RAISE A GLASS

I’ve gone from freezing to baking in the last 24 hours, and not in a culinary sense. Yesterday I was so cold I put on the heating to take the nip out of the air. Then today I was dabbing on sunscreen.

The ups and downs of a British summer. Regardless, I’m continuing with the summertime pink theme.

Greek grape varieties may be difficult to pronounce, but this one is a palate pleaser. Myrtia Moschofilero Assyrtiko Rosé 2021 (£10, Marks & Spencer) is a delight, with flavours of citrus, tropical lychee, peachy stone fruit and floral aromas akin to a summer garden. It is zesty and slightly creamy; and very good with lightly-spiced chicken kebabs.

I’ll hop to southern Italy via a very tentative Greek link, and to a rosé clad in a classy rippled glass bottle.

Visione Irpinia Rosato (RRP £20, Campania Wines, Connaught Wine Cellars, North & South Wines) may be a little above your normal budget for a summertime pink, but you’d be treating yourself to a point of difference for a special occasion.

Feudi di San Gregorio is one of the leading producers in the region, specialising in Campania’s native grape varieties; and here’s one of them, aglianico.

For years this grape, famous for red wines, was thought to have Greek ancestry, but DNA proved otherwise. Sip this wine and think raspberry, cherry, cranberry and strawberry.

Now to Sainsbury and a special collaboration. For Pride Month in June, the retailer has helped to launch a new wine Madame F Rosé (£7.50 down from £9 until June 28).

It is vegan and a blend of grenache and syrah, and created in collaboration with LGBTQ+ charity Queer Britain.

The charity is working to establish a national LGBTQ+ museum.

The wine has vibrant citrus notes, with a ripe, delicate, moreish flavour spectrum of red and black fruits.

I’ll stay in Sainsbury’s and a flurry of fizz in the form of Louis Bouillot Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé (on offer until June 28, £12 down from £15).

Crémant is made in the same way as champagne, and this Bordeaux version uses pinot noir, chardonnay and gamay.

It’s a salmon pink colour, and nods towards toast, vanilla, lemon, cherry and cranberry.

Raise a glass to summer (even if it rains).