We need a summer, not just because you are all hoping to give the barbecue more of an airing this year than last and enjoy some super al fresco eating and drinking, but also because our English and Welsh winemakers need periods of continuous, consistent sunshine over the next few months. They need to ensure that 2013 is a harvest to remember, unlike 2012 which was dominated by wet and cool weather as we all know, resulting in producers making a lot less wine, although the quality was good. Perhaps surprising for you is the fact that, if everything goes to plan, in England and Wales this year around 7.5 million bottles of wine will be produced, up from 3 million bottles from the 2011 vintage!

English and Welsh wines are rightly winning lots of accolades because we are making some of the best sparkling wines in the world here. Try these from producers like Nyetimber, Camel Valley, and Gusbourne Estate and, locally, Three Choirs in Newent. If you are looking for an easy drinking white then try Three Choirs Coleridge Hill or Willow Brook, both at around 11% abv. Alternatively, have a taste of the excellent Bacchus – the best white variety for quality still whites in England – from Brightwell Vineyard (pictured left) in Wallingford (to be featured at my Wine Talk & Tasting Evening at The Chipping Norton Theatre on Friday 17th May) or Bothy Vineyard.  Whilst the majority of production in England and Wales is of sparkling and white wines, there are good pink fizzes and still rosés too, with a few reds produced by specialists like Strawberry Hill Vineyards in Newent who make Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Other local producers  worth a mention are Poulton Hill Estate in Cirencester and  Bridewell wine available from in Wilcote near Chipping Norton.

So if you haven’t tasted an English wine yet or visited an English vineyard, then you definitely should, and your best opportunity is coming up during English Wine Week which runs from Saturday May 25^th until Sunday 2^nd June. There will be lots of activities and promotions taking place and you will get to taste some excellent wines. More details are available from English Wine Producers or UKvine.

Earlier this week The Wine Tipster took part in his mini Olympics by running in The Mota -Vation Summer Race Series at Combe in Oxfordshire.  There are five races in the series, which take place in five different villages and are on average 4 miles in distance. The weather conditions were super hot, which suited me just fine and with nearly 300 runners there was plenty of competition on. The next race is at Chipping Norton 2^nd August and if you would like to enter go to Kidlington Running Club

Tonight, of course, the real Olympics will start, and if you are looking to show your support over the next couple of weeks then kick off with Beefeater London Dry Gin 70cl, £16.80, on offer in Sainsbury’s and Tesco until 14^th August at £14.00 and £14.30 respectively or their superb Beefeater 24 London Dry Gin 70cl, £28.50, Fortnum & Mason.  These wonderful gins are produced in Kennington, SE11.

If you are travelling further afield then English bubbly Nyetimber Classic Cuvee 2007, £29.99, Waitrose, from Sussex  has to be the top of any fizz ranking in England, alongside Gusbourne Estate, Blanc de Blancs 2007, Appledore, Kent, £25.95, Lea & Sandeman and Berry Brothers & Rudd. Turning to pink, Chapel Down English Rosè 2010, £9.99 Waitrose is delicious, soft and fruity, whilst Brightwell Oxford Rosè  2011, £8.70  Brightwell Vineyard is another high quality, dry pink.

For still whites,  the excellent Three Choirs Vineyard in Gloucestershire, Midsummer Hill 2011, £6.50 a bottle, £78.00 for a case of 12 x 75cl, The Wine Society, is a great value aperitif white or for more complexity Ortega 2011, Biddenden Vineyards in Kent, £9.94 a bottle, £113.34 for a case of 12 x 75cl,  is just the job.

Away from the grape, Gem Bath Ales, £1.99, on offer at 4 for £6 in Tesco until 14^th August  or Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, £1.99, on offer any 3 for £5 in Sainsbury’s until 14^th August are a couple of my favourite brews.