A crisp glass of wine al fresco with friends, just as the sun hits golden hour, is a summer rite of passage.
It’s also English Wine Week this week (Saturday 21 June to Sunday 29 June) so we asked three exceptional women working in wine what we should all be drinking this summer. Including where to drink wine, the bottles to buy for your next summer dinner party, and the dishes to pair each with, consider your wine-related questions answered.
Sinead Murdoch, Sommelier at London’s Tasca
Tell us about your current role and background with wine?
I am the co-founder and sommelier of Tasca, a food and wine pop-up. I originally fell into wine around the age of 19, but ended up leaving to pursue mixology and Front of House management because I found the wine world too stuffy and not very inclusive for women. I later came back to wine during Covid, after reigniting my love for it while working in vineyards in Spain and Portugal.
What makes good wine?
For me, it’s the places and the people behind the bottle, not just the price tag. Price doesn’t always determine quality! When you can taste the terroir (the climate, the soil) and hear from the producer about how they made the wine, that really excites me. For anyone getting into wine, I always suggest going to as many tastings as possible to get to know more about the wines you enjoy.
Tell us more about working with 80 per cent female-founded wines.
I am also co-director of a supper club called Suppher. We raise money for women’s charities and pour women-led wines at our events. It really kept me on my toes at first, but I also quickly realised that so many women across the wine industry face similar challenges. I wanted to create a list that highlights this. I mostly work with European wines, with a focus on the Iberian and Mediterranean regions at Tasca.
Your top three places to drink wine in London or the UK this summer?
Ken’s on Exmouth Market. The list is incredible and the staff are super knowledgeable. You can also soak up the rays outside on the terrace.
Blinds has just opened in Hackney and the list is fantastic value.
If I’m back home in Leigh-on-Sea, then down on the beach with a bottle from the amazing bottle shop Vino Vero.
Your top three favourite bottles to shop for our next dinner party and the best dishes or nibbles to pair each with?
For a chillable summer red I’d say Lucy Chilvers’ Motty. 100 per cent Garnacha (a variety of red grape) it’s super vibrant and energetic. It works so well with smoky, spicy vegetables from the barbecue.
Tire Amour by Gogo Wines is a delicious rosé from Georgia that works brilliantly with seafood, especially oysters with a zippy dressing.
I’m also having a bit of a sherry summer, so I’d suggest trying Maestro Sierra’s Fino NV with a plate of juicy green olives or creamy cheeses.
Cara Lee Dely, Head Wine Maker at Bolney Wine Estate
Tell us about your current role and you background in wine
As Winery & Operations Manager at Bolney Wine Estate, I oversee the entire journey from vine to table, leading our winery, production, warehouse, and vineyard teams. My winemaking roots stretch back to South Africa’s Cape Winelands, where a chance visit to Packwood ignited a lifelong pursuit. Mentored by Clayton Reabow at Môreson in Franschhoek, I developed a deep love for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Since 2021, I’ve been proud to guide Bolney’s transition toward luxury still wines. I believe in empowering a skilled team, championing sustainability, and embracing the art of minimal intervention to highlight the character of English-grown grapes. Whether collaborating in the vineyard or fine-tuning fermentations in the cellar, I’m passionate about crafting wines that are thoughtful, expressive, and distinctly Bolney.
What makes good wine?
A wine with balance, expression, and restraint. For me, great wine reflects its origin, evolves with time, and invites conversation – without needing to shout.
What is so special about English wine?
It’s defined by elegance and character. Our cool climate lends natural acidity and finesse – perfect for sparkling wines, but increasingly exciting for stills. There’s a quiet revolution happening here, and it’s thrilling to be part of defining that identity.
How do you create your vegan wine?
We don’t use animal-based fining agents (e.g. gelatin and egg whites). Instead, we clarify gently using bentonite and other natural methods – maintaining purity without compromising flavour or ethics.
Your top three places to drink wine in London or the UK this summer?
Bolney Wine Estate, Sussex: sip award-winning sparkling and still wines among the vines, in the beautiful Sussex countryside, just 30 minutes from Brighton (and less that an hour on the train from London).
Mercure Brighton Seafront Hotel: enjoy Bolney wines at the coastal restaurant and terrace takeover, where Victorian charm meets uninterrupted sea views – perfect for a sunset toast by the beach.
Surveyors House Rooftop Bar, RICS Westminster: later this summer, Bolney takes over the rooftop with curated pours and skyline views, bringing Sussex sunshine to central London.
Your top three favourite bottles to shop for our next dinner party and the best dishes or nibbles to pair each with?
Bolney Chardonnay 2023: A vibrant, cool-climate English Chardonnay with citrus and subtle oak notes. Pair it with lemon and herb roast chicken or creamy crab linguine.
Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Trocken: This dry German Riesling offers crisp acidity and notes of pear, quince, and citrus. It’s a dream with Thai green curry, glazed ham, or spicy crab cakes.
Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages: Light, juicy, and brimming with red berry charm. Serve slightly chilled with bruschetta, grilled sausages, or a mushroom tartlet for a relaxed yet refined pairing
Jennifer Wagoner, Global Head of Wine for Zuma and Oblix
Tell us about your current role and background with wine?
I am currently the Global Head of Wine for Zuma and Oblix, so I am responsible for the wine and sake programs for 26 locations internationally along with several in development. I began my wine journey back in 2005 while working in New York City amongst amazing professionals and incredible programs. I am drawn to the story behind the wines and the people that create them. After spending time developing programs for larger restaurant groups in both Miami and Chicago, I moved into a more international role where I oversee exceptional wine and sake professionals who consistently inspire me (and those around them) to grow.
What makes good wine?
Wine shows it’s best when there is passion and a sense of place behind it. It is a wine that you want to enjoy with friends for more than one glass. The best wines are not always the most expensive or rare (although they can be), but are the bottles that pair well with the environment in which you are enjoying them. The people around you, the meal you are sitting down to enjoy, the music. A good wine is often time a unique and necessary element in creating a memorable experience.
What is biodynamic wine and why is it becoming so popular?
Some of my favourite producers incorporate elements of biodynamics (a sustainable and holistic approach in the most simple of terms). At the end of the day, I know that the more that a winemaker cares about the environment from which the wine is produced, the more energy and life will be brought to the glass. Understanding where your wines are coming from and knowing that they are made with intention is something that has always appealed to me.
Your top three places to drink wine in London or the UK this summer?
Noble Rot Lamb’s Conduit in central London: One of the first places that any of my wine-loving friends from out of town want to check out. The list is exciting and constantly changing and the sommeliers are always ready to create an experience for you.
Sager + Wilde in Hackney: I love to sit at the bar here and enjoy one of their many interesting and massively tasty wines by the glass, along with a snack or two.
Tillingham Winery in East Sussex: Set amongst acres of incredible landscape (think rolling hills and woodland), this spot is a place to relax and enjoy the winery and vineyards on property. There is also a Michelin Green star restaurant and a pizza place on property with which to enjoy the sustainably produced wines.
Your top three favourite bottles to shop for our next dinner party and best dish or nibbles to pair each with?
Bubbles are always a go-to for me: Chartogne-Taillet is a special Champagne producer from Merfy (about a 15-minute drive from Reims) that farms organically and has a number of bottles to please even your most discerning dinner guests. Start with Cuvée Sainte Anne (one of their most recognisable bottles) and explore your way around the range.
Marcel Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France (Gamay): this wine is always one of the first empty bottles at any dinner where it is placed on the table. Pop it on ice for a few minutes in summertime and the red fruit and floral notes are a major winner for a juicy burger or a selection of cheeses.
Domaine Paul Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos St. Jean (Chardonnay): a delightful and serious white Burgundy that is produced sustainably by the fourth generation of the family. Precise and elegant, this is a massively respected estate that brings the joy of mouth-watering complex Chardonnay to discerning (and future discerning) wine drinkers.
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Any Questions or Tips to add?