With the weather once again turning cool and wet, many will want to veer away from the light whites and roses that they might reach for on hotter days. But which reds really work on those summer days when the sun unexpectedly puts in an appearance? I'd suggest light Italian reds - a Bardolino or a Barbera, either of which is wonderfully fruity, but neither of which has any harsh tannins. Both can be great slightly chilled, so are a great choice even if the sun does its stuff.

Alternatively, the Gamay grape is a safe bet for the English summer. A generic Beaujolais can be quite acidic and a bit like hard work, but a well made wine from one of the Beaujolais villages (I particularly like Brouilly) has enough body to go brilliantly with barbecued foods, but is light enough to be great on its own.

Let's hope the weather gives us a chance to talk about rose soon, but in the mean time, reds all the way...