It can be tough to judge the ‘other sparkling’ category and it doesn’t yield a huge number of outstanding wines. These wines come in a variety of different flavours, sweetness levels and styles. They’re made using different methods from charmat to straight carbonation so there are a lot of factors to think about and assess. The truth is that these wines are unlikely to be winning any ‘best wine in the world’ accolades in international wine competitions and here’s my two cents worth: it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that they’re good-value-for-money wines that you can enjoy this summer at the beach, by the pool or at a barbecue without taking them too seriously… and isn’t that exactly what long, hot summer days drinking wine with friends is all about?

Drink, enjoy, laugh, wear sunscreen and don’t overthink it. Bliss.