1. Lino Ramble Treadlie Shiraz, $23
Is it okay to drink red wine cold? On balmy days it’s totally fine. Yep, it’s shiraz and, yep, it’s from South Australia where chilled shiraz is typically heresy, but such a lively shiraz – bright in perfume, long to finish – begs to be guzzled cold. On a scorcher serve it in tumblers filled from a chilled carafe.

2. Yulli’s Nama-Sake Junmai Seishu Clear Sake, $50
What the? You have what in your glass? While most folks associate sake with hazy nights at karaoke belting out Sweet Child o’ Mine by Guns ‘n’ Roses, a wealth of elegant versions have a wine-like feel – like this junmai (pure rice) number. Clear, lightly nutty, a touch citrusy – this bright sake is great on its own or with raw seafood.

3. Oakridge Garden Gris, $35
Here’s one to surprise your guests. A pinot gris dressed up as a rosé. A skin-fermented ‘white’, it’s made from pinot gris grapes (which are purple when ripe) so has a ruddy hue. Its scent is between cranberry juice and watermelon with a Campari-like twist. In the mouth it’s dry, but with good pucker, like a sip of that cranberry juice it smells like. So delicious and refreshing.

4. Hop Nation Blossom Cherry Sour, $5
This is the ultimate party starter. Marrying beer and fruit, it’s fun, frisky and different, adding up to good times. This is a wildly sessionable brew, the kind of beer you pop straight out of an iced-up bathtub at a party and settle into for the night. That said, it’s a good accompaniment for casual dining, too – try it with cold cuts and seafood feasts.

5. Harkham Wines Aziza’s Semillon, $35
Guests expecting lean, racy ‘typical’ Hunter Valley semillon will raise their eyebrows at this richly textured take with mouth-watering vibrancy. A favourite around my picnic blanket for its versatility with food, it’s lemony fresh and a touch saline – perfect for revitalising the palate. It’s also certified kosher, which comes in handy in Chanukah season. Now, where’s that fish and salad?

6. NON Roast Beetroot & Sancho, $30 
Here’s a good guessing game. What is this fine, interesting drink? For the abstainers, the NON range of proper non-alcoholic drinks crafted by a couple of fancy chefs from largely organic ingredients has mind-blowing flavours. This one has earthy beetroot flavour, then finishes with a slow hit of jalapeño. Serve it over ice.

7. LS Merchants Vermentino, $28 
Lesser-known grape varieties are the water-cooler chat of the year. Bring your guests into the conversaton with something excellent and unusual, like this local version of Italy’s vermentino. It’s refreshing with a little chalkiness in the palate, quirky aromas of tonic water and lime, and a minerally finish. Shucking oysters is a life skill, as is choosing this wine to go with them.

8. Coat of Arms Liquor The Pelican, $60
The packaging. The concept. The feel. No one can escape the gravitational pull of this ultimate party drink. Riffing on the pina colada, it’s original, fun and summery with a kaleidoscope of coconut and tropical fruitiness that’s destined for the best parties of summer. It’s brilliant topped up with pineapple or other tropical juices, and, as the distillers intended, it makes a perfect chilled shot to crank up the ambience.

9. Turkey Flat Butchers Block Red, $26.95
“What’s one of the best-value wines around?” is a familiar question. Spark up a chat about favourites with this cracking,keenly priced red from the Barossa Valley. Most drinkers think something from that warm region wouldn’t work in summer, but this holds a lot of appeal for those seeking fuller-flavoured reds that aren’t fatiguing onwarm days. Spice, berry fruits and a touch of earthy savouriness jump between bouquet and palate, and while it’s best on a cooler night, it won’t mind a gentle 10 minutes in the fridge to help it feel fresh and vibrant.

10. Poor Toms Imbroglio, $40
The Poor Toms lads from Sydney’s inner west have distilled this brilliant local version of Campari, and it’ll feature in my summer spritzes. I’ll get a good local prosecco and splash this into it liberally, toss in some ice and drink it at my backyard table while listening to Australian jazz. Or something like that. Tart, tangy and spirited, this works anywhere Campari or Aperol is called for.

11. El Toro Macho Superior, $5
Is this the best cheapest wine in Australia? A $5 bottle might be met with trepidation, but this wine, exclusive to Aldi, is good. A juicy, fleshy, lightly spicy red of soft texture, it’s ideal for those utility needs of summer, like the uninvited guest, the base for punch or sangria, a cheerful red for late nights instead of raiding the cellar.

12. VHS Unicorn Club #3 Creaming Soda, $33
Is this the most unique wine in Australia right now? Is it even a wine? Stay with me on this talking point. South Australian winemaker Samuel J Smith has made a drink akin to creaming soda in colour, scent and flavour, but using grapes along with vanilla pods and dehydrated native red currants. It’s brilliant! It has the sensation of sweetness, but finishes dry and slakes the thirst.

13. Sparkke Pale Ale, $95 (24 cans)
Parties need solid, sessionable beers. It’s a given. While these days it’s fun and ironic to reach for a tinny of domestic lager, it’s time to up the standards. It’s a rallying cry from local brewers, so let’s join in. This is one brilliant beer, delivering hop detail, light fruitiness, a touch of creamy texture and a pleasingly bitter tang. Bright and vivacious, it’s top-of-the-tree stuff from brilliant Adelaide brewer Agi Gajic.

14. Delinquente Weeping Juan, $25
How do you kick off a party that needs a personality injection? With bubbles. And what’s the best kind of bubbles for hyping the vibe? Pet nats, aka pétillants naturels. These naturally sparkling wines ferment in bottle creating fizz and magic. Like this, they can be slightly wild, tart and tangy. Here we find bright, red-berry fruitiness with pomegranate freshness. May your celebrations start now.