Here are some red wines that work well chilled and are great for summer

Those big red fruit flavours change from luscious to louche and alcohol becomes the main feature.

The key to drinking summertime reds is to chill them in a fridge before taking outside, then keeping them in the shade or even in an ice bucket. There are some reds that positively thrive after an hour’s chilling, which brings out their fresh juicy flavours. And once the barbecue gets going, and food is on the table, pour small servings, top up frequently and keep the bottles out of the sun.

Not all grapes appreciate this treatment. Here are some of the best.

Pinot Noir

Unless your budget is unlimited, you probably won’t put your top-notch Burgundies in an ice bucket, but in this case cheap is best, since lower-priced Pinots won’t have had much or even any oak. Soft, juicy and light, most good-value Pinots love a chilled approach.

Exquisite Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2019, Aldi, £5.99: This is a simple, fresh, lively Pinot that will stand up well to a barbecue or a sunset dinner and it won’t mind staying chilled.

Calmel and Joseph Villa Blanche Pinot Noir 2019, Pays d’Oc, France, Waitrose, down from £8.99 to £6.74 until June 30: A vibrant, juicy Pinot, packed with, red cherry and strawberry fruit with no oak clouding the flavours.

Errazuriz Pinot Noir 2019, Aconcagua, Chile, Waitrose, down from £9.49 to £6.99 until June 30: The Errazuriz estate lies in the path of cool afternoon breezes that get sucked in from the nearby ocean. The grapes stay cool and keep their fresh fruit flavours which are big enough to withstand an hour or so in ice, but are equally good at room temperature if you decide to move indoors.

Hans Baer Pinot Noir, Pfalz, Germany, Tesco, £7: Not many German Pinots make it to our shelves but this one is full of juicy red and black cherry fruit with just a hint of white pepper and it has a crisp food-friendly finish. Team this with barbecued fish and lamb or just enjoy on its own.

Gamay

Gamay is the grape of Beaujolais and its characteristic cherry and raspberry aromas and crisp, juicy flavours make it ideal for chilling, even out of the summer season. You can head up the quality scale and put your Fleurie or Moulin-à-Vent in the fridge, but straightforward Beaujolais or Beaujolais Villages should do very well alongside a picnic or barbecue.

Beaujolais Rouge 2019, France, Tesco, £5: A fantastic value wine, full of simple, straightforward cherry and raspberry fruit.

Raoul Clerget Beaujolais 2019, France, Morrisons, £5: Another terrific-value Beaujolais. Slightly more serious than the Tesco version, chill it down and serve alongside steak and sausages.

Taste the Difference Beaujolais Supérieur 2018, France, Sainsbury’s, £8: A notch up in quality, made from 40-year-old vines that have pumped more flavour and complexity into the wine. Pour alongside quality sausages and ribs.

Fleurie Beaujolais Henry Fessy, Waitrose, down from £15.49 to £11.49 until June 30: Fleurie is one of the top Cru villages, known for its soft, perfumed style and elegant balance. Henry Fessy owns some of the best parcels of land in the area and this is textbook in style. Possibly too good to dunk in an ice-bucket for long, but it will show its fresh blackberry and cherry fruit with lively, spice-edged palate after 30 minutes in the fridge.

Corvina

Along with two other local grapes, Corvina is the mainstay of Valpolicella and Bardolino, both of which drink well in sunshine, although Valpolicella always tries to be more serious than its lighter, fruitier neighbour. Bardolino is always best served chilled.

Recchia Bardolino 2019, Italy, Waitrose, £8.79: Light and full of juicy red cherry fruit and redcurrants. Perfect served chilled with a summer lunch of pizza, pasta or a plate of prosciutto.

Bardolino Sante Reve Ceilo e Tierra 2018, Italy, Field & Fawcett, £8.90: Stylish and full of red cherry fruit with strawberries and raspberries adding to the mix. Serve chilled with a salmon salad.

Other chill-proof grapes

Old Vine Garnacha 2019, Campo de Borja, Spain, Co-op, £5.35: Brimming with juicy cherry and bramble fruit with an easy-drinking style, chill this wine for an hour and enjoy with pizzas, pasta and lamb chops.

Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Piquepoul Noir 2018, Pays d’Herault, France, Waitrose, down from £8.49 to £6.49 until June 30: Never heard of Piquepoul Noir? That’s because it was regarded as a flavour-lightweight and almost went extinct. Now rescued by a handful of growers who coax it into producing this light, fresh-tasting red berry fruit-filled wine.

Domaine des Ormes Saumur Rouge 2018, Loire, France, Co-op, £8: The Loire is home to Cabernet Franc and there is something about the green pepper and ripe redcurrant flavours of this grape that make it perfect for chilling.

The Best Bush Vine Cinsault 2018, Swartland, South Africa, Morrisons, £8.25: Bush vines produce fewer grapes and so flavours are more concentrated in this wine than in many others. Pure raspberry fruit on the nose, it leads into pepper and just a light dusting of spice. Try alongside spiced chicken kebabs.

Taste the Difference Marzemino 2018, Italy, Sainsbury’s, £8.50: This cherry-filled, light fresh red wine comes from the basalt hills around Isera in north-east Italy. Chill it down and enjoy with charcuterie and herby roast chicken.

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