Mini-break sips: European wines to get you in the bank holiday mood

Words: Harriet Cooper

May can only mean one thing: the beginning of the bank holiday season in the UK. Indeed, this is the month when our OOO works overtime as we lay down tools for not one but two long weekends. And how better to celebrate than with a chilled glass of wine, perhaps with our feet up in the garden or gathered around the barbecue? In the second instalment of Sips & Trips, our miniseries for The Wine Flyer, we choose six wines that will bring a taste of Europe to your glass, from a crisp, citrusy white that speaks of Spanish sunshine to a French Riviera favourite and an Italian summer stalwart. 

All these vinous treasures giving you a taste for travel? As members of The British Airways Club, for every £1 spent on wine with The Wine Flyer, you’ll collect 5 Avios, which you can put towards your long weekend away. Plus, you’ll enjoy exclusive discounts of 15% for Gold members, 10% for Silver and 5% for Bronze on any bottle you buy. It brings a whole new spin to the grape and the good… 

The vibe: picturesque Provençal charm… 
The wine: Pale Pig Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence NV

Viticulture wonderland Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence is renowned for its top-tier rosé. Pale Pig’s pastel pinkness and its delicate strawberry, nectarine and citrusy aroma will teleport you straight from your garden patio onto the canvases of Paul Cézanne, who so evocatively captured the Provençal countryside in his paintings. This is a wine that was made for alfresco drinking, either served on its own straight from the ice bucket or alongside vibrant salads and flame-licked meats. If ever there was a reason to raise an Avios-saving glass to lavender fields, chirruping cicadas and sleepy South of France villages, this is it. Santé! 

The vibe: cool, coastal Spanish fiesta… 
The wine: Ruta 49 Albariño

Albariño is a variety of grape largely grown in the patchwork of vineyards covering the Rías Baixas region of northwest Spain (and Portugal), a landscape that’s green and lush. The resulting wine tends to be light-bodied, dry and minerally, a crisp mouthwatering pour that dances with a lemony-peachy-herbaceous tang. Beautifully balanced and very moreish, Ruta 49 Albariño promises a fiesta, especially when paired with the catch of the day, be it oysters, lobster or a white fish like sea bass. With Avios collected on every bottle you buy, you’ll be googling flights to Galicia in no time. 

The vibe: la dolce vita in a glass…
The wine: Alessandro Gallici Pinot Grigio

While we tend to see summer through a rosé-tinted lens, there’s nothing quite like an icy-cold glass of white at golden hour. High acidity and a light body make Pinot Grigio a hot weather thirst-quencher – and winemaker Alessandro Gallici’s northern Italian vintage, made in the mountain-edged vineyards of Veneto, is no exception. Zesty, zippy notes of lemon, green apple and pear are met by a soft, smooth finish, resulting in a convivial crowd-pleaser for aperitivo or an excellent partner to pasta dishes. Plus, thanks to Avios, every sip will bring you closer to your very own slice of Italian heaven.

The vibe: effortless Riviera style…
The wine: Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence Rosé 2025

A pour that whisks you straight to the always alluring Côte d’Azur? Voila. The flagship wine of Château d’Esclans, a vineyard just north of Saint-Tropez, is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle grapes, its unmistakable hue and red berry aroma conjuring up days spent swimming in the silvery-blue Mediterranean and nights dancing beneath the stars. Channel your inner French chic by pairing this elegant rosé with designer sunglasses, a floppy straw hat and platters of charcuterie, chargrilled prawns and deliciously ripe peaches. Whether you’re starting your journey at one of the dedicated Whispering Angel bars in Heathrow Terminal 5B or Heathrow Terminal 3, or sipping poolside in the sun, that Riviera glamour is never more than a whisper away. Best of all, you’ll be collecting Avios with every glass.

The vibe: fruity French pizazz…  
The wine: Rex Mundi Shiraz Grenache

When only a big, bold red will do, Rex Mundi – which literally translates from Latin as ‘King of the World’ – delivers. This regal pour is a classic Languedoc-Roussillon Shiraz Grenache blend, layered with the velvety ripeness of plum, juiciness of raspberry and hints of spice. Such a deep, fruit-driven wine may bring to mind cosy nights by the fire and bowls of hearty stew. But pop this all-rounder in the fridge for 20 minutes before serving and it’ll be a suitable chilled companion to any bank holiday barbecue – plus, the Avios you’ll collect means your French holiday fancy will be an actuality sooner than you think.

The vibe: England’s green and pleasant land
The fizz: Chapel Down Brut NV

There’s nothing quite like the English countryside in bloom, all fragrant hedgerows and wildflower meadows. So it’s only apt that we toast this pastoral scene with award-winning bubbles from Kent. After all, grapes have been grown in Britain since Roman times. Indeed, sparkling wine was invented in London by a Dr Christopher Merret in 1662, around 30 years prior to the French monk Dom Pérignon. With notes of apple, citrus and strawberry, Chapel Down is a refreshing aperitif or ideal with that British classic, fish and chips. To add to the effervescence? Every time you pop the cork, you’ll be collecting Avios. 

Get into the bank holiday spirit with The Wine Flyer