Fine summer wines
ShelfLife looks at best summer wines for warm-weather occasions, from picnics and barbecues to garden parties and al fresco dining
Print23 July 2026
As longer evenings and outdoor dining become the norm, shoppers are seeking refreshing, food-friendly wines that suit everything from barbecues to al fresco entertaining. According to the latest Wine Report from Drinks Ireland, wine remains the nation’s second most popular alcoholic beverage, with only beer accounting for a larger share of the market.
At the same time, consumer preferences continue to evolve. The global market for sustainable, organic and alternative wines is maturing, driven largely by younger wine drinkers. However, growth is being constrained by challenges including limited availability, low consumer awareness and perceptions around value.
According to IWSR’s Opportunities in Sustainable, Organic and Alternative Wine 2025 report, Gen Z and Millennial consumers are emerging as the primary growth drivers of the alternative wine category across key international markets. By contrast, awareness and purchase intent remain significantly lower
among older consumers.
Meanwhile, another IWSR report Opportunities in No- and Low-Alcohol Wine 2025 report published earlier this year highlights growing engagement with no- and
low-alcohol wines across the world’s major wine markets, fuelled by the continuing moderation trend and increasing consumer focus on health and wellness.
For retailers, these shifting preferences present a clear opportunity. Alongside classic summer favourites, stocking a broader range of organic, sustainable, no- and low-alcohol wines will help appeal to both loyal wine enthusiasts looking to explore new styles and a new generation of consumers entering the category. A diverse, well-balanced wine offering will ensure retailers are well placed to meet changing demand and maximise sales throughout the summer season.
Santa Rita: Recogised by Forbes as the ‘World’s Number One Winery’
Building on recent momentum following its recognition by Forbes as the world’s number one winery, Santa Rita continues to strengthen its global positioning. The accolade, awarded in recognition of the group’s heritage and legacy, commitment to mentoring future generations of winemakers, innovation across vineyard and winery, advancements in packaging, and leadership in sustainability and social responsibility, underscores a long-term dedication to quality and progress.
It further reinforces Santa Rita’s standing as one of the most influential players in the international wine category.
Forbes accolade
Strong summer activation for Santa Rita 120
Santa Rita Limited Release Rosé
For retailers, these shifting preferences present a clear opportunity. Alongside classic summer favourites, stocking a broader range of organic, sustainable, no- and low-alcohol wines will help appeal to both loyal wine enthusiasts looking to explore new styles and a new generation of consumers entering the category. A diverse, well-balanced wine offering will ensure retailers are well placed to meet changing demand and maximise sales throughout the summer season.
The Santa Rita 120 range will be supported by a significant summer marketing campaign running through July to September. The activation is designed to drive visibility and engagement at retail level, combining outdoor advertising with prominent in-store positioning, including gondola end displays and on-bottle neck collars across key SKUs.
At the centre of the campaign is a consumer competition offering the chance to win the ‘Santa Rita 120 Hours Experience’, aimed at deepening brand connection and encouraging participation during the peak summer trading period.
Key wines in focus include Santa Rita 120 Pinot Grigio, positioned as an approachable and refreshing white suited to everyday consumption, alongside Santa Rita Limited Release Rosé, an elegant dry style with a bright, pale pink hue and a fruit-driven profile of strawberries and raspberries, ideal as an aperitif.
Santa Rita 120 Pinot Grigio
Seasonal portfolio highlights
The wider portfolio is aligned with summer demand, with lighter, versatile styles coming to the fore. Carmen’s Wave Series Pinot Noir offers flexibility, tasting equally well served slightly chilled or at room temperature, while Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc from Argentina’s Uco Valley provides a fresh, crisp option.
The Sauvignon Blanc delivers vibrant aromatics of passion fruit, grapefruit, lime and white peach, underpinned by a zesty, well balanced palate that pairs naturally with seafood and fresh salads. Sourced from vineyards in Tupungato at approximately 1,000 metres above sea level, the wine benefits from cool night temperatures and calcium carbonate-rich soils, which help preserve acidity and enhance flavour complexity.
Barefoot’s ultimate white wine pairings for summer gatherings
Barefoot’s go-to wine guide for quick bites, light feasts and thrilling grills Barefoot Wine shares the ultimate pairings for effortless entertaining this summer. Say
goodbye to stressing over menus and hello to laid-back fun, Barefoot is the must-have wine to bring vibrant flavour, style, and delicious ease to all your summer gatherings from garden parties and chilled evening gatherings.
Discover Barefoot’s premium, crisp white wines and refreshing rosé—the perfect match for your quick bites, light feasts, and thrilling grills.
Barefoot’s summer pairing playbook
• Barefoot Pinot Grigio: Pairs perfectly with refreshing light bites like fresh vegetable spring rolls, cucumber slices with cream cheese, caprese skewers, or delicate
seafood like shrimp cocktail and smoked salmon blinis. It is also a crisp, light-bodied choice for simple grilled vegetable skewers or light poultry such as grilled chicken breast, grilled chicken sliders or mini chicken burgers, complementing green vegetables and white meats perfectly.
• Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc: Excellent with light bites like roasted turkey, smoked fish, salty oysters, feta or goat’s cheese salads, avocado toast with a poached egg, or a bright orzo pasta salad. It’s also great for lighter BBQ fare such as feta and courgette skewers, zesty chicken salads, or other grilled vegetables, as its fresh character and melon notes provide a wonderful lift.
• Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay: A great match for light bites like grilled veggie skewers, brie or creamy cheeses, seafood pasta, and milder creamy pasta bites. It
also excels with rich BBQ options like grilled salmon fillets or buttery corn on the cob, as its creamy smooth character and notes of vanilla and baked apple are
enhanced by a gentle char.
• Barefoot Moscato: Perfect with summer sweet treats like fresh fruit platters or salted caramel desserts. Its sweet character also makes it ideal for taming spice, pairing wonderfully with spicy dishes such as Tandoori Chicken Skewers, spicy vegetable curries, or sweet and sticky BBQ pork ribs.
• Barefoot White Zinfandel: Pairs well with salty snacks like prosciutto-wrapped melon, spicy chorizo and sweet potato hash. For the BBQ, it pairs beautifully with
the sweetness and spice of dishes like a sweet and sticky BBQ glazed chicken skewer or a spiced grilled halloumi and
pepper dish.
Make Barefoot your go-to for your unforgettable gatherings with friends this summer. Fun, flavourful, and approachable, there is a Barefoot Wine for everyone. The
range includes Barefoot Jammy Red, Barefoot Merlot, Barefoot Malbec, Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon, Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay, Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc, Barefoot Pinot Grigio and Barefoot Moscato alongside Barefoot White Zinfandel and Barefoot Pink Moscato. Packed with big flavours and gorgeous aromas – there’s plenty to choose from.
Barefoot Wine is available from all good stockists, RRP: €10.50.
For more information, visit:
www.barefootwine.ie
www.facebook.com/barefootwineuk
www.instagram.com/barefootwineuk
www.pinterest.com/barefootwine
Amy Huberman’s Ah Rosé sunshine every day
Amy Huberman admiring a glass of Ah Rosé
Created to be enjoyable, approachable and part of life’s everyday moments, Ah Rosé is the latest addition to the Ah Wines portfolio led by actress, author and
entrepreneur Amy Huberman. The brand was founded with a simple ambition: to offer high-quality wines that remove the intimidation often associated with wine and instead focus on fun, flavour and bringing people together.
Produced in the renowned Pays d’Oc region of Southern France, Ah Rosé is a beautifully balanced blend of Cinsault and Grenache Gris, combining French winemaking heritage with a contemporary, easy-going style. Pale blush in colour and elegant in character, the wine opens with expressive aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry and white peach, complemented by subtle floral and citrus notes. On the palate, it is crisp, dry and refreshing, delivering vibrant red berry fruit flavours, bright acidity and a smooth, polished finish. Consistently over delivering on quality, Ah Rosé appeals equally to casual wine drinkers and more experienced consumers seeking a refined yet accessible rosé.
Ah Rosé
The wine is produced by Domaines Auriol, a family-owned winery in the Occitanie region of Southern France. One of the region’s leading wine exporters, Domaines Auriol has built a reputation for award-winning wines, sustainable practices and a strong ecological ethos. Versatile and food-friendly, Ah Rosé pairs beautifully with seafood, summer salads, burrata, charcuterie, sushi and Mediterranean-inspired dishes, making it equally suited to relaxed lunches, entertaining at home or long summer evenings shared with friends.
Speaking about the philosophy behind Ah Wines, Amy Huberman has described the brand as being inspired by moments of joy, connection and celebration. The Ah Wines range was developed to be approachable and unpretentious, encouraging consumers to enjoy great wine without overthinking it.
Now available nationwide through Tesco, Dunnes Stores and all Avoca stores, Ah Rosé has an RRP of €15, with promotional pricing currently available at €12 in Dunnes Stores and €13 in Tesco.
For more information visit: www.ah-wines.com, Instagram: @ah_wines/
Moët & Chandon just rewrote the rules of summer champagne drinking
Meet Moët Ice Impérial: The first-ever champagne crafted specifically to be poured over ice
First things first: let’s clear the air. It’s the ‘world’s best loved champagne’ but the one so many of us have trouble pronouncing. It’s Moh-wett (with a crisp, hard ‘t’), not Moh-way.
Its founder, Claude Moët, had Dutch roots, and those two little dots over the ‘ë’ mean you pronounce the vowel solo.
Grammar lessons aside, let’s talk about breaking some rules. While purists might shudder at the thought of putting ice in champagne, Moët & Chandon is giving you
permission to do it. Enter Moët Ice Impérial – a fresh, fruity, and unapologetically intense blend designed to turn the traditional champagne ritual into the ultimate, laid-back summer vibe.
It’s everything you love about the classic Moët style – bright fruitiness, a seductive palate, and elegant maturity – but dialled up for sun-soaked pool days, rooftop hangouts, and garden parties. By inviting you to add the final ingredient (the ice!), Moët turns you from a casual sipper into the master of ceremonies.
Summer just got a ‘whole lot cooler’.
Moët Ice Impérial
How to serve like a pro
Ready to pour? Ditch the traditional flutes, grab a large cabernet-style glass, and follow the seven-12-three rule:
• 7°C: Chill the bottle to a crisp seven degrees.
• 12cl: Pour a generous 12cl splash of Ice Impérial.
• Three Cubes: Drop in exactly three large ice cubes. Choose your summer alter-ego Take your glass to the next level by dropping in one of these three expert approved garnishes:
• The Renegade: A slice of ginger for a sharp,
spicy kick of freshness.
• The Cool Down: A few slapped mint leaves for a breezy, herbaceous vibe.
• The Classic: A twist of orange peel for pure, refined elegance.
Moët Ice Impérial, RRP from €78.25, is available from Brown Thomas, O’Briens Wine, Molloy’s O Licence, Celtic Whiskey Shop, Dublin, Higgins Clonskeagh, Goose O Licence Drumcondra, Gibneys Malahide, Shiel’s Londis Malahide Dublin, The Wine Centre, Co.
Kilkenny, Collins SuperValu Carrigaline, Co. Cork, Mace Straan and Worldwide Wines, Co.
Waterford.
Also available to be enjoyed in Left Bank Bar, Co. Kilkenny, Edison, Co. Cork, Blue Haven Hotel, Kinsale, Co. Cork, and DÍON, Dublin.
Whispering Angel unveils its 20th Vintage
The brand that inspired the global rosé renaissance celebrates an enduring legacy like no other
Remarked as the world’s number one rosé, Whispering Angel proudly celebrates its 20th vintage with the momentum and unmistakable confidence that has defined the brand since 2006. A milestone that marks two decades of leadership and category-defining excellence, Whispering Angel’s 20th Anniversary is more than just a date in the calendar, but a celebration of an enduring legacy and vision for the future of rosé.
Sacha Lichine founded Whispering Angel in 2006 with a bold intention: to bring rosé to greatness. Since its inception, Whispering Angel sparked the global ‘Rosé Renaissance’, elevating an entire category of wine into a symbol of luxury, status and French joie de vivre. Today, it continues to lead with sustained sales growth, and the charisma that has made the brand a global icon. Clear, vibrant and culturally fluent, Whispering Angel remains the preferred French rosé world-over and the benchmark against which every other rosé is measured.
Whispering Angel 20th Vintage
Founder’s statement
“I am pleased to say that this is among the best vintages of Whispering Angel we’ve made. Both delicious and aromatic,” said Sacha Lichine. Sacha Lichine’s original whisper has become a global promise: a promise of excellence, prestige, and innovation. Two decades on, that intimate beginning has been reinterpreted for the 20th vintage release.
Winemaker’s statement
“The 20th anniversary vintage is expressive and precise, revealed through a balance of ripeness and freshness, with delicate notes of citrus and red fruits that add clarity and depth. On the palate, the wine opens smoothly with a silky, well-defined texture.
Its ever-present freshness adds structure and dimension, leading to an energetic, lively finish,” said Bertrand Léon. The new anniversary label is refined and collectible, and features Sacha Lichine’s signature alongside the iconic Whispering Angel brand mark – the angels of Chateau d’Esclans that have become its
ambassadors to the world. Designed to stand out on shelf and inspire pride wherever it appears, the label reflects both heritage and modernity.
To mark the brand’s milestone, Whispering Angel is ‘proud’ to be kicking off a year of celebrations with the unveiling of a special edition artwork, composed of 20
visual stories, each representing a chapter in the Whispering Angel journey – people, places, and moments that shaped the world’s most influential rosé.
Whispering Angel 2025 Vintage – RRP from €26.65
Whispering Angel is available from O’Brien’s nationwide, Shield’s Malahide, Morton’s Ranelagh, Avoca, Molloy’s, DonnyBrook Fair, Wines Online, Malt House
Trim, The Wine Centre Kilkenny, Worldwide Wines Waterford and all major retailers.
Enjoy Whispering Angel in hotels, restaurants and bars around the country
including The Marker, Dublin, The Montenotte, Dublin, Blue Haven Kinsale, Co. Cork, Hellfire Steakhouse Dublin, Le Château restaurant, Co. Cork,
Neighbourhood restaurant Naas, Co. Kildare, Hilliard’s restaurant, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Strand Inn Dunmore East, The Bailey, Dublin, and Café en Seine, Dublin.
Damien Hirst and Château La Coste celebrate ‘The Art of Wine’ with the launch of Madame ‘B’
Madame ‘B’ a new rosé wine which was launched on 16 June, 2026, is a partnership between two great friends, Damien Hirst and Château La Coste. This special friendship is rooted in a shared love and appreciation for craftsmanship, culture and the ever-evolving dialogue between art, beauty, nature and the art of living.
Madame ‘B’ is produced entirely from estate-grown biodynamic fruit at Château La Coste, crafted in an elegant, refi ned Provençal style. Certified organic and precisely produced from Demeter-certified, estate grown grapes, it offers freshness, balance and a purity of expression that makes it effortlessly drinkable.
This is a wine that reflects not only its clear provenance in Aix-en-Provence, but also further inspires Château La Coste’s enduring belief that wine, art, architecture and the beauty of nature should all be enjoyed together.
Commenting, Damien Hirst and Paddy McKillen, said: “The Château is a place we both love and from which we draw inspiration.
Madame ‘B’ is a continuation of many projects we’ve worked on together. Our love of art in all its forms is something we both share and
enjoy.”
Situated in one of the oldest winemaking regions of France, between the historic city of Aix-En Provence and the Luberon National Park, Château La Coste is a vineyard where wine, art and architecture co-exist. Since it opened to the public in 2011, Château La Coste invites visitors to discover major works of contemporary art installed in the open air and five gallery spaces dotted across the 500-acre site.
Damien Hirst’s relationship with the Château began many years ago and is rooted in friendship and collaboration. His landmark exhibition, ‘The Light that Shines’ took over the entire estate at Château La Coste in 2024. Wine notes of Madame ‘B’ 2025 is an elegant expression of Provençal rosé from the biodynamic vineyards
of Château La Coste. Crafted using specific vineyard parcels (Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet, Sauvignon, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Counoise) which are carefully sourced from across the estate to reflect both the purity of fruit and the terroir which gives Château La Coste its distinct style. The wine is organic and produced from Demeter-certified, estate grown grapes.
Harvested plot-by-plot, the wine is gently pressed at low temperatures to preserve its delicate colour and aromatic vibrancy.
Fermentation takes place in temperature controlled stainless-steel tanks, to retain remarkable freshness while gaining subtle complexity from time spent on fine lees. In the glass, a pale salmon pink colour introduces a refi ned aromatic profile of citrus and white fruits, layered with notes of wild strawberry, cherry and a distinctive mineral edge. The palate is beautifully rounded yet vibrant, revealing flavours of white peach and pear, balanced with a refreshing, mouth watering finish.
Château La Coste
Château La Coste is a leading estate in Aixen-Provence, dedicated to biodynamic viticulture and precise, terroir-driven winemaking. Set across elevated vineyards, the estate produces wines defined by freshness, balance and elegance, refl ecting the
character of its Provençal landscape.
For further information, visit: www.chateau-lacoste.com
Madame ‘B’, RRP: €33 is available from Avoca, Brown Thomas (Dublin, Limerick, Cork and online), Terroirs, Thomas’s of Foxrock, Jus De Vine, Searson’s
Wine Merchants, Leonards Fine Wines and Premium Spirits, The Corkscrew Wine Merchants, Barnhill Stores, and Arnotts (Dublin
and online). It is also available to enjoy at Castlemartyr, Parilla Ranelagh and Ashton’s.
Graham Norton and Invivo expand GN Wine range with first zero-alcohol sauvignon blanc
GN Wines – the award-winning partnership between Graham Norton and New Zealand winery Invivo – is launching GN Zero Sauvignon Blanc, the range’s first alcohol-free wine. It joins the existing New Zealand and South African Sauvignon Blancs, offering wine lovers a GN for every occasion, with or without the alcohol.
The new 0% wine was crafted in New Zealand by Invivo Cofounder and GN Wines winemaker Rob Cameron, who has nearly three decades of winemaking experience, including in zero and lower-alcohol wine. Rob started with the full-strength GN Sauvignon Blanc – known for its trademark “zing” and crisp acidity – then used spinning cone technology to gently remove the alcohol, before rebuilding the palate weight to restore mouthfeel.
The result is a fresh, expressive alcohol-free Sauvignon Blanc with texture and mouthfeel that stays true to GN Wines’ signature style – balanced, bright and seriously drinkable. GN Zero Sauvignon Blanc has fresh aromas of tropical fruit, zesty citrus and crisp green apple. The palate is clean and lively, with classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc acidity, finishing smooth, fresh and moreish – without the alcohol.
Commenting, Graham Norton, said: “My new GN Zero Sauvignon Blanc still has that delicious New Zealand zing we all know and love – so even if you’ve got an early start the next day, or you just fancy a glass without the consequences, you’re not missing out on a drop of GN flavour.”
Rob Cameron, Invivo co-founder and GN Wines winemaker, added: “We’ve wanted to create a zero-alcohol Sauvignon Blanc with Graham for a long time. The real challenge with producing a great 0% still wine is texture – so after gently removing the alcohol, we rebuilt the palate weight using natural techniques to keep that classic GN mouthfeel. The result has all the hallmarks of a great New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, just without the alcohol. As more people flex when and how they drink, this is the perfect pour – and a natural fit alongside our full-strength New Zealand and South African Sauvignon Blancs.”
The GN Wine range now features seven wines: GN Zero Sauvignon Blanc, GN New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, GN South African Sauvignon Blanc, GN Prosecco DOC, GN Rosé Prosecco DOC, GN Shiraz from Australia and GN He-Devil Malbec from Argentina.
During a visit to Invivo’s vineyards in Marlborough, New Zealand in March 2025, Norton was awarded the region’s first-ever “grape ambassador” title by the Prime Minister of New Zealand and the Mayor of Marlborough, in recognition of his long-standing advocacy for Sauvignon Blanc. GN Zero Sauvignon Blanc will be available this Autumn in the UK and Ireland. ■
Read more: Fine wine in the sunshine
© 2026 by ShelfLife reporter
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