, and also great to just sit and drink with friends. There is something about the fruitiness of a rosé that makes you think of the summers past and the great times that you’ve had.

But there are plenty of other ways to enjoy white wine too. There is the traditional spritzer or shorle, where a white wine is mixed with soda or lemonade (depending on whether you like things to be a bit sweeter or not), and served with ice. This is an excellent cooling drink.

There is also the Spanish favourite Sangria, where red wine is put into a jug with fruit, some liqueur and some fruit juice or lemonade. This is the staple drink on the Costa Brava, and is best if left in the fridge for some time, to let the flavours mix together to ensure the perfect summer cooler.

In Germany, they make something called the Bowle (This is German for punch). This again involves fresh fruit, often strawberries or raspberries, which are then mixed with sparkling wine. The result is a fizzy, fruity treat, which will cool you down nicely. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, you can add a splash of brandy to the mixture to give it some extra fizz.

So whatever style of drinking you have, there is a summer solution for wine which will suit you.

Fiona Muller has been writing for over 20 years.  She is a qualified journalist and has worked in food and drink writing for the last few years. For a great selection of wines, including information on what they go best with, go to

http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/