Summer is soon arriving, and with it comes a need for us working stiffs to let our hair down...

A wave of staff functions, barbeques, Christmas parties and family gatherings means that most of us will be spending the coming months either perfecting our mojito techniques or spending hours in liquor stores staring at a fridge full of similarly priced savvies.

But summer drinking needn’t have you in fits of conformity. There is an Aladdin’s cave of new beverages out there for us to sample and fall in love with. A veritable cesspool of wines and spirits that are just longing to be uncorked, muddled, swizzled or skulled.

Let me begin with wine. Being a wine nut, I am on a mission to get people to step outside their comfort zones: that means you, bucko, so move away from the Sauvignon Blanc and leave the Chardonnay alone.

Perfect for lazy Sunday afternoons on the deck is the somewhat unpronounceable viognier (vee-on-yay). Perfumey and floral, clean and crisp, this wine is surely destined to become the new Pinot Gris. And the best bit? Spend $20 on a wine that no one’s heard of but everyone likes, and it’ll make you the legend of the day.

Or, this summer, you could leave your preconceptions behind and go for a Riesling. Sweet or dry, syrupy or light, Riesling comes in all manner of disguises which make us love it all the more for its versatility.

From bone dry Australian beasts to delicate Waipara sweeties, there is a style of this magnificent grape for any given opportunity (or skeptic). Grab one to go with your Thai takeaways, Sunday lunch, or just have a glass after dinner instead of dessert.

If the call of the grape is not strong in you (strange, but it happens), and you are sick of the stock standard vodka lemon lime, why not try some new spirits on which to base your cocktail repertoire?

My pick of new spirits to be tried is an Italian liqueur called Tuaca. Loosely based on brandy, it has loads of vanilla and orange to it and is beautiful over ice. But muddle some limes and mint with it, and top it up with ginger beer, and a Tuscan Mule you will have. Tuaca is also great with Red Bull, so you can return the hip flask of Jager to your little brother.

So forget all those uninspiring beverages, and serve up some treats this summer. Your friends (and your tastebuds) will thank you for it.

Claire Adamson