Wines for a spring barbecue | Fiona Beckett drinking

There was a time when we only wrote about what to drink with barbecue in the summer, as if we Brits had never barbecued in any other season. But now that many appliances are more like outdoor ovens, we have to justify the cost by using them all year round, even when thrown outside (which, of course, is perfectly likely on a weekend). -holiday end).

It also requires rethinking the type of wine to serve with them. Barbecue no longer necessarily means burgers, wings and sweet ribs. Anything cooked over coals is now eligible. Think fresh sardines at a picnic on the beach. Or smoked eggplant as part of a Middle Eastern feast. Or spicy skewers marinated in yoghurt and some salads. And they are all as likely to entice a white, rosé or orange wine as a red wine.

There are three other things to keep in mind. First, drinking outside tends to increase the craving for flavor (as it does when you're on a plane). Even if you're averse to the fuller expressions of Sauvignon Blanc such as the super-spicy Daschbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (£7.99, 12.5%) from Lidl's latest Wine Tour, they really work well outdoors. That doesn't mean you have to drink the most boozy red you can get your hands on though. Personally, I like a medium to light bodied red with charred food, but that calls for a wine with personality, like the delicious Molmenti & Celot Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso 2020 (£12.99 Wanderlust Wine, 12, 5%) which I had with brined pork at a restaurant in Bristol the other day.

Secondly, there is the problem of temperature, which is more problematic in summer, but even in spring, you will need big ice buckets to keep your whites, rosés and of course beers cool. And, finally, there is the ease of serving. If you're barbecuing somewhere other than your own backyard, it's hard to beat canned wine in terms of convenience, if not necessarily quality, as they're great for carrying around in a cooler bag. I'll review the latest releases in a few weeks, but in the meantime you could try the Vin du Can rosé I recommended last year.

Whatever you buy, this weekend is definitely a good time to stock up as Easter promotions are still running. Morrisons, in particular, offer great discounts and are currently offering 25% off six more bottles, making them as competitive as Aldi and Lidl.

Five bottles for an Easter weekend BBQ< p class="dcr -8zipgp">Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Coteaux de Giennois 2020 £8 (on sale, was £11), 13% off. A cheap alternative to Sancerre to sip with prawns or other seafood.

M&S Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2021 £8, 12.5%. Packaged but highly drinkable Grenache-based rosé for less than typical Provence rosé. Good picnic wine too.

Torre de Ferro Dao Reserva 2019 £6.99 Lidl, 13.5%. Smooth and supple Portuguese red that would be perfect with grilled lamb.

Zarper Malbec Gran Reserva 2021 £7 (on sale, plus 25% off six bottles currently) Morrisons, 13.5%. Drinking a classic barbecue: a great kick for the money.

Carpe Diem 'Bad Boys' 2018 £18.99 on mix-six (£21.99 otherwise ) Majestic, 14%. A lush, full-bodied blend of saperavi and feteasca negra grapes from Moldova. A great bottle to take to a barbecue, especially if it's big cuts of meat.

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