The longer days are making a welcome return and we’re oh so ready for some warmer weather. If you’ll be enjoying a splash of red in your glass, check out our top red wines for spring and summer for some seriously hot wine rack inspiration.
15th May 2026 | Top Drops | 3 minute read
Our best red wines for spring and summer
Best red wines for spring and summer
L’Impression Rouge Vin De France
We’re kicking things off with an elegant French Grenache blend. This is a real ‘open at the drop of a hat’ red that can be enjoyed with or without food, only good company or a page-turner of a book is essential.
There’s a lovely richness to the core of this wine, with delicious dark fruits complemented by a hint of sweet spice. Layers of fruit make this a fabulous summer red wine.
Ungrafted Itata Old Vine Cinsault
Crafted in Chile’s historic Itata Valley, this delightful red is full of ripe red fruits mingled with hints of violet and a stony salinity. The palate is easy going with a moderate acidity, thanks to the cool coastal breeze this region enjoys that keeps the wine lovely and fresh.
Perfect with cured meats or just on its own, this red is bursting with energy and is certain to be a crowd-pleaser at dinner parties and garden get-togethers. It’s wonderful served chilled too.
London Cru x Virgin Wines Pinot Noir Précoce
If you’re looking for the ultimate red wine to drink chilled, England is one of the best countries to turn to. Our cooler climate (while it can be frustrating at times!) is fantastic for viticulture, enabling us to create soft, elegant red wines oozing fresh red berries.
This light, fruity and vibrant Pinot Noir from London Cru has fresh raspberry and a flicker of flint on the nose, followed by strawberry and red cherry on a deliciously juicy palate. Serve this one nice and cold.
Billy Bosch Reserve Merlot
South African Merlot is very popular right now, and this is your sign to try it. This is a classic Cape style in the making, loaded with jammy red fruit flavours. Expect cherry and plum fruit, with a little darker fruit intensity underneath, on the nose, followed by a juicy palate.
Nicely balanced with crisper red berried notes on the finish, adding freshness to every sip, this smooth, medium-bodied red is great with nibbles and a movie night.
Travaglini Gattinara Selezione
If you want something with plenty of wow factor this summer, then look no further. Beautifully presented in an unusually shaped bottle, moulded to sit comfortably in your hand and to collect sediment as you pour, this impressive red is one of the pinnacle wines of the Piedmont region.
On the nose it has a charming and structured bouquet of red fruit, rose, plum and liquorice with hints of vanilla, cream and leather. On the palate it is medium-bodied, dry and deep in flavour with fruity and mineral accents.
Juan de Juanes Garnacha Tempranillo Syrah
For Spanish reds, turn to Valencia for richly fruited, easy-drinking wines that suit the season. This particular drop is a Rhône-meets-Spain blend full of warmth and vibrancy, made from 70% Garnacha, 20% Tempranillo and 10% Syrah.
Valencian wines seem to have one thing in common, a relaxed and refreshing feel. This is no exception, offering flavours of red cherry, raspberry, plum and baking spices on a smooth palate. Pair with pizza, tapas or chorizo dishes for maximum enjoyment.
Omilos The Collective Agiorgitiko Syrah Merlot
Greek wines and summer sipping go hand in hand. This fruity red is a remarkable blend of Agiorgitiko (a local Greek red variety), luscious Syrah and layered Merlot, resulting in something rather special.
Vibrant and bold, it has traditional character and bright fruit-forwardness. Bursting with juicy red cherry, raspberry leaf and a lick of green pepper on the finish, all carried by a smooth, silky palate, this one is a match made in heaven with moussaka.
Zio Mario Appassimento
Italian appassimento wines are naturally loaded with sunshine. A unique blend from the hot climate vineyards of Puglia, this stunning red is crafted from sundried grapes for a full and flavoursome palate.
A drop of a rare Malbec parcel in this blend lifts the wine, bringing a modern twist to a classic and traditional Italian style. Plum and prune notes lead to sweet spices and smoky undertones, ending with a subtle blueberry lift on the finish. Divine.
Preiss Zimmer Pinot Noir Tradition
Thanks to its cool climate, Alsace is a fabulous region for clean crisp whites and lighter reds. Grown in the shadow of the majestic Vosges Mountains, this Pinot Noir slowly ripens with bright fruit and natural freshness.
A blend of limestone and granite soils brings both silky texture and a subtle mineral edge to this vibrant, fruit-driven red, along with cherry and raspberry flavours.
Casal Sobreiro Tinto NV
Finally, we have a sun-soaked red from the Lisbon region. A juicy blend of native Portuguese grapes (Castelão and Trincadeira Preta) and Tempranillo (or, as the Portuguese call it, Tinta Roriz), this is a bright, ruby red with a mature bouquet.
Polished with a spicy, meaty backbone, enrobed with ripe red and black fruit notes, it’s soft, round and has a pleasant finale. A great all-rounder for your summer wine rack!
