Best white wine for summer

Best summer white wine under £15 -- Picpoul de Pinet

Picpoul de Pinet is the benchmark summer white wine in the UK. Between £10 and £15, it is consistently fresh, citrusy, and acidic. It works with light summer foods -- seafood, salads, grilled fish, vegetable dishes -- and holds up well even when it warms up in a glass.

Best summer white wine under £18 -- Albarino

Under £18, Albarino from Galicia is a more interesting summer alternative. The slight coastal salinity and stone fruit character make it more complex than a Picpoul while staying equally fresh and food-friendly.

Most underrated summer white -- German Riesling

German Riesling is one of the most underrated summer whites available in the UK. Low in alcohol, high acidity, with a citrus and mineral character that is genuinely refreshing on a warm day. If you want a dry style, look for a Kabinett or producer-specific dry designation -- avoid Spatlese or Auslese, which lean sweeter.

Best British summer white -- English Bacchus

English still white wine has improved dramatically over the last decade. So, if you want to fly the Union Jack, consider Bacchus -- the dominant English white grape -- which produces aromatic, grassy wines with real freshness and a character that suits warm weather drinking. At £15 to £22, good English wine is worth seeking out.

Summer white wine at a restaurant

If you are in a restaurant in the summer and want something lighter and refreshing, upload the wine list to Pour with your dish. It reads every bottle, matches it to your food, and tells you exactly what to order. Free, no sign-up, works from your phone at the table.

At a restaurant this summer? Upload the wine list to Pour and get one confident recommendation for your dish.