Last of the summer wine
Our Drinks Editor James Viner selects seven sensational bottles for the August Bank Holiday – and beyond…
The August Bank Holiday has its own rhythm: friends drift in, the barbecue fires up and thoughts turn to what’s chilling in the fridge and waiting in the wine rack. The best choice is rarely the famous label or the biggest name, but a bottle with character – something that fits the food, weather and mood.
I’ve picked seven wines, all under £15, that punch above their price tag: a crisp Puglian vermentino, juicy French reds made for chilling, an elegant Loire chenin blanc and a Sicilian skin-contact wine guaranteed to spark conversation.
These wines all have stories to tell – and may inspire stories of their own. Here are seven cracking bottles to open…
1. NV Cotes des Voiles Rosé, Vin de France (£6.50, Tesco, 11%)
This southern French rosé punches well above its price. Pale, juicy and fragrant, with peach, wild berries and orange blossom, it’s the sort of pink that disappears faster than intended. A dependable fridge-door favourite at a keen price. Look out for Tesco Clubcard offers, which can bring it down further.
2. 2025 Miluna Vermentino, Puglia, Italy (£10, Co-Op, 12.5%)
Puglia rarely gets the attention it deserves, and this Co-op exclusive makes that point well. Early-picked vermentino brings citrus, leafy herbs, white flowers and spice, with freshness and definition that make lunches linger longer. Pour with grilled sea bass, spaghetti alle vongole or pesto pasta.
3. 2024 Domaine du Cros Marcillac ‘Lo Sang del Païs’, France (£11.50, The Wine Society, 12%)
Marcillac remains one of southwest France’s best-kept secrets. From the dramatic hills of wild Aveyron, this stellar light-bodied red is made from fer servadou (aka mansois). Think raspberries, plums, violets, pepper and a smoky edge shaped by iron-rich soils. Give it 20 minutes in the fridge and it comes alive, revealing freshness and charm. Serve alongside steak-frites, cassoulet, charcuterie or Laguiole cheese.
4. 2023 Laurent Delaunay ‘Les Grappillages’ Fleurie, Beaujolais, France (£12, Morrisons, 13%)
Fleurie is one of the most effortlessly drinkable summer reds: fragrant, silky and refreshing when lightly chilled. This polished Beaujolais cru combines strawberries, black cherries, bright acidity and a delicate mineral edge. Elegant enough for the table, yet with the charm of a barbecue favourite. Equally at home with duck and tuna steaks, pork pies or Ottolenghi-inspired salads.
5. 2024 Domaine des Aubuisières ‘Cuvée de Perruches’ Vouvray,
Loire, France (£12.50, Majestic, Mix 6 price, 12.5%)
Chenin blanc, grown on the soft, low tuffeau hills flanking the Loire, produces satisfying sweet and dry wines. This dry, mouth-watering Vouvray has the grape’s trademark freshness and tangy acidity, with the balance that makes a second glass inevitable. Hello shellfish, gravadlax, Brie, goat’s cheese and charcuterie.
6. 2023 M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc, France (£13.20–£15.75, Noble Grape, Taurus Wines, Urban Cellar & selected independent merchants, 13.5% ABV)
Here’s an impeccably balanced southern French white delivering complexity without the price tag. Blended from grenache blanc, grenache gris and macabeu in the eastern Pyrenees, it layers lemon, grapefruit, white flowers and struck flint with refreshing acidity and suave texture. Tailor-made for seafood – especially grilled sardines.
7. 2024 Cortese Nostru Organic Orange-utan, Vittoria, Sicily, Italy (£14.49–£15.50, Organica, House of Townend & selected independent merchants, 12.5%)
Orange, or amber, wine – white wine made with contact with grape skins – is no passing curiosity. The finest examples come into their own at the table, and this skilful Sicilian release is among the most convincing. Made from 80% inzolia and 20% zibibbo, both fermented on their skins, it melds apricot, quince, Seville orange and tea leaf with gentle spice, savoury grip and a twist of quinine. Even an Italian wine colleague who once dismissed orange wines called it “super sapid!” Serve cool, not cold. A distinctive bottle to share.
