Summer is almost officially here, bringing with it sunshine, sweat, sunbathing (or indeed sunburn!) and lots of lolling around with friends and family.

When you’re in need of something a little stronger than an ice pop (‘icy pole’ for any fellow Australians out there), it makes sense to reach for a thirst-quenching G&T, Pimm’s or Aperol Spritz. Sure, these are awesome cocktails, but when you get a little sick of the sugar and repetition, just remember that there’s an expanse of summery, slurp-worthy wines just waiting for you to unscrew that cork or cap. For inspiration, here are some of our picks for your summertime wishes and needs:

A weekend picnic with friends

Now this depends on a number of factors – do you have a suitable wine cooler, how far are you traveling, how many bottles do you need, have you packed the sunscreen? (The answer to the latter should always be, YES.)

I’m a big fan of rosé at picnics – it’s usually more of a hit with the ladies than the gents, but if you venture towards something dry, you’ll be amazed at how many people (from all walks of life) get on-board. We’ve talked about this one before, but the Domaine Laffitte Rosé from Gascony (£8.99 from the Real Wine Company) is an excellent budget choice.

Closer to home, you could try the Sixteen Ridges Pinot Noir Rosé 2017 from Worcestershire (£14.50 from Slurp), or for a sublime Provençal example, try the Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence Rosé 2018 (£16.25 on sale from Hennings Wine).

Lazing on the couch / in the garden / on the balcony

Sigh, I love lazy days. When you’re not up to much, but feel like a drink to help the afternoon slip away, why not experiment and try something a little different? Ever tried a Slovenian white? Try Guerila Penela 2016 from the Vipava Valley for £18.50 from The Sampler.

What about a Moroccan cinsault, grenache and carignan blend? Guerrouane Rouge ‘Les Trois Domaines’ 2016 Les Celliers de Meknes £10 from Vinoteca

Or perhaps a wine that’s been aged in clay amphora pots, buried in the ground (Foradori Fontanasanta Nosiolo Vigneti della Dolomiti Bianco IGT (Amphora) 2017 £34 from Slurp)?

Honestly, the opportunities are endless, and we love having a few out-there bottles in our collection for just such idle occasions. For the less adventurous, simply go for an old fave and enjoy the down-time.

A heaving, sweaty BYO house party

Similarly to a weekend picnic, this depends on a number of factors - most importantly, will there be space in the fridge or an available ice bucket?

We faced this problem last week and went to a friend’s flamingo-themed party (yes, I know, it was fabulous) with a bottle of white (Domaine des Enfants ‘Le Jouet’ Blanc 2017 from Côtes Catalanes, £16.50 from The Sampler) and a bottle of red (Maias Tinto Quinta Das Maias 2015 from the Dão region, £10.50 from Buon Vino).

Needless to say, with those and several further drinks, we felt less than our usual selves the next day.

An intimate dinner party

While you can never go wrong with gifting a bottle of Champagne, why not wow your friends by bringing something that’s on-trend but less well-known? Pétillant naturel (pét-nat for short, also known in some circles as ‘hipster bubbles’) pre-dates Champagne and is produced in the méthode ancestral.

This is essentially the easiest method for getting bubbles into wine - the wine is bottled prior to fully completing its first fermentation, which allows carbon dioxide to be produced by the natural sugars found in the grapes. Unlike Champagne, it’s not disgorged, and there’s usually no filtration or sulphur added at the end.

Pét-nats are lightly sparkling and often slightly funky. They’re heaps of fun, simply because you never quite know what you’re going to get in your glass. Newcomer Wines stocks some great pét-nats; otherwise check out the selection at Buon Vino. One that’s on our list to try is the Domaine de l'Octavin Betty Bulles 2017 from the Jura (£27.50 from Wayward Wines). Alternatively, for something truly original, how about a bottle of sparkling saké? Buon Vino sells Junmai Ginjo Sparkling Saké Akashi-Tai (300ml) for £14.95.

By the beach

Having grown up by the sea, B and I both miss the salty air and the sand between our toes. If there’s fish and chips involved, go for a lip-smacking chardonnay (try the Shaw + Smith ‘M3’ Chardonnay 2015 from the Adelaide Hills, £26.70 from The Australian Cellar or for a cheap crowd pleaser, Catena ‘Alamos’ Chardonnay 2015 from Mendoza is only £8.99 from Majestic Wine). If not, the Pewsey Vale Riesling 2016 from the Eden Valley (£13.80 from The Australian Cellar) is an easy, much-loved summer staple.

A smoky barbeque

Summer doesn’t always mean white or rosé, and there are plenty of lighter-style reds (some of which are exceptional served very slightly chilled) that are perfect for a balmy barbeque. A regular on our rotation is Fabien Jouves Mas del Perie ‘Tu vin plus aux soirées’ 2017 (£17.40 from The Sampler).

A natural cabernet franc-malbec blend, this is a really smashable (‘vin de soif’) kind of red – I love the word play in the name, too. Pinot Noir would be a good call also (some cheaper options are Tamar Ridge Devil’s Corner Pinot Noir 2016 from Tasmania, £13.95 from The Wine Society; and Kumeu River ‘Village’ Pinot Noir 2018 from Hawkes Bay, £14 from Vinoteca).

On Holiday

There’s only one rule for this one – drink what the locals drink!! So kick up your feet, enjoy the sunshine, and make this summer a good one.