There’s no doubt that rosé wines come into their own during the summer months alongside light salads, risottos, cold roast chicken and absolutely anything to do with oily fish.

Among the wide choice of styles available, the wines from France’s Côtes du Rhône region offer a dry structure combined with a warm a generous fruit character which is perfectly suited to the table.

From the reliable regional specialists Boutinot,’Les Cerisiers’ Côtes du Rhône rosé 2015 (£9 Highbury Vintners) employs traditional grape varieties Grenache Noir, Syrah and Cinsault, lightly pressed to give a soft and round wine with red berry fruit.

This elegant rosé  is delicately spicy and textured with a pleasing persistence on the palate.

Similarly food-friendly is an organically cultivated gem from a  family-run winery experienced in the production of Châteauneuf du Pape.

Pale pink in colour, Pavillon Du Château Beauchêne Côtes du Rhône rosé 2014 (£9.99 Taurus Wines) has a firm, dry and mineral style.

It displays a nice intensity of wild strawberry fruit enlivened by refreshing bitter notes and a ‘squeeze of lime’ acidity.

One of our favourite finds for the summer season comes from historic Rhône valley producer M.Chapoutier.

M. Chapoutier,’Belleruche’, Côtes du Rhône rosé, 2015 (£10.95 Hawkshead Wines) represents exceptional value.

Delicately coloured and perfumed, Belleruche is lush and smooth with a creamy mouthfeel.

With beautifully balanced fruit and acidity, it’s a sophisticated wine, charming and complex with notes of cherry, strawberry peach and pomegranate.

The Côtes du Rhône wine appellation offers a huge area to explore. More can be discovered at vins-rhone.com.