WHILE the sun may be setting on a spectacular summer of celebration, the long bank holiday weekend offers wine lovers the chance to indulge in a few of their favourite tipples.

Whether it’s opening the doors and rallying friends and family to an informal barbecue, or spending the extra day prepping in the kitchen for an intimate dinner party, the gentle tinkle of clinking glasses is the perfect way to add some joie de vivre before the social season ends.

For a solo guest appearance, or a cheeky aperitif in the garden, Halfwine specialises in half bottles of wine (two to three glasses) from top wine producers, and boasts some premium labels from Burgundy and Bordeaux.

Some of the best chateaux put their wines in small bottles and this growing trend has spread further afield to South Africa.

Legendary producer Graham Beck Wines has a world-class fizz, Methode Cap Classique (as it’s known in the Cape Winelands), which is available in 37.5cl.

If you’re happy to size down... or simply to please your other half, try Graham Beck, NV Brut Methode Cap Classique, SA (£7.80, 37.5cl, www.halfwine.com). A blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, it has more than a whisper of toasty richness, a floral nose, and great character and finesse.

The Spanish love to party, and Barcelona is home to Freixenet, the king of cava. For a cracking cava that lives up to its name, try Freixenet Cordon Oro, DO Cava, Spain (£9.49, The Co-operative), pronounced “fresh-eh-net”. Made from the Catalan trio of grapes, xarel-lo, macabeo and parellada, this fresh, fruity, semi-sweet sparkler takes its name from the gold bottle and if you like moscato, then you’ll love Cordon Oro.

Alternatively, if you prefer a medium-sweet rose and a beaming taste of fresh berries from Bordeaux, try Domaine De Pellehaut Ete Gascon Rose 2011, France (£9.99, Waitrose). A blend of 60% tannat and 40% merlot, it is strawberry dominant with redcurrant notes and juicy cherry flavours that linger with creamy notes on a refreshing finish... serve this pink nectar well chilled.

But if you’re thirsty for some rose-hued elegance that’s crisp and bone dry, try Turkey Flat Vineyards Rose 2012, Barossa Valley, Australia (£12.99, www.drinksdirect.co.uk). A full-flavoured, salmon-red rose that’s a popular choice Down Under, it’s a blend of four varieties (grenache, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and dolcetto) with a fruity, cranberry-filled profile, fresh acidity and crispness on the finish.

For two Bank Holiday corkers from southern France, gifted winemaker Alain Grignon has once again shown his talent for producing great-tasting, great-value vinos. If you think a good French sauvignon blanc signals a pricey Sancerre from the Loire Valley, Grignon will convince you otherwise with his must-try Esprit Soleil Sauvignon Blanc, Vin de France 2011 (£5.99; buy two, save £2, £4.99, until October 29, Majestic). Fresh, smooth and fragrant, the sunny label mirrors the appealing flavours of this bright white.