Our expert summer drinks guide for 2024

Best white wines for summer sipping

Aromatic white wines are all about texture and juicy flavours. Reach for these bottles for seafood brunches or long Sunday lunches.

2022 Lethbridge Edelweiss, Geelong, Vic

A blend of riesling, pinot gris and a touch of muskateller (a grape variety with ancient Mediterranean roots), this aromatic wine is the ultimate example of refreshment. Lemon balm meets jasmine florals and is brightly acidic in all the right ways. Pair with banana prawns lightly seared on the barbecue.

$42 for 750ml

2024 Longview Macclesfield Grüner Veltliner, Adelaide Hills, SA

No summertime whites list can be complete without a grüner – a wine packed with personality. From textured mineral characters alongside a pink grapefruit note and an impressive finish that is equal parts flavoursome and refreshing. From shellfish and oysters to poached chicken and baked fish, this is a must to have within arm’s reach over the summer.

$27 for 750ml

2022 Prophet’s Rock Pinot Gris, Central Otago, New Zealand

Pinot gris is often seen as one dimensional, but the Prophet’s Rock surprises with aromas of baked pear, chamomile, and savoury dried herbs. This wine’s combination of residual sweetness, medium body and vibrant acidity makes it ideal for sunsets and snacks at the beach.

$60 for 750ml

2021 Luis Seabra Xisto Ilimitado Branco, Douro, Portugal

I tried this wine (a field blend of more than four native Portuguese grapes) with scallops and was amazed by its complexity and perfect pairing with the delicate seafood. If you love the saline minerality of top chablis, you’ll adore it. It’s an absolute delight to drink, full of texture and an exotic blend of fleshy stone fruit.

$52 for 750ml

2023 ChaLou Riesling, Orange, NSW

Lemon sherbet, lime zest, and orange blossom leap from the glass in this vibrant riesling. Fresh and lively, it carries notes of lemon cordial and succulent acidity, making it an ideal match for Thai basil roast pork salad – a wonderfully energising and dynamic wine.

$35 for 750mL

Chilled reds and rosés all day

Summer dreams are made of blush pink rosés and ruby garnet reds, chilled to perfection.

NV G.H.Mumm Grand Cordon Rosé, Champagne, France

When choosing a rosé Champagne for summertime brunches, the trick is to seek out a more flavoursome style to pair with ham and cheese croissants or juicy fruit platters. This rosé offers enticing brioche and vanilla alongside strawberry coulis and ripe berries. It’s rich on the palate with a crisp red currant finish.

$85 for 700ml

2021 Uva Non Grata Gamay, Lyon, France

The French have even coined a term for chilled reds, “vin de soif” which translates to “thirst wine” (or thirst quencher) and gamay is the ultimate chillable wine. This version sees a lively, vibrant gamay packed with zesty red fruits – strawberry, raspberry, and cherry – and then layered with soft, earthy, savoury notes

$25 for 750ml

2024 Gullyview Estate Brothers Light Red, Watervale, SA

A harmonious blend of grenache and vermentino grapes creates this chilled red, with fragrant red raspberries on the nose and a palate bursting with strawberries and cranberries. It’s a light, fun, and refreshing wine perfect for an easy-drinking experience combined with barbecued lamb chops served with salsa verde.

$30 for 750ml

2024 MMAD Vineyard Rosé, Blewitt Springs, SA

Take it from personal experience: this wine should be your go-to Friday night rosé when the air is still balmy and you’ve got your favourite takeaway pizza on your lap. This deliciously dry and complex wine offers jasmine and blood orange aromas with a savoury finish and just the right touch of textural grip – perfect for cutting through gooey cheese.

$40 for 750ml

2024 Ghost Rock Supernatural Pinot Noir, North West Tasmania

Equal parts fresh and moreish. With its abundant blackcurrant and dark cherry fruit notes and vibrant natural acidity on the finish, this Tasmanian pinot noir is a rare find at this price. Pair with all the usual suspects: five-spice duck and cold noodle salad on a gloriously warm evening.

$36 for 750ml

Drinks that are best shared

Summer holidays are best shared with loved ones, meaning it’s time to break out the large-format wines and spirits for nightcaps.

NV Champagne Laherte Frères Ultradition, Champagne

The benchmark example of a celebration wine – think raucous dinner parties and long Sunday lunches. Yellow grapefruit citrus and hints of blanched almonds complement the captivating aromas of baked bread. The palate balances acid tension with intensity and flavour richness, offering characters of citrus finishing with subtle cashew and a chalky minerality.

$298 for 1.5L Magnum

Kunizakari Fruilia Momo Peach Liqueur, Japan

Summer should be all about fun and nothing screams fun like a fruity peach liqueur on your bar cart. Momo means “peach” in Japanese, and this liqueur is crafted from 100 per cent Japanese momo. Abundant sweet peach aromas and a hint of lemon juice add freshness and ensure a clean finish. Enjoy it out of the freezer or mixed with vodka to make a peach cobbler.

$30 for 720ml

Westward Whiskey Small Batch Selection Strong Ale with Coffee Cask Finish, USA

Having witnessed the blending of this whisky during a trip to Oregon last year, seeing the final product in bottle brings a smile to my face. Its flavours of toffee, balsamic strawberries, rich cacao, and dark roast coffee will surely bring a smile to yours. This whisky makes an excellent twist on an Old Fashioned or can be enjoyed as a nip with coffee for those who celebrate a little too hard this New Year

$109 for 700 mL

2022 Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay, New Zealand

A magnum of chardonnay is a must for Boxing Day, as its creamy notes and fuller mouthfeel will be a perfect match for leftovers. Following on from its creamier notes are white peach, subtle white florals and a hint of green fennel stalks, which will have you reaching for your glass while sitting in front of the TV with a plate of potato salad.

$119 for 1.5L Magnum

Archie Rose Distilling Co. Tailored Spirits

Looking for the perfect gift? Archie Rose Distilling Co.’s Tailored Spirits lets you create a truly personalised Australian whisky, gin, or vodka. Choose from locally grown and sustainably sourced botanicals or malts to craft your ideal blend. Then, customise an art label with a name on the front, and a heartfelt message on the back.

$99 for 700ml

The fun drinks (Spritzes, cans and Champagne)

Chandon Etoile

Dan Buckle and the winemaking team at Chandon have always crafted innovative sparklings. Etoile is the culmination of the lessons learnt thus far. A multivintage blend of Chandon’s top reserve wines dating back to 2005.The ambitious project has paid off in intricate baked apple pie, toasted almond and hazelnut flavours combined in a crystalline honeyed character.

$125 for 750ml

Piper Heidsieck Essentiel Cuvee Reservee

The Essentiel is a multi-vintage cuvée featuring a blend of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay. The Essentiel collection comprises champagnes whose complexity and profile meet the strict demands of fine cuisine and the most exacting of wine enthusiasts. The deliberate decision to extend the ageing period, use Extra Brut dosage and provide transparent information are the intended consequences of this philosophy.

$90 for 750ml

Dal Zotto Pucino Spritz, King Valley, Vic

Summer’s hottest trend is the rise of pre-bottled Spritzes. Dal Zotto’s signature prosecco, now blended with house-made limoncello, stands out. Known for planting Australia’s first prosecco vines, the family is again breaking ground with this easy-drinking bottled cocktail. Best enjoyed on a yacht with your favourite friends.

$22 for 700ml

Bizzarro x PS40 Strawberry & Yuzu Spritz

This canned Spritz blends a house-made strawberry shrub, fresh Riverland yuzu, SA verjuice, and Bizzarro – Delinquente’s all-natural Australian bitter aperitivo – into a moreish treat. over crushed ice and garnish with strawberries for the perfect poolside sip

$26 for 4 x 250ml

Champagne Lallier Réflexion R.020 Brut, Champagne, France

The grapes for this blend were sourced from more than 50 individual crus. More than three-quarters were sourced from the 2020 harvest and, for the first time in Champagne Lallier’s history, chardonnay dominates at 51 per cent. Enjoy it with a lobster roll and some great tunes.

$90 for 700ml

NV Pirie Sparkling, Tamar Valley, Tas

Crafted using the traditional Champagne method with premium pinot noir and chardonnay grapes, this is a refreshing, zesty, and complex wine. It has a vibrant palate with delicate aromas of crisp apple, pink grapefruit and clementine citrus, and freshly baked scone notes. Classic bubbles require a classic pairing with Sydney rock oysters or kingfish crudo.

$35 for 750ml

NV Louis Pommery England Brut, Hampshire, Essex and Sussex, United Kingdom

I have been thoroughly impressed by the sparklings from England recently. Pommery, the first English sparkling from a Champagne house, presents flavours of green apple and beeswax and showcases lemon, lime, and honeyed stone fruits.

$69 for 750ml