Screwcaps are heaven sent

The easiest way to guarantee wine picnic success is to select a screwcap which also means that no one can be blamed for forgetting the corkscrew.

If you're worried about quality - don't be. Screwcap wines are as good as the corked models and are not a sign of quality. In fact, a blind tasting at Vinitaly (2024) with wines dating back to 2007, found screw-cap versions consistently beating cork counterparts in quality ratings.

Screwcaps for geeks

Screw caps typically offer an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of 0.0–1.5 mg/year, matching or outpacing technical cork, and far more uniform than natural cork, whose permeability ranges widely from 0.5 to over 23 mg/year depending on batch and piece.

Screwcaps may also provide better preservation for fresh wines: Particularly for whites and rosés, screw caps help retain aromatic compounds longer and prevent early oxidation.

In other words, not only is a screwcap not an indication of quality, but it has the added benefit of ensuring that the wine can never be tainted with TCA, which affects around 3% of bottles globally making them corked and unpleasant to drink.

My top screwcap white pick

Austrian Gruner, is pretty perfect all year round but its incredible light, fresh, slightly mineral undertones make it perfect for picnics.

My top screwcap red pick

Pinotage from South Africa is an easy drinking red that pairs perfectly with barbecues and eating outdoors.

Chilled Reds

If you're taking a cooler, put in a bottle of red that you've left overnight in the fridge. Even if it warms up a little in the sun, taking the edge of it will ensure that it doesn't become flabby and unbalanced - or that the tannins or alcohol overtake the fruit flavours in the heat. (One of my biggest wine bugbears is red wine served too warm - room temperature is about 18° C and every degree over this will spoil the flavours in the glass.)

Red wine to serve extra cool

Any sort of Gamay or check out the collection of Cool Reds.

Pairing picnic food and wine

As always, same rules tend to apply - that is to match the key flavours and strengths of the wine with the food it is intended to accompany. (Although it's always worth experimenting as I recently discovered while pairing wines with baked beans!)

Basic rules apply - don't expect a dry, crisp Sauvignon to strut its stuff with a sausage roll, but do not forget the forgiving power of Rosé that will work with lots of things from a bag of crisps to spicy jerk chicken.

Orange wine with olives is a joy and a bottle of bubbles gets everyone in the party mood in the face of a tub of hummus.

Keeping it cool

Seems obvious, but make sure that if you don't want to finish a bottle in record time, come equipped with the means to keep it cool. I find the easiest is often a simple bottle cooler that you keep in the freezer, and that will last a good couple of hours outside. For longer, best to bring a proper cooler filled with ice packs. Outdoor parties will require a bag or two of ice and enough water to fill a bucket or box in which you can keep your drinks icy fresh. Never try to chill wine in ice only. It won't work.

So it only remains for me to add my current top picks for picnics and raise a glass to those precious times when then sun shines!