CityLife

Tetra-Pak of Tavernello's a summer treat

Ripe for the tasting

I ADMIT I had my doubts about a 75cl Tetra-Pak of Tavernello, Italy’s best-selling wine brand, especially since the red I was sampling was tailored for the UK market in consultation with Tesco.

So it accompanied us on a camping trip where we road-tested a Danish ecological barbecue (don’t ask).

And, surprise, the sturdy 100 sangiovese handled the burnt lamb steaks with surprising aplomb.

Lots of ripe fruit with a hint of white pepper for just £3.99. And it’s environmentally friendly!

Like Tavernello suppliers Caviro co-operative (supplying 11 per cent of the Italian market!), Skalli is a vast operation, this time in the South of France.

The aim of their easy-drinking Couleurs du Sud range (in bottle) is ‘to evoke the warmth and colour of the Med’. Not all the bottles succeed.

Pick is the Couleurs du Sud Syrah Rose 2008 (Thresher, £6.49 or £4.33 three for two offer) which is vibrant pink couleur (sic) with attractive strawberry aromas and flavours. Tesco stock their Merlot Rose at £5.99, which is also attractive.

Skalli have an estate on Corsica, and their Terra Vecchia Reserve 2007 mixes 60 per cent chardonnay with Corsican speciality Vermentino to create a peachy summer-perfect white (Somerfield, £5.99).

If it has to be sauvignon, Freeman’s Bay 2008 (Aldi, £5.99) from New Zealand’s Wairau Valley ticks all the simple fruity boxes – gooseberry, lime and a long, ripe finish.

Finally, as we cling on to the remnants of summer, two slightly more substantial roses from South Africa that consistently delight.
Fairview Rosé is a crisp, dry vibrant pink wine full of ripe summer berry tastes.

It is widely available at around £7.99 or you could buy it online from South African specialists sawinesonline.co.uk.

From the same Charles Back stable Goats do Roam Rosé (£7.19 ) is an intense blend of shiraz, mourvèdre, gamay and grenache with similar upfront red fruits but slightly sweeter.