RAISE A GLASS

I’VE just returned from four amazing days in Spain, and oh it was hot.

I’d like to say I brought a bit of Spain home in the form of hot, hot, hot sunshine (as I write it is scorchio and the dog is weary).

I also brought back a pesky mosquito (or two) which sneaked into my case and pounced as soon as I arrived in Blighty – scritch scratch, is all I can say.

But yes, the sun is out, the delights of summer are here. Just avoid the mozzies.

Here are three seasonal wines from The Wine Society (thewinesociety.com).

A red – The Society’s Beaujolais Villages 2016 (£7.50, 12.5% abv): Wines labelled Beaujolais Villages are a step above the basic Beaujolais appellation (and that strange beast Beaujolais Nouveau). Beaujolais wines are made in a special way which produces fruit-forward jammy wines from the gamay grape and this example is bang on the money. It is ruby red, medium bodied (you can see your fingers through it) with redcurrant and raspberry characters. It is laid-back and easydrinking; light enough to enjoy on its own, or with crispy sausages and charcoal scrunched chicken.

A white – Anselmo Mendes ‘Muros Loureiro, Vinho Verde 2016 (£8.75, 12% abv): I enjoy vinho verde, the Portuguese wine which has a little bit of spritz; no, it’s not a sparkling wine but the occasional bubble in a young fresh wine reaches out to greet the sun. This version from the loureiro grape by one of Portugal’s leading winemakers, Anselmo Mendes, is zesty, with lime-fresh character and a floral edge that nudges you and says summer is finally here. I like it.

A pink – Rosé Duo des Plages Vin de France 2016 (£6.50, 12% abv): This oh-so-blushing salmon pink hails from the Languedoc and is made from cinsault and grenache. A couple of seashells on the label suggest a lifestyle option of beach towel, an icebox, this wine, a tuna salad and fresh strawberries. Run up the beach to buy ice cream if you must. The pink has subtle aromas of lemon pith, apple and gooseberry, is dry, refreshing and... well, it is summery.

The society has a new click and collect service. If you’re not at home to receive your wines you can have them delivered to one of over 3,000 stores nationwide.

Also in my glass… Two Provence pinks, which say summer, summer, summer. Château Pigoudet, La Chapelle Rosé (RRP £10.89, Majestic. 12% abv) is from the Coteaux d’Aix en Provence where the chateau is next to the River Durance and is coated in lots of sunshine. It has a nose of grapefruit and cranberry with the dryness of grapefruit in the mouth and a lift of red fruits.

Berne, Grande Récolte, Côtes de Provence, 2016 (RRP £10, Tesco, 13% abv) is an architectural bottle with statement, tall and square-edged like a cowboy’s jaw – but the wine is floral, fruity and feminine. It is the softest of this week’s three pinks, with subtle flavours of ripe peach and strawberry.

Find out more at provencewines.co.uk, facebook. com/provencewinesuk or @provence winesuk on Twitter.