It's too late in the summer to start recommending top barbecue tipples and I have already done Australian wines to go with the Test Match cricket.

Besides, a calming cup of camomile tea might be a better prescription for the latter.

Autumn is near but not here. Not near enough to contemplate a piece dedicated to reds that will take off the autumn chill and certainly not near enough to come up with a selection of wines to take to a bonfire party.

The following suggestions could perhaps be summed up best as the last of the summer wines.

Firstly, a fruity blend of the white grapes colombard, ugni blanc, chenin blanc and sauvignon blanc from the South West of France. Tariquet White 2004 Vin de Pays des Ctes de Gascogne is crisp, aromatic and makes a nice change from sub-fiver chardonnay.

It is positively bursting with flavours of Granny Smith apples and lime.

Talking of competition for sub-fiver chardonnay, how about Kendermanns Dry Riesling 2004? From the Pfalz region of Germany, I think it's a good drop for the money.

Its nose is satisfyingly honeyed and the mineral, melon and apricot flavours are clean and crisp.

I don't often wax lyrical about Champagne but I've discovered one I quite like!

One to impress with as an aperitif is Champagne Pommery Brut Royal nv, and at £25 it is not as astronomically priced as some others.

With delicate apple and lemon flavours, there is just a hint of toastiness. Perfect for feigning affluence to friends on special occasions, like any day that ends in the letter Y.

And now (for something completely different), a top ten of wine songs.

This silliness has been ongoing in the Tipping's Tipples web forum for far too long.

Apologies for any contributions that I have cribbed from there.

1. Satisfaction (I Chianti Get No) - Rolling Stones

2. God Soave the Queen - Sex Pistols

3. Rioja Mountain Way - Joe Walsh

4. Blue Nun-day- New Order

5. The Bin End - The Doors

6. Whole Lotta Ros - AC/DC

7. Crocodile Hock - Elton John

8. All Around the Black Tower - Jimi Hendrix

9. More Than A Riesling - Boston

10. If The Kids Are United - Champagne 69

You may also like to consider anything by the Vineyardbirds or Chardonnay Osmond. Or maybe Pol Roger Whittaker would be the ideal musician to wet your whistle.

Tariquet White 2004 Vin de Pays des Ctes de Gascogne, £4.99 at Somerfield 16/20

Kendermanns Dry Riesling 2004, £3.49 from £4.49 at Tesco until September 24 16/20

Champagne Pommery Brut Royal nv, £24.99 at Oddbins 16/20

Updated: 11:07 Saturday, August 27, 2005