From lip-smacking reds to still and sparkling rosé, top picks to sip in the sunshine. By Sam Wylie-Harris.

After a bottle for the hamper or to complement a picnic spread with an eye-catching sparkler? There are plenty of decorative labels to pique your interest.

Refreshing, food-friendly styles which capture our imagination with the flowering notion you’re going to love what’s in your glass, well before you’ve popped the corks or poured the wine.

And quite rightly so, with talented winemakers taking inspiration from their vineyards and capturing the sights, sounds and sensory journey on the front of the bottle.

To bring you closer to the great outdoors, here’s what to have on hand for al fresco entertaining…

1. Jacob’s Creek Juicy & Smooth Red Wine 2025, Australia, £9.50, Tesco

Sunshine, blue skies and thrill of the grill… spicy marinades, barbecued burgers and smoky chicken thighs call for juicy reds that also offer great value for everyday drinking. Step in this new release from one of Australia’s best-known producers and right on point with its smooth, plummy flavours, smidgen of raspberry and vanilla, with a lasting finish.

2. Folklore Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2025, Western Australia, £10, Tesco

Award-winning winemaker Larry Cherubino packs a lot of bright, zingy, citrusy fruit into this refreshing white. With attractive herbaceous notes and gentle grassy notes, green apple characters and passionfruit, it’s crisp with limey acidity on the finish. Perfect with a warmed goat’s cheese quiche and salad bowl topped with a herby dressing.

3. M&S Rosato Pouch 2025, Sicily, Italy, £12 (1.5 Litres), Ocado

Meet your new favourite rosé to have on tap. M&S has it sussed with this super-stylish Sicilian which delivers what it promises on the pouch. Naturally, the seductive floral bouquet with hints of rose petals, and delightful flavours of summer berries are tailored to picnics in the park; but it’s so delicious, we think it deserves a prominent place in your fridge. One to drink all summer long.

4. Le Terrain de Jeu des Artistes Viognier 2023, Languedoc, France, £12.99, Virgin Wines

With its picture-postcard label and sunny yellow rings of ray flowers, this Languedoc lovely comes with the promise of sunshine in a glass. Delicious from word go, blossomy aromas of honeysuckle and apricot lead to a juicy palate of ripe peaches, apricot and mouthwatering citrus, all linked together with a refreshing zippy finish.

5. Un Air de Fête Blanquette de Limoux NV, France, £13.99, Virgin Wines

With its free-spirited, colourful label, this southern French fizz has easy-drinking appeal and it’s loaded with lively orchard and stone fruits, with hints of ripe peach lingering on the palate. A perfect aperitif and party pleaser, it’s dry, fruity and bang on the money.

6. Melpo By Muses Estate Greek Rosé 2024, Sterea Ellada PGI, Greece, £14.99, Laithwaites

If you feel like branching out from your usual French rosé, this Greek gem is worth seeking out. Utterly delicious with a catchy name to honour its heritage – melpo translates to celebrate with song and dance – it’s beautifully presented and a delicious discovery. With delicately spiced red fruits (shiraz is in the blend) and a local pink-skinned variety adding vibrancy and freshness, don’t be surprised if you reach for it all summer long.

7. Nyetimber English Summer Rosé Limited Edition, NV, England, £47, Nyetimber

A trailblazer for homegrown fizz, Nyetimber invites you to drink in the fragrant English countryside with this floral, whimsy label to capture our imagination with thoughts of sun-ripened summer fruits – echoing the wild strawberry flavours in the glass, with hints of raspberries, redcurrants, and a long, creamy, fresh finish. Super stylish and one to spark up the garden party atmosphere… serve alongside a platter of smoked salmon canapés.

* Prices correct at time of going to press