Six award-winning wines to chill for summer

Decanter World Wine Awards highlighted six medal-winning bottles for warm-weather drinking, spanning sparkling wine, rosé, crisp white, chilled red and an orange-style Riesling. The picks show how acidity, freshness and moderate alcohol can make wine more food-friendly as temperatures rise.

Why it matters: - Summer drinking shifts toward wines that stay refreshing with food, from seafood and salads to barbecue and aperitifs. - Acidity, moderate alcohol and bright fruit are the key traits that help a wine work in warm weather. - Medal winners from the Decanter World Wine Awards offer a quick shortcut for shoppers looking for proven summer-friendly bottles.

What happened: - Decanter World Wine Awards 2026 singled out six wines as summer recommendations. - The list covers sparkling wine, rosé, white wine, chilled red and an orange-style Riesling. - The awards are described as the world’s largest wine competition and a global benchmark for wine quality. - The full medal list is available at awards.decanter.com.

The details: - Hambledon Wine Estate Classic Cuvée Brut NV from Hampshire, England earned Gold and 95 points for entertaining. - The English sparkling wine is presented in magnum and shows golden apple, pear, lemon, baked biscuit, fine bubbles and mineral length. - A La Mano Tavel 2024 from the Rhône, France earned Gold and 95 points for barbecue pairings. - The rosé brings black cherry fruit, herbal spice and a savoury finish, with enough body for grilled meats and smoky flavours. - Rapaura Springs ROHE Sauvignon Blanc 2025 from Blind River, Marlborough, New Zealand earned Best in Show and 97 points for seafood. - The Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc layers melon, mango, pear, Japanese citrus, herbs and savoury minerality. - Spier Villa Blue Albariño 2025 from Stellenbosch, South Africa earned Top Value Gold and 95 points as a different summer option. - The Albariño shows ripe apple, mango, citrus zest, vibrant acidity and a saline finish. - Kurtatsch Sonntaler Vernatsch Alte Reben Schiava 2025 from Alto Adige, Italy earned Gold and 95 points for chilled red wine drinkers. - The old-vine Schiava offers crushed red berries, rose petals, fresh herbs, gentle tannins and refreshing acidity. - About 20 minutes in the refrigerator improves the Schiava’s appeal in warm weather. - bhn Riesling 2023 from Oregon, United States earned Gold and 95 points for adventurous drinkers. - The Riesling was produced on its skins in the style of an orange wine and shows oolong tea, saffron, ginger, floral notes and subtle oxidative complexity. - The article recommends serving sparkling wine at 6–8°C, crisp whites at 8–10°C, dry rosé at 8–11°C, and light-bodied reds at 12–14°C. - Off-dry Riesling can balance chilli heat while staying fresh.

Between the lines: - The selections reflect a broader summer trend toward wines with more lift and less weight. - The mix of regions shows that summer-friendly wines are no longer limited to classic European styles. - The inclusion of a value award and a Best in Show bottle suggests the market spans both premium occasion wines and practical everyday buys.

What's next: - Drinkers can use the medal list as a guide when choosing bottles for summer meals and gatherings. - More wines from the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards remain available through the awards website. - The article encourages serving lighter styles well chilled and keeping richer bottles for cooler months.