The tipples to bring to the barbecue and savour alfresco this season.

Ah, summer. The season of sea, sand, sun and, let’s be honest, a fair amount of above-board day-drinking. There’ll be barbecues, picnics in the park and alfresco dinner parties aplenty, all with their requisite gallons of cocktails and accompanying Instagram posts (#frosé, #sundowners, #firstofthesummer). Sometimes, though, when the heat is rising, all we really want is a nice glass of wine.

This is a feeling that Ms Emma Murphy, festival director of London Wine Week, can certainly empathise with, having curated a series of events in the capital this week exploring everything wine-related, from regional specialties to food pairings.

So, if we’re pressed for time and just looking for a nice bottle to take to a barbecue, what should we pick? Ms Murphy suggests finding a big, punchy red to match with meat. “For lighter fish dishes and salads go with something light and zingy to complement,” she advises. “French whites and reds from areas such as the Loire Valley never disappoint when paired with food.”

A safe bet for a good summer wine is to look to countries where dining en plein air is de rigueur, as the wines will have been designed for such occasions. “Try Provençal rosés, crisp whites from Portugal and Greece,” for failsafe bottles, says Ms Murphy, or opt for sparkling Italian red wines “for a drier fizz alternative”.

And if you’re really looking to mix things up, you might be surprised to hear that dry sherry looks set to be the drink of the summer (or, well, one of the drinks… you know what we mean). “It’s the salty, nutty, aromatic, dry sherry wines now gaining more mainstream popularity,” says Ms Murphy. “These are best enjoyed cold alongside olives, nuts and preferably a bit of sunshine.”

If this is all still sounds a bit too much like hard work, scroll down for Ms Murphy’s recommendations of five great wines, hand-picked for their summery sensibilities.

Barbadillo, Solear Manzanilla, Spain

“This sherry is extraordinarily dry on the palate with a salty touch and a smooth and harmonious finish. Subtle salinity and a lingering finish.”

Domaine Bellevue, Sauvignon Blanc Touraine 2016, France

“An award-winning Loire sauvignon. Crisp, dry and medium-bodied with an intense grassy-lemon nose, and delicate flavours of gooseberry with touches of green apple, kiwi, passion fruit and pineapple.”

Altos Las Hormigas, Malbec Terroir, Argentina

“This vivid ruby malbec has a beautiful bouquet of sweet cherries, fresh cranberries, herbal tea and fresh figs. It’s crisp and round on the palate, and the finish is fresh and long, maintaining a wonderful balance of acid and tannin structure.”

Morgadia de Torre, Alvarinho 2015 Vinho Verde, Portugal

“Rich fruit flavours of pineapple and peach are matched with a gloriously refreshing acidity and a long mineral finish It’s great as an aperitif, and was grown in the cool lush hills of Portugal’s north-west. The country’s fresh white wines are usually fizzing with acidity and youth; vinho verde translates as ‘young green wine’.”

Champteloup D’Anjou, Rosé 2015, France

“This is a classic, well-balanced rosé from the vineyards around Champteloup winery. It’s organically made from a blend of grolleau, cabernet franc and gamay grapes.”

For more information on London Wine Week, click here

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