Some wine recommendations from Paula Gracey

I love a bit of alfresco dining… barbeque, picnic, just sitting outside with a glass of wine and some nibbles… I’m there.

The weather right now is perfect for it, too, so you don’t have to wait for your holidays. Just invite a few friends round, crack open a bottle and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.

You don’t need to spend a fortune on your wines for outdoor living, either.
I think the expensive stuff should be kept for around the dinner table anyway, when you can appreciate it properly, but you can still enjoy some excellent easy drinking and well made wines for really reasonable prices.

As a totally converted online shopper, one of my favourite ways to buy wine is online from The Wine Society .
Since its foundation in 1874, it has continually surprised and delighted members with well priced, authentic wines and its own brand ‘Society’ and ‘Exhibition’ wines are the standard bearers – always excellent examples of their type.
Take a look online at the ‘Society’ and ‘Exhibition’ Best Sellers range – wine, delivered to your door – no brainer!

For a cracking little red to enjoy this summer, try the Society’s Sicilian Reserve Red 2013, for £8.25, made from carefully selected Nero d’Avola grapes in Sicily. This deeply coloured rich red wine is full black fruit aromas and flavours, smooth and mellow but with good structure, great with barbequed meats. 

For white wine lovers, try the Society’s Exhibition Limari Chardonnay 2016 (£9.95), all the way from the limestone rich vineyards in Chile’s Limari Valley. This particular Chardonnay is made by two winemakers from Concha Y Toro and emphasises the minerality from the soils alongside a lovely freshness and aromatic quality. Some careful barrel fermentation adds a subtle oak character. I love this very easy drinking, mouthwatering white, and it is a perfect crowd pleaser with lots of salads, grilled chicken and fish dishes, or just sitting with your feet up enjoying summer.