Thinking about the best red wines for summer might seem somewhat counter-intuitive as the weather warms up, with glistening bottles of white and rosé tempting us from the fridge. However, a red served at the right temperature (maybe even a chilled red) is perfectly suited to dining in the sunshine, especially if your feast comes from the coals of a barbecue or the blistering heat of a pizza oven.
With the days at their longest, the grass a mosaic of picnic blankets and the leaves wilting as they shade us from the blazing sun, our thoughts should turn to the humble lifesaver hiding at the back of the kitchen cupboard: the wine cooler. If there is a cardinal rule of summer entertaining, it is attention to serving temperature because any wine, whatever the colour, falls apart if it’s served too warm. This is widely understood when it comes to white or rosé but all too often a red is left to stew in the afternoon sunshine (or on your table in a warm restaurant, for that matter), the sum becoming less than its parts as the fruit bakes, the alcohol drifts to the fore and the tannins take over.
A red served at the right temperature is perfectly suited to dining in the sunshine
To make the most of our summer reds, complex, structured wines, such as Bordeaux or Napa Cabernet, need to be served at 12°C, what’s known as ‘cellar temperature’, while fresher, fruitier examples, like Beaujolais or Chinon, will be greatly enhanced after 30 minutes in the fridge. Once on the table, they should be kept in a wine cooler, rather than on ice, to preserve freshness without freezing the fruit.
Lighter, fresher styles of wine are very much in vogue, with UK retailers reporting a surge in sales of reds that can be enjoyed chilled, according to interviews with leading buyers conducted as part of this year’s IWSC National Drinks Retail Awards. ‘Whilst the concept of chilling red wines was relatively unheard of a couple of years ago, we’re seeing shoppers embracing less formal ‘rules’ around wine and seeking styles that suit more casual, outdoor and food‑pairing occasions,’ says Eleanor Pinfield, senior buying manager at the Co-op.
So what makes the perfect fridge-friendly red?’ Lighter, brighter reds chill the best and the cooler temperature only serves to emphasise the freshness they already exude, amplifying what we already love about them,’ says Freddy Bulmer, an IWSC judge and buyer at The Wine Society who has a keen eye for industry trends.
Read on for 10 of the best red wines for summer 2026.
Ten of the best reds for summer
Domaine de Bellivière, Rouge-Gorge, Coteaux du Loir 2022
Produced from the Loire’s best kept secret, Pineau d’Aunis, a relatively unusual indigenous red grape that delivers lashings of sapid red fruit – think strawberry and juicy cherry – complemented by a crack of black pepper and sumptuous high-thread-count silkiness. A vibrant red that’s crowd-pleasing yet unusual, perfect for chilling and ideal for a toasted goat’s cheese salad.
£40, Hedonism
Suertes del Marqués, 7 Fuentes, 2021
Tenerife offers a Jurassic Park of endangered indigenous grape varieties and Listán Negro is a truly delicious example. From Suertes del Marqués, a producer with a cult following, this wine comes from more than 25 tiny parcels. Perfumed and pure, with fresh hedgerow berries and wild herbs, pepped up by the island’s sulphurous volcanic va-va-voom, this wine is finely detailed, so only suits a gentle chill. Serve with a slice of pan con tomate.
£22, The Wine Society
La Crema, Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, 2023
As anyone who has taken a dip off California’s Pacific coast will know, it’s a bracing, life-affirming experience, and that chill also does wonders for Sonoma’s Pinot Noir, which exhibits fulsome freshness to balance the sunny ripeness of the fruit. La Crema is a textbook example, exuding aromas of cherry, raspberry, and violet, while in the mouth there’s plush, velvety smoothness. A natural match for griddled salmon or red mullet, this wine is at its best served after a short stint in the fridge.
£32, Vinvm
CVNE, Maruxa Mencía, 2023
If I was a betting man, I would put money on Mencía being the next big thing: a bright, vibrant grape from the slate-rich slopes of inland Galicia in northwest Spain. This wine, produced by CVNE of Rioja fame, offers a perfumed nose of violets and cherry blossom, while the mid-palate is packed full of juicy, cherry berry fruit, with a cheeky nibble from the tannins. A lighter, chillable wine that still has plenty of concentration, pair this with pan-fried chorizo.
£13, Tesco
Château de la Roulerie, Anjou Rouge, 2023
Cabernet Franc is the ‘Mr Benn’ of red grapes, adopting starkly different profiles according to where it’s planted, but the Loire is its spiritual home and therefore the place it shines brightest. This Anjou Rouge has a vivid, aromatic red fruit nose, with tart plum, raspberry and an attractive leafiness on the palate. A low-intervention wine from an accomplished organic producer, the vibrant fruit suits a light chill. A great match for grilled garlic prawns.
£22, Tanners
Morrisons, The Best Block Series 019, Saumur Champigny 2024
A bright, fresh chillable red from the Loire offering a lifted nose of raspberry, red cherry and fresh mint, the herbal theme continuing through the palate, which offers bags of crunchy red fruit charm, balanced by lithe cranberry acidity and soft, supple tannins. A versatile wine to pair with a fresh tomato mozzarella pasta sauce.
£15, Morrisons
Geyerhof, StockWerk Zweigelt, 2024
Zweigelt is Austria’s red alternative to Grüner Veltliner: a delicate, fresh and versatile wine that lends itself to summer sipping. The nose offers lifted floral aromas of cherry blossom and hibiscus, leading into crunchy red cherries, plums and a hint of herbal tea. This wine comes from pioneers of biodynamic agriculture and it has bags of natural energy. Give this a good chill and pair with griddled chicken and salad.
£13.50, The Wine Society
Robert Oatley, Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022
Australia’s Margaret River region produces a particular style of juicy-fruited, crowd-pleasing Cabernet Sauvignon that suits a delicate chill. There’s crunchy blackcurrant, dark plums and a hint of graphite and, crucially to make it fridge-friendly, the tannins are soft and ripe. A plump, well-balanced, highly quaffable wine to pair with top-quality barbecued burgers.
£15, Majestic
Louis Jadot, Bourgogne Gamay, 2022
A red Burgundy that doesn’t take itself too seriously, even though it comes from a highly respected producer, made from Gamay, a vibrant variety that’s at its best after half an hour in the fridge. The enticing nose offers wafts of alpine strawberry, mulberry, rose petals and a dusting of spice, while in the mouth there’s a delicious crunch of cranberry acidity. The tannins are dense but soft. A great match for tarragon roast chicken.
£17, Sainsbury’s
Al Fresco Red 2024
A bargain ‘smashable’ red crafted for the Co-op by Master of Wine Ray O’Connor that could pass for a dark Spanish rosé. Produced with early harvested grapes to keep things fresh, it’s also low in alcohol at 11%, offering a summery fandango of cherry, cranberry and pomegranate. Perfect on its own as an aperitif, it also works well with a watermelon, red onion, mint and feta salad.
£9, Co-op
