A trendy, nerve-tingling white from Portugal

2008 Arca Nova Vinho Verde, northwest Portugal (£7.95, Vinoteca, 020-7253 8786; £7.75, Kensington Wine Rooms, 020 7727 8142; £6.30, www.slurp.co.uk ).

Nothing quite signals the start to the summer like a glass of ice cold vinho verde. This exquisite style of 'light' (it is only 10.5% alcohol) white wine is utterly heavenly with or without grub. Made from two massively underrated white grapes, loureiro and arinto, the zest for life and energy in this particular version is wild and untamed.

For a very small outlay you can get your olfactory system in the mood for a party with just one glass of this nerve-tingling white.

Try 6 free issues of MoneyWeek today

Get unparalleled financial insight, analysis and expert opinion you can profit from.

Start your trial

Sign up for MoneyWeek’s free twice-daily newsletter.

Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.

Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.

Sign up

But for a truly mesmerising food and wine experience, grab a handful of unpeeled prawns, rip them to shreds with your fingers and use your left hand to squeeze lemon juice and your right to marshal the glass turning yourself into a prawn chomping, vinho verde slurping hero.

You'll be in such bliss that you and your pals won't speak until every last morsel has disappeared! Bargain-priced and so much trendier than sauvignon blanc, get ahead of the scene with Arca Nova.

Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition's Communicator of the Year.