Hello! Sadly summer this year seems to be falling a little short of expectations following an amazing April… With grey skies, rain and clammy humidity yet no sun, it’s really driving me to drink! You too?

On the humid city evenings, I have been sitting outside on my postage stamp sized terrace with large glasses of chilled Caze Blanque Rose, (a great Provence look a like) and Louis Sipps Pinot Blanc.

However on the cooler rain filled nights I seem to be turning to winter warmers – Bordeaux (Chateau Vieux Tuquet) being my new bargain buy, Acrobat Shiraz still making me smile (and dream of sunnier climates) and, luckily, Le Chiantigiane’s spicy Sangiovese is available at my wonderful local (the Barnsbury, N1).

The “emergency biscuit” for me this summer though goes to our new Terra Serena rose prosecco – once the cork is popped, I seem to forget about the hit and miss weather, move the picnic indoors and celebrate the great English weather – at least the ducks must be happy!

Terra Serena Rose Spumante
Red cherry and cranberry nose, with delicate lively bubbles and a fruity crisp finish.

Louis Sipp Pinot Blanc
Mineral and lemon aromas, balanced by a rich chalk body and citrus fresh fruit flavours. A classic elegant finish, with flint and lemon rind developing.

Ewald Gruber Gruner Vertliner
White pepper and peaches are typical on the nose, fantastic pure lemon and sour peach fruit flavour on the palate, with complex spices developing. Very long mineral finish.

Granbazan Albarino Verde
Powerful peach and pineapple nose, with high natural acidity, crisp clean lemon and peach flavours on the palate. Long fruit driven length.

Caze Blanque Rose
Great fresh strawberries and sweet cherries, summer in a glass, but with a refined dry finish.

Carelli 34 Rose
Great strawberry and raspberry nose, with ripe fruit flavours on the palate. An easy summer drink.

Chateau Vieux Tuquet
Plum and blackcurrant on the nose with spice developing in the glass; firm but integrated tannins, well balanced by fresh acidity, and good depth of berry flavour continuing on the finish.

Le Chiantigiane Sangiovese
Sour cherry and bacon on the nose, with a great deep complex flavour of cherry, smoked ham, and plums. A juicy length and rounded tannins.

Acrobat Shiraz
Deep ruby colour with sweet spicy plums and blackberries on the nose, a rich blackcurrant and cardamon juicy palate leads to a long satisfying finish.

Palacio de Sada Crianza
Burnt strawberry and rich vanilla aromas entice. Great acidity and rich tannins are balanced well with redcurrant, plum, and white pepper spices. A generous depth of flavor and long length makes this a great traditional Spanish wine with a wonderful modern twist.

By Sarah Knowles, Amathus’ Wine Buyer