Six wines that are a perfect match for a summer of cricket
Three whites, a rosé and a couple of reds for you to savour while watching England’s gripping Test series against India. From crisp whites for a sunny afternoon of play to rich reds for a post-match barbecue, here is your essential cricket wine list
14 July 2025 12:30pm BST
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Cricket lovers enjoying this summer’s Test matches between England and India can savour a wide selection of Laithwaites wines that are perfect for drinking during and after play.
Lord’s, which hosts the third Test from July 10, remains the only ground in England where spectators are allowed to bring in a bottle of their own wine. With that in mind, here are half a dozen Laithwaites wines you could take to the Test – or drink while watching all the action from home.
With the hot weather forecast to last well into July, I have gone for a classic mid-summer combination of three white wines – all made from different varietals – a Provençal rosé and two reds that will pair well with barbecued food. France, Italy, Portugal and Australia are all represented to satisfy both Old and New World devotees. Four of the wines are in a six-bottle selection case that is available to Telegraph readers.
1. Abbesse Sauvignon Blanc 2024
The Abbesse Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (11 per cent ABV), although classified as a Vin de France, is a really good example from a region that is best known for the varietal. Made by experienced vigneron Noel Bougrier, it is fragrant with grassy, citrus aromas as well as hints of pear, herbs and elderflower. Blessed with vibrant acidity, it is crisp and fresh with some stoniness and ripe peachiness on the palate, and a zesty, limey finish. Drink it either as an aperitif or with vegetable salads, goat cheese and fusion cuisine. It is a perfect match for Thai and Chinese dishes as well as grilled fish and seafood.
2. Vigne del Pareto Gavi 2024
The Vigne del Pareto Gavi 2024 (12 per cent ABV) is another white wine that is aromatic with refreshing acidity. Made from the Cortese grape in the Gavi DOCG in Piedmont, it has scents of lime and green apple, as well as some delicate floral notes. This elegant, light-bodied wine really expresses its terroir, with minerality and stony freshness emanating from the limestone-rich soils of Gavi. Citrus and slightly bitter almond notes assail the palate. This is an ideal pairing with white fish, calamari, poultry and light pasta.
3. Esulé Chardonnay 2022
For a ripper of a refreshing Chardonnay from Down Under, the Esulé Chardonnay 2022 (12.5 per cent ABV) is a splendid New World example of the varietal. The fruit comes from a single vineyard in the cooler climate Adelaide Hills region that overlooks the South Australian capital. Vinification took place not far away in the Barossa Valley, where RedHeads, which was founded by Tony Laithwaite in 2003, has established a new, solar-powered winery. Crisp and with a core of vibrant acidity, the wine has appealing fruit-forward notes of green apple and citrus as well as a pleasing finish. It is an ideal accompaniment to chicken or fish dishes, but can also be enjoyed as an aperitif.
4. Domaine du Mas Ensoleillé Rosé Sélection Parcellaire 2024
Bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to your glass is the delightful Domaine du Mas Ensoleillé Rosé Sélection Parcellaire 2024 (12 per cent ABV). Made predominantly from Grenache, it has the classic pale pink colour associated with the region, and is a crisp, dry and refreshing wine. The fruit came from a parcel of vines just outside the celebrated town of Aix-en-Provence, and was fermented in a single vat, hence the label descriptor of 'parcellaire'. Red berry fruit and a touch of citrus dance on the palate of this delicately made rosé that is good value at £14.99, and a steal at £11.99 if you take up Laithwaites’ subscription offer. A Méditerranée IGP production, it can be enjoyed as an aperitif at midday or early evening, or with seafood and lighter meat dishes.
5. Vinha do Fava Touriga Nacional 2023
Setúbal, in the celebrated peninsula of the south of Lisbon, is where the Vinha do Fava’s premium Touriga Nacional vineyard is situated. Planted on warm, sandy soils when Leonor Freitas acquired it in 2000, it is a superb site for the varietal, being four miles from the Atlantic, whose sea breezes cool the vines. Freitas was awarded the prestigious title of Comendadora, the Portuguese equivalent of a knighthood, for services to the wine industry. The 2023 vintage (13.5 per cent ABV) has complex hints of herbal and violet aromas, with wonderfully intense notes of black cherry, blackcurrant and brambles as well as silky, smooth tannins. Leathery and long, it goes well with any barbecued meats or gamey dishes.
6. Pillastro Primitivo Puglia IGP 2022
Another red wine with both approachability and quality is the Pillastro Primitivo Puglia IGP 2022 (13.5 per cent ABV). It is produced from Primitivo in the ‘heel’ of Italy in the southern province of Puglia, the grape’s spiritual home. In America, it is known as Zinfandel, being grown principally in California. The wine is made by Cantine Due Palme, a co-operative that was adjudged best in its class in both 2021 and 2023. Rich and full-bodied, it has terrific concentration from very old, flavour-boosting vines. Red berry fruit, with spiced plum and raspberry notes, as well as velvety tannins, make this wine so appealing. Perfect with steak, sausages, lamb chops or barbecued chicken, it completes Laithwaites’ sextet of wines to accompany high summer viewing or post-match festivities.