HAVING taken stock, I have decided there has been too much light summery stuff going on in this column lately. It’s all very well recommending wines for the sunny season, but sometimes I crave big red wines, especially when it’s hot and there’s a juicy burger or steak on the barbie.

But big reds can be problematical when the temperatures are soaring. They can become quite rough if served too warm, the alcohol is more obvious and the flavours don’t seem right. One solution is to chill the bottles in the fridge. Even if you serve it a little too cold, the wine will soon warm up in the glass outside.

I’ve chosen three chunky New World reds this week made with grapes that are a classic match to barbecue meats. They are ideal for when white, rosé, pinot noir and Beaujolais are just not up to the job.

Virgin Wines has Ranger Estate Shiraz 2008. It is from the relatively cool Adelaide Hills in Oz and has a freshness you do not find in wines from baking hot Aussie regions. It has a supple structure, with heaps of upfront bramble and raspberry fruit, black pepper, liquorice and smoky oak.

Pinotage, South Africa’s signature red grape, can be somewhat hit and miss. However, good examples are an almost perfect match to the smoky flavours and sweet sauces of barbecue grub.

I enjoyed Neethlingshof Estate Pinotage 2012, which is from the famous for reds Stellenbosch region. Bold, spicy and structured, it offers generous helpings of cherries and blackberries, with notes of anise and vanilla.

Zinfandel from California is another great match with burgers and steaks. Try Sebastiani Zinfandel 2010, available from online vintner Slurp. Although predominantly a zin’ it is blended with small amounts of petite sirah, syrah, malbec and barbera.

With easy going soft tannins, it shows juicy, sweet edged flavours of raspberries and blueberries, cream soda, cinnamon, black treacle and toasty oak.

Ranger Estate Shiraz 2008, Adelaide Hills, £9.99 from Virgin Wines (virginwines.co.uk) 18/20

Neethlingshof Estate Pinotage 2012, Stellenbosch, £9.99 from Wine Rack (winerack.co.uk) 17/20

Sebastiani Zinfandel 2010, £12.95 from Slurp.co.uk 17/20