From sparkling English wines to chilled reds, the right bottle can transform even the simplest spread into something genuinely memorable.
Scotch eggs are a British picnic staple with a surprisingly long history, first invented by Fortnum and Mason in 1738 as a convenient meal for coach travellers departing London.
An English sparkling wine is the best choice to cut through the rich sausage meat, egg yolk and fried coating that make scotch eggs so irresistible.
Balfour’s ‘Botham and Balfour Legend Series’ Brut Reserve at £30 from Majestic is a delicious collaboration between the Kent winery and cricket legend Sir Ian Botham.
Chilled red wine is arguably the coolest thing to be drinking right now, and the Lady A Red at £19.50 from Marks and Spencer delivers silky, slightly spiced and utterly scrumptious results.
The bright fruit of a lightly chilled red complements the savoury saltiness of charcuterie meats, making it one of the more inspired pairings of the season.
The high-low combination of crisps and Champagne is pure science, as Champagne loves salt and fat and its acidity acts like a squeeze of lemon on anything fried.
Berry Bros and Rudd’s award-winning Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs at £42 brings elegant effervescence that easily elevates even the most basic of park bench picnics.
Pinot Noir hits a sweet spot with pork, being substantial enough to stand up to the meat while offering spice and herb notes that act like the ideal condiment.
Devils Corner Pinot Noir at £15 from Tesco offers a Tasmanian take on the grape, delivering ripe dark cherries and spice that celebrate mini sausages in style.
Strawberries are surprisingly hard to pair with wine given they are sweet and acidic at once, but rosé acts as a reliable failsafe across nearly every picnic food imaginable.
Le Météore Faugères Rosé at £16.75 from aduv.co.uk is grown in the crater of a meteorite strike in Southern France ten thousand years ago, offering red berries and a slick of salinity.
Australia’s Larry Cherubino has brought his winemaking talent to an affordable range at Tesco, and the Folklore Sauvignon Blanc Semillon at £10 is a mouthwatering result.
Its fresh, cleansing citrus and green notes with a little weight from the Semillon make it an ideal partner for crunchy fresh crudités on a sunny afternoon.
Roebuck Rosé de Noirs at £42.50 from Ocado bursts with ripe strawberries, plump cherries, hints of almond blossom and tart orange peel in a sophisticated and moreish sparkling wine.
Chateau Musar 2019 at £45 from Hedonism is a brazenly brooding and brilliant red from Lebanon, suggesting warm summer nights in a spice market with cloves, dusky plums and black olives.
Champagne Henriot Blanc de Blancs at £48.95 from Tesco is a superbly crisp, lively and layered bottle with pristine citrus, youthful floral aromas and a fine, electric mineral backbone.