50 best summer red wines

Don’t overlook red wines in your rush for whites and rosés this summer.

Chilled thirst-quenchers are great for an apéritif on the terrace, but you need wine with oomph to complement strong summer flavours: think of your barbecues or garlicky salami or chicken. Red is so much better for these.

For my round-up of the best available now, there was plenty of choice in the under-£6 price bracket, but scant pickings in the next tier up. The supermarkets have focused on the bargain end, while wine merchants have set their sights on the next tiers up.

So, while you’ll find some good bordeaux, burgundies and rhônes, there’s precious little from Italy and nothing from Spain or the New World. You’ll be spoilt for choice above £8, with the run of Europe and some great New World pinot noirs from Chile and New Zealand. Click on the links for my choice of the best summer reds, and for my red wine masterclass.