Beyond champagne: the best wines for a celebration | Fiona Beckett on drink

Although I’m writing this before knowing the outcome of the election, it’s hard to imagine that my mood this weekend will be anything but buoyant. In the days when I was actively involved in politics, I thought of nothing else during a campaign, but, for most people, it’s not quite as visceral – for many, in fact, this might be just a perfectly normal weekend.

That said, wine choices are often as much a question of mood as food. Alcohol should, of course, never be seen as a panacea for feeling low, but there are some wines that are especially celebratory, champagne being the most obvious example – there’s nothing quite like the popping of a cork to make all seem well with the world (screw caps are practical, but they don’t make you feel special).

Weather can affect your preferences, too – or at least it can mine. It’s hard to predict anything reliably this summer, but in theory it’s now peak rosé season. If it’s been a miserably grey day or you’re drinking in the depths of winter, however, you’re more likely to turn to a red.

Sometimes, though, you just want wine to be comfortingly familiar. Chatting to my nephew about his choices in wine (he’s well over drinking age, in case you’re wondering), he pretty much always drinks a lush, ripe red such as a malbec or shiraz. So I fished a DV Catena Malbec ( £13 Sainsbury’s , 13.5%) out of the wine rack that was right up his street – but not mine, to be perfectly honest. Sweetness in reds is much like sugar in coffee: you either like it or you don’t, and it depends what you’re used to, too.

Familiarity helps to explain the continuing success of New Zealand sauvignon blanc, a white that people have grown to love and don’t feel inclined to change. Again, it’s not totally my cup of tea, but if it’s yours, you’ll enjoy the Asda own-label in today’s pick. Interestingly, there is a new AI-powered app called Preferibli that is supposed to nail your preferences more accurately than any of the others around by getting you to identify the tastes you like in wine (they do cheese, too) and then give them a love, like, OK or dislike rating. Which strikes me as more like Spotify than Vivino . But will they be able to prescribe the wine to drink when I’m elated or chilled? That remains to be seen …

Four wines (and one aperitif) to lift the spirits

Valdo Elevantum Valdobiaddene Prosecco Superiore £8.99 (on offer, down from £13.99) Waitrose , 10.5%. I don’t often recommend prosecco, but if you feel like popping a cork, at £5 off this is a great offer. Appealingly creamy and not too sweet.

Co-op Irresistible Solo Pale Spanish Rosé 2023 £7 (on offer, down from £8.50 , 14%). If you just fancy chilling out and drinking rosé this weekend, this well-priced bottle won’t break the bank.

Viña San Juan La Mancha 2023 £6.49 Lidl, 13.5%. A soft, ripe, easy-drinking blend of merlot, syrah and tempranillo that would go with everything from a barbecue to a pizza.

Asda Extra Special Awatere Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 £8.25 , 13%. An absolutely classic, lush New Zealand sauvignon that you’ll love if you’re a fan.

Spritzi Blood Orange £5 Tesco, 8.4%. If you like Aperol, you’ll love this unbelievably good-value, cut-price alternative, with its perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness. Serve over ice and top up with soda.

• For more by Fiona Beckett, go to fionabeckett.substack.com