As we enjoy what may well be our last real summer heatwave, there’s no doubt that Brits everywhere are taking to their gardens for one final hurrah in celebration of the summer sun. If you are hosting a summer BBQ or a cheeky get-together in the sunshine then we have the perfect boozy tipples for you.
Porta 6 Brut Sparkling Wine
Porta 6 Brut Sparkling Wine is made using the Charmat method. The wine is fermented in controlled temperature conditions, with the second fermentation carried out in closed tanks followed by isobaric bottling to maintain the fine bubbles. The vineyards on clay limestone soil, located in the mountains north of Lisbon, benefit from the effects of the Atlantic Ocean on the climate.
RRP: From £10. ABV 12.5%. Available from: Asda
Van Hunks Cap Classique Brut Sparkling Wine
Bold, gold, smooth and dry, Van Hunks Brut Cap Classique is easy drinking, with perfect tiny bubbles, showcasing the best of South African sparkling wine. Produced using the traditional method identical to Méthode Champenoise, it is bottle fermented in small batches and matured in contact with the lees for approximately 30 months.
RRP: £20 for 75cl bottle. ABV: 12%. Available from: Van Hunks Drinks and Amazon
Van Hunks Cap Classique Rosé Sparkling Wine
RRP: £20 for 75cl bottle. ABV: 12%. Available from: Amazon and Van Hunks Drinks
Domaine du Météore Le Cratère Sparkling Rose
Le Cratère is an organic ‘methode champenoise’ sparkling rosé wine made in limited quantities (970 bottles) from Syrah grapes, which are all grown inside the 200-metre-wide meteorite crater from which Domaine du Météore takes its name. Over ten thousand years ago a meteorite struck a hillside in Southern France and helped form, Le Cratère, a cosmic wine from another dimension.
RRP: £30 per bottle. £33 per bottle with wooden bird box. £168 for case of 6. ABV:13%. UK delivery: £5.00. Available from: Domaine du Météore
Duppy Share Pink Ting-A-Ling
Ready-to-drink cans are a delicious cocktail that will pack a punch. Duppy Share White Rum is made with 100% natural flavours of mango, pimento and fresh thyme for 100% Jamaican taste. With aromas of bright banana, mango and green thyme, a smooth caramel sweetness and lively tropical fruits giving way to pimento spice and a lively pot-still rum finish, Duppy White Rum is blended with only the highest quality pink grapefruit and lime to create Duppy Share Pink Ting-A-Ling RTD cans.
The Duppy Share, founded in 2015 produces a range of multi-award-winning premium Caribbean rums from the world’s most renowned distilleries in Jamaica and Barbados. Duppy Share is now the top selling premium rum in the UK. Duppy Share Pink Ting-A-Ling Cans ABV: 6%.
RRP £2.50 for 250ml can The Good Spirits Co. £13.50 for 6 cans of 250ml available from: The Duppy Share. £55.00 for 24 cans of 250ml available from: Amazon
Mermaid & Tonic Ready-to-Drink
Mermaid’s award-winning, signature gin from the Isle of Wight Distillery is perfectly mixed with Indian light tonic water, in a 250 ml can, Mermaid & Tonic Ready-to-Drink. The can is plastic-free, 100% recyclable and the perfect size for beach trips, picnics and days spent on the water.
Mermaid’s signature gin’s name was inspired by its lead botanical rock samphire, known locally as ‘mermaid’s kiss’. This aromatic succulent clings to the cliffs surrounding the Isle of Wight and marks the high tide line on its majestic beaches. Like the kiss of the mythical mermaid, saving sailors lost at sea, the rock samphire was a signal that shipwrecked sailors and smugglers were safe from the raging seas.
Mermaid Gin is a small batch, beach to bottle London Dry Gin with a hint of sea air. Hand crafted on the Isle of Wight, Mermaid Gin uses ten locally foraged and sustainably sourced botanicals which are multi-distilled to deliver a smooth, clean and fresh finish. Mermaid Gin botanicals include organic lemon zest, underpinned by peppery spicy notes with a hint of sea air from the locally foraged, fragrant rock samphire. Mixed with Indian light tonic water in a handy 250ml size can, Mermaid & Tonic will make the sunny September days go swimmingly. Mermaid & Tonic Ready-to-Drink Can ABV: 6%.
RRP from £36.00 for 12 x 250ml cans Isle of Wight Distillery £10.00 for 3 x 250ml cans Threshers £3.95 for 1 x 250ml can Inn at Home
Bolney Estate 2013 Vintage English Sparkling
Bolney Estate is a prominent English vineyard and winery in West Sussex, known for producing high–quality still and sparkling wines. Delightful floral and brioche notes combine with notes of zesty apple and citrus fruit. Fresh and clean with a vibrant finish, this is a great bottle to add a special sparkle to your get–together, serving as an aperitif or alongside salmon en croute. Bolney Estate 2013 Vintage English Sparkling, 11% ABV, £32. Available from Tesco.
Gérard Bertrand Picpoul de Pinet
From the Languedoc region of France, this refreshing, white wine has a pale straw colour and exudes vibrant citrus aromas. On the palate its crisp acidity complements the citrus profile with a touch of minerality and a clean, lingering finish. Serve alongside grilled lemon herb chicken or a Mediterranean orzo salad. Gérard Bertrand Picpoul de Pinet, 15% ABV, £12.50. From Tesco.
Plaimont Saint Mont Grande Cuvée Tradition
Situated in the heart of South West France, the Plaimont vineyards stretch from the foothills of the Pyrenees to the hills and valleys of Gascony. The highest–quality grapes are harvested at optimal maturity, leading to notes of quince, pineapple and lemon. Serve alongside roasted sea bass or asparagus pesto gnocchi. Plaimont Saint Mont Grande Cuvée Tradition, 12.5% ABV, £9.50. Available from Tesco.
