Best for burgers
Co-op Irresistible Bio Bio Valley Malbec 2016 £6.99, 13.5%
Can’t go wrong with a malbec these days
Best for barbecue fish
Sunday Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Marlborough £12.99 Laithwaites, or £11.49 by the case, 12.5%
Zesty Kiwi sauvignon blanc is just the thing for big, spicy flavours
Best for jerk chicken
Old Jamaica ginger beer 38p-40p per 330ml can, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, or £1.20 per 1.5-litre bottle Waitrose
Spicy, but not too spicy to take on jerk
Best bubbly
Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Shiraz £8.99 drinksupermarket.com, £10.75 Ocado and Waitrose, 12.5%
Cherry-red Australian sparkling shiraz is a cracking barbie pick
Best budget red
Pinot Noir Vignobles Roussellet NV £4.49 Aldi, 13%
A decent pinot for under a fiver? You’d better believe it ...
Best budget white
Southern Point Safari Chenin Chardonnay 2017 £6 Asda, 13%
The label might be a turn-off, but a perfectly decent dry white, and a bargain
Best for ribs’n’rubs
Swartland Private Collection Pinotage 2017 £5.99 Waitrose, 14%
Rich, plummy pinotage is standard fare at a South African braai and goes really well with spicy rubs and sticky ribs
Best for vegetarians and vegans
VDV Organic Verdejo 2016 £7.99 Co-op, 13%
Appealing, smooth, dry, modern Spanish white with a nice touch of citrus: good with grilled veg and salads
Best for slimmers
Sainsbury’s Peach & Black Tea, £1.25 for 750ml
Good peachy flavour, not too sweet and only 11 calories per 250ml glass. Gussie up with peach slices and basil
Best for drivers
The Original Small Beer Lager £2.16 for 330ml Majestic, 2.1%
Low-alcohol beer is way more gratifying than no- or low-alcohol wine, as this cutely labelled, surprisingly full-flavoured lager proves
Best for beer can chicken
Stroud Brewery Organic IPA £2.55 a 330ml can, Vintage Roots, 5.6%
A vivid, citrussy, hoppy ale that’ll flavour the bird and keep guests happy to boot
More at matchingfoodandwine.co.uk
