Bright and aromatic: The 7 best summer whites
OUR EXPERT plays it cool with whites that are perfect for summertime sipping.
Choose your favourite white for warm summer nights from our selection
While some wines taste good all year round, others only come into their own in particular seasons.
With our unreliable summers, it’s worth having a stash of wines ready to pull out when we actually have some sunshine. With this in mind, here are seven summer whites, preferably drunk outdoors on a sultry afternoon.
Find your favourite from our expert's selection
From left:
Villemarin Picpoul de Pinet 2014, Coteaux du Languedoc, France £8.99 or £6.74 each when you buy two until August 31, Majestic, 12.5% alcohol
Picpoul is a well-known white from the sunny south of France that has a reputation for being the perfect seafood wine. This is bright, citrussy, pure and linear, with gorgeous fresh fruit, and I reckon it’s best paired with sunshine.
Marks & Spencer Pecorino 2014, Marche, Italy £10, Marks & Spencer, 12.5% alcohol
Italy is well served with interesting white-grape varieties, and pecorino is a brilliant example. This tangy white has striking flavours of nuts and cheese along with fresh pear and citrus fruit. It’s a food-friendly wine that’s also tasty on its own.
Tesco Finest Tingleup Riesling 2012, Western Australia £9.99, Tesco,13% alcohol
Riesling is ideal for summer and this one has a highly aromatic, limey nose with a hint of melon.
The lively palate is clean and citrussy but rounded, even though this is a dry wine. Pop it in your picnic hamper.
Hilltop Irsai Olivér 2014, Hungary £7, Asda,11% alcohol
This dry Hungarian white is fruity and expressive, with aromas of Turkish delight and flavours of grape and citrus pith.
It’s a pure and lively wine.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Greco di Tufo 2013, Campania, Italy £10, Sainsbury’s, 12.5% alcohol
Greco is a little-known white variety that finds its home in Italy’s southern region of Campania, where it makes a fresh wine with white peach, lemons and grapefruit. It’s stylish stuff and so refreshing in summer.
Mud House Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Marlborough, New Zealand £9.99, Waitrose,13% alcohol
What summer drinking list would be complete without a delicious sauvignon blanc? This is a lighter, very pure sauvignon with pretty grapefruit and elderflower characters, showing great balance.
Miguel Torres Days of Summer Muscat 2014, Itata, Chile £6.49, The Co-operative, 12% alcohol
This Chilean muscat is just perfect for hot summer days, with bright, limey fruit and crisp, grapey flavours. It leaves a refreshing taste of lemons in the mouth. It’s also the ideal tipple for a meal alfresco.