Good times are here. The hot, lazy days of summer, perfect for entertaining friends, especially this holiday weekend. So, once you have organised the menu, the guest list and the decorations, the next step is choosing the wine.

From crisp, fresh whites, to refreshing, light reds, the summer calls for wines that are light on the palate, versatile and fun.

In the white corner, Sauvignon Blanc is perfect to beat the summer heat – fresh, fruity and easy to drink. Matua Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006, from Matua Valley Wines in West Auckland, offers a flavourful experience, but is still refreshing.

And in case you wanted a little ‘claim to fame’ with your wine, Matua Valley is known for producing the first Sauvignon Blanc out of New Zealand. But do not be put off by the screw cap, as this simply signifies increased accessibility for drinkers, as well as the promise of a fresh, untainted wine (wine, in other words, has gotten hip). With passion fruit and citrus notes, and a palate filled with melon and lemon, it pairs perfectly with many of our favourite foods like chicken, fish, and soft cheeses. JA$1,327

Also in the white corner, the perfect wine to share with friends after sunset, over a dinner of grilled chicken and vegetables, Hardys Stamp of Australia Chardonnay 2005. Brimming with fresh fruity flavours, like peach and tropical fruit, this refreshing wine is not only easy to drink, but very affordable at JA$597 each.

In the red corner is the perfect summer addition, Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages 2003. Complementing perfectly a night of grilling or pasta, this fun red wine offers a crisp, clean taste palate filled with ripe strawberries and juicy red plums on the nose. JA$1,210. Another summer red is the Pinot Noir.

Can’t decide, white or red? White Zinfandel is perhaps inextricably linked to long summer parties, with its soft sweetness balanced with a crisp acidity that gives it its refreshing taste. Marrying the fully-ripened North Coast zinfandel grapes with Napa and Sonoma Valley Chardonnay this pink-coloured rosé wine, Beringer White Zinfandel 2006, is the result. According to Denzie Sinclair, sales and marketing manager at Betco pemier Limited, purveyors of fine wine and spirits, this White Zinfandel is the number one selling White Zinfandel in the world, taking in 40 per cent of the total worldwide sales. The price – a friendly JA$688.

When it comes to wine drinking, the best way to start is to buy a few bottles and try. Let your senses take over, and learn to listen to them. In fact, why not just invite a few friends over, throw some meat on the grill, sit back and start sampling.