Why Sparkling Wine Belongs at Every BBQ and Picnic

Here’s a sommelier’s open secret: sparkling wine is the most food-friendly style in the glass. The natural acidity and fine bubbles act as a palate cleanser, cutting through rich, fatty dishes and refreshing the senses between bites. It handles salty, crispy, creamy and smoky flavours with equal grace – everything you’re likely to encounter on a summer spread. It also travels well and looks beautiful in the open air. What’s not to love?

🇮🇹 From the Hills of Veneto: Giusti Wine

Giusti Wine was founded with a quiet revolution in mind. Born from a family legacy rooted in the hillside soils of the Asolo DOCG and the Treviso DOC, the estate has grown from a two-hectare plot to a 75-hectare operation producing some of the most consistently lauded Proseccos in Italy – and, as this season’s selection shows, some truly exciting still wines besides. Their sparkling wines have earned gold medals at the CSWA, Glass of Bubbly, Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards and Decanter, while their still wines are now turning heads among those looking beyond the bubbles.

Our Seasonal Picks from Giusti:

Giusti Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Brut – £16.99 Buy Online

Sitting between the classic Brut and the Graziana cuvée in style, this Extra Brut is crisp, dry and deeply refreshing. The low dosage allows the natural fruit character of the Glera grape to shine without the softening effect of added sugar – the result is a leaner, more saline style that is enormously versatile at the table.

Our pairing suggestion: Exceptional with seafood of all kinds – grilled prawns, crab claws, or a simple platter of smoked fish. Also outstanding alongside a fresh goat’s cheese salad or as a palate-refresher between courses at a longer outdoor feast.

Giusti Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Brut by Graziana – £21.99 Buy Online

This is the estate’s most refined and individual expression of Asolo Prosecco, crafted by celebrated winemaker Graziana Grassini – one of Italy’s most respected female enologists. The Extra Brut style means minimal residual sugar, letting the terroir of the Asolo hills speak with absolute clarity. Expect a bone-dry, precise and mineral-driven sparkling wine, with taut green apple, white blossom and a beautifully focused, elegant finish. This is Prosecco for those who appreciate wine with real personality and intent.

Our pairing suggestion: The dryness and precision of this wine make it a natural match for oysters, sushi, grilled sea bass with capers, or finely sliced raw vegetables with anchovy dip. At a picnic, pair it with a well-aged Pecorino or a light asparagus quiche. It rewards attention – open it when the conversation slows and the afternoon light is at its best.

Giusti Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut – £17.25 Buy Online

This is a benchmark Prosecco. Made from Glera grapes grown on the mineral-rich Asolo hills, it delivers pale straw gold in the glass, with aromas of green apple, lemon and wisteria. On the palate it’s fresh, structured and beautifully balanced – not sweet, not thin, but perfectly poised. A touch drier than most of its rivals, with plenty of mouth-filling ripe fruit and a long, clean finish.

Our pairing suggestion: At a picnic, serve this alongside charcuterie boards, burrata with heritage tomatoes, or smoked salmon blinis. At the BBQ, it’s wonderful with grilled white fish, halloumi skewers or prawn cocktail to start. Serve well chilled at 6-8°C.

Giusti Rosalia Brut Treviso DOC – £14.99 Buy Online

An exceptional sparkling from the Treviso DOC, the Rosalia Brut delivers the Giusti house style at an accessible price point – pale straw, intensely fruity, crisp and harmonious. Multiple Gold medals from the Glass of Bubbly awards and the Prosecco Masters make this an easy recommendation.

Our pairing suggestion: Think salted crisps and dips, smoked almonds, cold meats, or simply as a cheerful welcome drink as guests arrive.

Giusti Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry – £19.99 Buy Online

The Extra Dry is the most welcoming and immediately approachable expression in the Asolo range – and a perennial favourite for good reason. Despite its name, Extra Dry in Prosecco terminology refers to a style with a touch more residual sweetness than a Brut, giving the wine a rounded, fruit-forward character that makes it instantly appealing. Floral and fruity on the nose, with ripe peach, pear and acacia blossom, it is soft and generous on the palate with a gentle, lingering finish. This is the bottle for those who want elegance without austerity.

Our pairing suggestion: The subtle sweetness of the Extra Dry makes it a wonderful partner for lighter, slightly sweet or fruity flavours. At a picnic, serve it with smoked salmon, honey-glazed ham sandwiches, fresh fruit and soft cheeses. At the BBQ it works beautifully as an aperitif with canapés or alongside glazed chicken thighs, pork ribs with a sweet marinade, or corn on the cob with herb butter. It’s also the perfect pairing for a summer dessert – think strawberries and cream or a light lemon tart. Serve at 6-8°C.

Giusti Rosalia Prosecco Rosè DOC Millesimato 2023 Extra Dry – £15.50 Buy Online

The Rosalia Rosé is Giusti’s summer wine in spirit as much as in style. A pale blush in the glass, it carries those signature wisteria and golden apple notes with a delicate rosy freshness layered in. This Extra Dry style has just a touch more fruitiness than the Brut, making it enormously crowd-pleasing without ever tipping into sweetness.

Our pairing suggestion: This is the one to open when you’re serving strawberry salads, prosciutto-wrapped melon, or lighter BBQ fare like chicken skewers and grilled vegetables. It’s also simply wonderful on its own in the afternoon sun.

Giusti Sant’Eustachio Sauvignon ‘Nepis’ IGT 2021 – £17.25 Buy Online

Here is where Giusti steps furthest from expectation – and impresses most. The Nepis is a Sauvignon Blanc made in the Veneto, a region not traditionally associated with the variety, and the result is a wine of striking freshness and aromatic intensity. Intense notes of white peach, citrus zest and fresh herbs fill the glass, with a crisp, mineral-driven palate and a long, vibrant finish. The name Nepis refers to the Sant’Eustachio estate vineyard, a single-site wine that reflects both the character of the grape and the specificity of its origins. This is a white wine with genuine ambition.

Our pairing suggestion: The Nepis is tailor-made for outdoor dining. At a picnic, it is extraordinary alongside fresh herb-dressed salads, smoked trout pâté, courgette and feta tart, or a simple tomato and basil bruschetta. At the BBQ it shines with grilled swordfish, prawns with garlic and chilli, or marinated chicken breast. If you’re looking for the most food-versatile white in the Giusti range, this is it. Serve at 8-10°C and expect it to be the first bottle emptied.

Giusti ‘Le Stanghe’ Pinot Nero Rosé 2024 – £16.99 Buy Online

A genuinely exciting addition to the Giusti range, and something of a departure from the house’s Prosecco heritage. Made from Pinot Nero – Pinot Noir – grown in the Veneto, this is a still rosé of real elegance and depth. Pale salmon pink in the glass, it offers delicate red fruit aromatics, a silky texture and a dry, food-friendly finish. Pinot Nero rarely appears in this part of Italy, which makes this bottle all the more compelling.

Our pairing suggestion: This is your go-to for the BBQ when you want something a little different. It bridges the gap between white and red, making it ideal alongside grilled tuna steaks, spiced lamb flatbreads, cold cuts of roast beef, or a vibrant tomato and watermelon salad. It’s equally at home at a picnic with a charcuterie spread and a good wedge of Manchego.

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Our Sommelier is a leading importer and purveyor of fine wines based in Blackheath, London. With a curated selection of wines sourced from prestigious vineyards around the globe and is dedicated to delivering unparalleled quality and sophistication to discerning clients and corporations.