FOLLOWING last week’s wine column on blended wines, this week now celebrates the great wines made from one single grape variety, proving that sometimes less really is more.

Lagar de Bouza Albariño 2009 £11.49 M&S

Albariño is a top variety grown in sodden northwest Spain where it is used to produce vibrant and aromatic whites. This example from Lagar de Bouza is exactly that, peachy and perfumed on the nose with a lovely textured mouthfeel and full flavours of stone fruit and fennel. A real food friendly wine that will be an absolute treat served with shellfish or white fish.

Saint Clair Estate Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2010 down to £9.99 when you buy two Majestic

A benchmark Kiwi Sauvignon showing luscious aromas of tropical fruits and nettles which lead into a zippy and truly vibrant palate of gooseberries with a slight hint of dried herbs on the finish. This truly is summer in a glass and a delight on its own in the sunshine, but will also be the perfect combo to a warm goat’s cheese salad.

Vincho Vaglio Tre Vescovi Barbera d’Asti 2007 down to £6.45 until May 24, Waitrose

If it’s a summer friendly red you are on the hunt for, then look no further than Barbera. These wines are low in tannins, full of flavour and zestiness. Hailing from the slopes of Asti in Piedmont, this superb offering is richly aromatic and full of dried cherry flavours. Some compare great Barbera with Pinot Noir, and with this elegance you can certainly see why.

Viña Echeverria Carmenère 2008 £8.05 slurp.co.uk

Carmenère was originally one of the great Bordeaux grape varieties during the early parts of the 19th century, unfortunately the great plague of grapes that was phylloxera wiped this out and led to plantings of Merlot in the famed region. However, Bordeaux’s loss was Chile’s gain with this grape producing beautifully structured reds. This 100 per cent Carmenère offers rich and concentrated black cherry and black pepper mouthfuls with supple milk-chocolaty tannins and lingering finish.