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Savouring the Outdoors

22.08.24

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3 min read

By Emma Lavelle

It’s a warm, sunny evening in August, and I have the perfect bottle of orange wine cooling in the fridge. I open the bottle, grab a couple of wine glasses and my boyfriend and I treat ourselves to a post-work drink before heading for an evening stroll to our favourite wild swimming spot. We only have time for a small tipple, so we decant the remainder of the bottle into our eto. Two nights later, the sun is once again shining, and we take our decanter, glasses and a bowl of olives, and retreat into the woodland at the edge of our garden to enjoy the rest of the bottle in the sunshine.

There is something so joyful about sitting outdoors with a glass of wine - whether as part of your evening meal or for an aperitivo. Towards the end of the summer, as the long, heady days begin to fade into golden hours that come earlier and earlier, I try to get outside as often as possible to soak up the last rays of sun. Whether you’re perched on an Adirondack chair on a terrace or surrounded by flower beds in a sprawling cottage garden, sipping a glass of wine outside is sure to elevate the experience.

Outdoor drinking (especially when combined with outdoor dining), is one of the most celebrated occasions of the British summer. Think of how we flock to beer gardens and parks as soon as a heatwave is declared. Like wild swimming (but less bracing), enjoying a drink outdoors is a completely different experience. You can feel the sun on your skin, breathe in the fresh air, enjoy the scent of summer flowers, admire bees and butterflies buzzing around, and hear the birds calling from the trees. Flowers in a vase dance in the breeze, and the sunlight reflects through your glass to add a sparkle to the table. Even if you’re sitting in a small backyard or on a balcony, rather than a wild and wonderful garden, you are within touching distance of nature.

I instantly feel jovial when I sit outside my house with a glass of wine in hand. I’m reminded of holidays abroad; aperitivo on an Italian piazza or lounging on a deck chair on the beach. To capture that holiday feeling at home, I like to enjoy a glass of wine in the early evening before dinner, with a couple of small snacks such as olives or grissini - as the Italians do.

Dining outside is another summer tradition that I anticipate each year. Whether we’re planning a barbecue or serving a couple of light salads, a glass of good wine transforms a meal outdoors into an occasion. If we’re inviting friends over for an outdoor dinner party, I drape throws over the backs of their chairs and scatter tea lights in votives around the table, we can continue entertaining outside even after the sun has set.

While the weather holds, I like to be outside whenever possible, taking a small glass of wine into the garden can instantly brighten up my day. Sometimes, it's more of an occasion but often I just potter around the garden, glass in hand as I weed, prune and cut flowers to bring indoors. Finally, is there anything better than to nestle down in my favourite outdoor chair with a good book and a blanket - for me, a richer evening than sitting in front of the tv.

Although the seasons are now on the turn, with the nights drawing noticeably closer, I will be making the most of the remainder of the summer. British weather doesn't mean you only drink or dine outside during a heatwave - you just need to be prepared. That means proper illumination outdoors with festoon lights, candles or portable lamps, and layers for the chill evenings, a blanket to wrap up in or a warm jumper to throw on. Even if it's raining, you can still enjoy an outdoor glass with some ingenuity. During late summer showers, we like to move our outdoor table into the greenhouse and sit surrounded by tomato plants, listening to the rain patter on the glass roof above.

Words and photography by slow travel writer and photographer Emma Lavelle