Written by Michele Longari IWA
The August Bank Holiday has a particular feeling to it. Summer is not quite over, but September is already waiting in the wings. The evenings are beginning to shorten, holidays are drawing to a close and, for many of us, this long weekend feels like one last chance to make the most of summer before routines return and the seasons begin to change.
This year, the British weather looks determined to play its usual part. The latest Met Office long range forecast points towards a changeable end to August, with showers or longer spells of rain possible across parts of the UK, alongside the chance of some drier and more settled intervals.
In other words, exactly the sort of Bank Holiday weekend where you might light the barbecue at lunchtime and find yourself moving dinner indoors a few hours later.
Rather than trying to plan around the weather, it can be much easier to plan food and wine that will work with it. Whether the sun appears, the rain arrives, or the evening suddenly feels distinctly September like, here are a few ideas for making the most of the last long weekend of summer.
If the Sun Comes Out, Make the Most of It
When a good spell of weather arrives during a British Bank Holiday, hesitation is rarely rewarded. If the garden is dry and the sun appears, that may be all the invitation you need to get outside.
A relaxed barbecue is the obvious choice. Burgers, sausages, chicken, halloumi, grilled vegetables and colourful salads all lend themselves to informal eating, and the best wines for the occasion should feel equally uncomplicated.
A dry rosé is one of the easiest bottles to put on the table. Chateau Beaulieu Cuvée Alexandre Provence Rosé is a particularly good example, with freshness, delicate red fruit and enough structure to work beautifully with grilled vegetables, Mediterranean salads and lightly seasoned chicken.
Crisp, aromatic whites are another excellent option. Bouza do Rei Albariño brings refreshing acidity and plenty of bright fruit, making it a natural partner for seafood, salads and dishes dressed with herbs, citrus or olive oil.
And there is no reason to avoid red wine simply because the weather is warm. Pinot Noir, Gamay, Mencía and lighter styles of Grenache can all be delicious served slightly cooler than usual. Their bright fruit and moderate tannins make them far more comfortable alongside grilled food than a powerful, heavily structured red.
Make the Most of a Dry Window
Perhaps the most realistic Bank Holiday strategy is not to wait for an entire sunny day.
A few dry hours can be more than enough for a picnic, a garden lunch or a leisurely afternoon aperitivo. Keep the food simple and there is very little preparation required.
Charcuterie, cheeses, olives, hummus, smoked fish, good bread, tomatoes and a few salads can create a generous sharing table without anyone spending the afternoon in the kitchen.
This is where a fresh, lively English wine can really earn its place.
For something particularly local and fitting for the weekend, 1276 Bacchus is a lovely option. Light, fragrant and refreshing, it brings bright fruit and floral character that work beautifully alongside light sharing plates, salads, seafood and relaxed garden lunches.
The 1276 name also has a strong local connection. It refers to one of the earliest recorded mentions of winemaking around Ledbury, when the Bishop of Hereford documented vines growing on the south facing slopes of the area in 1276. Nearly eight centuries later, wine is once again being made from those same Herefordshire hills.
A pale, dry rosé is another useful bottle to keep chilled. It feels completely at home when the sun is shining, but does not suddenly become inappropriate if the clouds roll in.
When the Rain Sends Everyone Indoors
There is no rule saying that a Bank Holiday meal has failed because everyone ends up eating inside.
In fact, a sudden change in weather can be a good excuse to change the menu too.
If the barbecue has to be abandoned, roast chicken, baked salmon, pasta dishes, vegetable tarts or something slowly cooked in the oven can still feel relaxed and seasonal without pushing us completely into autumn.
The wine can become a little more generous as well.
Chardonnay is a particularly useful choice. Fresher examples work beautifully with fish and vegetables, while richer styles can accompany roast chicken, creamy sauces and dishes with more depth. Nostros Gran Reserva Chardonnay is a good option when you want something slightly broader and more generous at the table.
Chenin Blanc is another wonderfully adaptable variety, combining acidity with texture and often a subtle richness that makes it suitable for a surprisingly wide range of foods. A bottle such as William Robertson Chenin Blanc works particularly well with roast chicken, seafood and richer vegetable dishes.
For reds, Pinot Noir remains one of the safest choices, especially with roast chicken, salmon or mushroom dishes. Grenache and softer styles of Rioja can work equally well when the food becomes slightly richer.
The important thing is not to jump too quickly into full autumn mode. There will be plenty of time for powerful reds, casseroles and slow cooked winter dishes later in the year.
When the Evening Suddenly Feels Like September
Late August evenings can be deceptive.
You may spend the afternoon outside in short sleeves, only to notice a real chill in the air once the sun disappears. It is one of those small reminders that the season is beginning to turn.
This is often the moment when a glass of red suddenly feels right again.
Medium bodied reds are perfect for this transition between seasons. Pinot Noir offers fragrance and freshness, Mencía combines dark fruit with lift, while Grenache can provide warmth without becoming too heavy.
Syrah can also work particularly well, especially in fresher styles where pepper, herbs and dark fruit are more prominent than oak and alcohol.
Serving temperature matters here. Red wine does not need to be warm. On a mild evening, lighter reds can benefit from 20/30 minutes in the fridge before serving. The result is often brighter, fresher and much more enjoyable with food.
One Bottle Worth Saving for the Weekend
Not every special bottle needs a special occasion.
Sometimes having friends around, cooking something good and realising that summer is almost over is reason enough.
The Bank Holiday weekend can be a wonderful opportunity to open something you have been saving. It might be a bottle of Champagne, a fine English sparkling wine such as Rathfinny Estate Blanc de Noirs, or a more serious white such as Dog Point Chardonnay.
The important thing is not the price of the bottle, but the decision to make an occasion of opening it.
Wine is often at its most memorable when it becomes connected to a particular meal, place or group of people. A bottle shared around the table on the final long weekend of August may be remembered far longer than one carefully stored away waiting for the perfect moment.
A Few Bottles That Cover Almost Everything
If the forecast keeps changing, there is no need to prepare an entirely different wine selection for every possible scenario.
A small collection of versatile bottles can cover most of the weekend.
Start with something fresh and lively for aperitivo, picnics and sharing food. Add a crisp white such as Albariño for seafood, salads and lighter dishes. Keep a dry rosé chilled for the garden, barbecue or lunch table.
Then have one lighter red ready for grilled food and warmer afternoons, plus a medium bodied red for dinner or a cooler evening.
Five different styles, and suddenly most Bank Holiday meals are covered.
It is also worth remembering that the best wine for a long weekend is often the one that does not demand too much attention. These are occasions for sharing bottles rather than analysing them.
One Last Taste of Summer
British Bank Holidays have never required perfect weather.
Perhaps that is part of their charm.
If the sun appears, get outside. If there are only a few dry hours, make the most of them. If rain moves dinner indoors, open another bottle and carry on.
The August Bank Holiday is less about creating the perfect summer weekend and more about enjoying whatever version of summer turns up.
There will soon be time for September, changing leaves, richer food and the wines that come with cooler evenings. For one more weekend, though, summer still has the table.
And whatever the weather decides to do, that feels worth raising a glass to.
