Wine of the Month, August 2026

Chateau Oumsiyat Assyrtico 'Cuvée Membliarus'
Top summer drinking from Lebanon

A flinty, floral and citrus Lebanese white that's a delight with seafood.

This tangy, mineral-driven white made from a Greek variety might be a bit of a surprise coming from Lebanon - a land whose vinous reputation rests on full-bodied, Bordeaux-style reds. But for refreshing summer sipping this has an awful lot going for it.

Assyrtico is a grape whose roots (pardon the pun) lie in Santorini, where it's known as Assyrtiko, but it's transplanted itself well to Oumsiyat's high vineyards in the Bekaa Valley. And the name 'Membliarus', an ancient Phoenician governor of Santorini, highlights the link as well, since Lebanon is now where Phoenicia used to be.

The main thing, though, is what we've got here: a light, easy-drinking white that's made for summer which, if you happen to be having some seafood off the barbie, is a natural match. It's great value as it is, but while it's Wine of the Month, it's just £13.90 in any quantity, with a bonus 100 loyalty points thrown in too.

For top summer drinking try a wine from the Levant.