I have to admit that I have spent most of my adult life disparaging and dismissing Rose wine, as over hyped and marketed to people who don’t particularly enjoy wine.

Similarly, there was a time when I believed that the only good wines came from the Old World. Since then I have matured like a fine wine and now relish wines from the New World and the opportunity to taste Villa Maria, Private Bin Rose, Hawkes Bay 2017.

(£10.75 from Asda)

Well, it is definitely time to apologise, I have done Rose wrong. Villa Maria, Private Bin Rose, Hawkes Bay 2017 screams of summer days, serve chilled at picnics or barbecues or perhaps enjoyed in the garden – see I am positively evangelical? This perfectly dry wine boasts a gorgeous salmon colour with bright floral aromas and tasting of strawberries and other red fruits together with a hint of spice making me wonder what I have been missing all these years.

Encouraged by this revelation I moved on to another bête noir of mine – that of Beaujolais Village. Such ignorance does not deserve to taste such wine, which is made of 100% Gamay grapes. The Louis Jadot Cuvee (£11.70 Tesco and Wine Rack) is light and fruity and recommended to serve slightly chilled. It is certainly youthful and fresh, with strong taste of red fruits such as strawberries and cherries again with a spicy finish.

£11.70 Tesco and Wine Rack

I would try this with a plate of charcuterie, but it would go just as well with pate, grilled or roasted red meats and even some strong cheese and crusty bread, definitely one for those hot summer days of al fresco eating.

I had not heard of Esk Valley or Verdelho 2017 (is there no end to my general ignorance?) but my goodness I won’t forget in a hurry, those mineral notes with flavours of Mandarin ,Passion Fruit and Peach.

Verdelho is a famous variety originally from the Portuguese Island of Madeira where for centuries it has been used in the production of fortified wines. The vines were planted in New Zealand in 1998 and 2002, since when Esk Valley has pioneered this variety with astonishing results.

This is a young and fruity, dry style wine with a rich body and a crisp acidity perfect to enjoy with fresh seafood perhaps enjoyed on the beach or the deck of a boat on those long summer days? A man can only dream.

(£13.75 The Wine Reserve, Banstead Vintners, Shenfield Wine Company)

Finally, the Zalse, Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2017 from South Africa boasts grapes mostly from the Stellenbosch region and the rest coming from select coastal vineyards.

The wine offers a rich texture and minerality with initial aromas of lime and citrus zest with what can only be described as a veritable fruit salad of tropical fruit with Kiwi fruit, Melon, Peach and Mango to the fore. The wine has a very long finish considering the price, defying the drinker not to smack one’s lips after each satisfying mouthful.

Such is the finish that I would happily drink Zalse, Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2017 on its own, or with salads or fish and at only:

£10.00 from Waitrose, Morrisons and Asda it is certainly a bargain.

‘Every day is a school day,’ they say and for these wines I am more than happy to go back to the classroom, just so long as I can enjoy them during those long hot summer breaks.

(Images courtesy of Michael Rowan)