BBQ Season is upon us, below are some suggestions as to what you should be drinking this August!

If you’re grilling mackerel or fish on the bbq then I would recommend a nice crisp Riesling.

New in store we have Australian Pewsey Vale Riesling £15.99 a bottle, produced from old vines on the coolest slope of this rugged single vineyard. It is aged for 5 years before release, transforming this lemony, floral Riesling into a complex wine displaying notes of limes and brioche with an underlying minerality.

Another wine to try is the Terra d’Alter Alvarinho down to £8.99 from £9.99 – this lovely white from Portugal was recommended by Jane McQuitty (The Times 21st July)

“Anyone after an unusual  Summer white that is not the same-old same-old should crack open a bottle of this gorgeous, zesty, grapefruit peel, fressia, honey-suckle charged, stainless steel fermented white, and thank god for Bacchus and his ever expanding kingdom.”

I would say, don’t just take her word for it, this wine is seriously good!
If your cooking up sausages  such as pork and leek or pork and apple, I suggest matching them with a nice refreshing cider. Christain Drouhin Cidre from Normandy is a light (4.5%) and fruity drink and would really match well. The freshness and acidity of the drink cuts through the fat of the sausages and the crunchy apple flavour complements the leek and apple. At £5.50 for a 750ml bottle this is a fantastic drink to share.

Venison or beef sausages (or burgers) tend to be a little more gamey, and need a stronger flavoured wine to match. Cotes du Rhone Reserve du Fleur £7.99 is packed full of bramble fruit flavours and plums making it a smooth easy drinking red. New in store, the Skuttlebutt Shiraz/Cabernet £8.99 down from £12.99, this Australian red is packed full of flavour, bramble, cassis and cherry fruit flavours cascade on the palate, it is supple and juicy, yet mellow – another perfect match.

If you’re cooking a juicy steak I would recommend a fruit driven Carignan. We have a great one from the South of France (and has also just been written up in the Times by Jane McQuitty), the De Chansac Carignan down to just £6.99 from £8.49 it is supple, fruity and really smooth.

With the ‘Glorious 12th’ and the game season on the horizon, look out for next month’s food and wine matching.