Stuck in a wine rut? Do you u sually reach for a glass of dry white wine with a bowl of nuts, dips or olives on a summer's evening? Then it's time to change things up and consider a glass of ice-cold 'tan frio' fino or manzanilla sherry instead - don't worry, it's still served in a wine glass.

Enjoying a renaissance after years in the doldrums (banish all thoughts of Granny's cream sherry), the trend for Spanish restaurants, tapas bars and smaller plates of food with salty bites such as cured sausage, manchego cheese and shellfish has spurred our thirst for something bone dry, cold and tangy.

The sherry triangle around Jerez in the south west of Spain is framed by three Andalusian towns and produces several styles of sherry, all made from the palomino grape. But it's the fortified fino and manzanilla that have caught our attention and the quality and reasonable price tag only strengthen their appeal.

Matured in a series of barrels called the solera system, fino is aged for a minimum of two years under a layer of flor yeast, while manzanilla begins life as a fino - but its birthplace must be from the region of Sanlucar de Barrameda, on the west coast.

Close to the sea, this is where the humid air influences the flor and engages the taste buds with an underlying saltiness. The flavour profile is determined by the density of the yeast which sits on top of the wine and matures in the barrel for a minimum of three years.

So next time you bring out the salty almonds, anchovies and serrano ham, here are some super sherries to match them...

Unbeatable value and a good introductory style to woo you in the right direction, Morrisons Fino Sherry (£5, 75cl, Morrisons) has typical savoury flavours with a lovely yeasty tang and a crisp, fresh finish.

A classic that always comes tops in tastings, The Society's Fino (£6.25, 75cl, www.thewinesociety.com) is made for them by Sanchez Romate, one of the few remaining family-owned bodegas and will have you reaching for a jamon sandwich in no time. Distinct, bready aromas, a fresh, citrus element and notes of salty almonds make this extremely reviving when the sun comes out.

A handy half bottle with a screwcap and perfect for picnics, Bodegas Gutierrez Colosia Fino Sherry (£8.49, 37.5cl, www.laithwaites.co.uk) displays a little more richness and complexity with nutty notes and dried fruits on the deep, savoury finish.

Meanwhile, a more delicate, lighter version of its fino cousin, a manzanilla such as Barbadillo Solear Manzanilla (£4.75, 37.5cl, Waitrose) is achingly dry but just as delectable. Bright and brisk with saline and almond on the tangy finish, there's a citrus fruit note to make you want to pair it with fried squid or garlic prawns.

Another alternative from Bodegas Barbadillo in the coastal town of Sanlucar de Barrameda, the family-owned winery also produce Tesco Finest Manzanilla Sherry (£6, 50cl, Tesco) which is bright and balanced with round fruit notes and salty, tangy aromas ending with a lovely, salty kick on the dry finish.

Multi-layered and more complex, pasada manzanilla sherries are aged for longer and styles such as Hidalgo Pastrana Manzanilla Pasada (£10.50, 75cl, www.thewinesociety.com) share the same saltiness but with deep, savoury fruit, toasty nuances and a nice nuttiness adding to its saline charm.

Now, if these pale, dry palominos have still not convinced you that they can sit alongside a glass of albarino (the trendy white wine from Galicia), or a pinot grigio, why not try Berry Bros & Rudd Amontillado Medium Dry (£13.95, 75cl, www.bbr.com). A fino that's come of age, it's darker and richer from further barrel ageing and should be enjoyed slightly chilled. With hazelnut aromas and soft fruitcake flavours, it goes extremely well with iberico ham, aged comte, and can be drizzled into consomme or thicker soups.

:: Note to self: After opening any sherry, keep in the fridge and consume within a week to enjoy optimum freshness.

:: BEST BUY

Spice it up for St George's Day (April 23)... An exotic London Dry Gin made with botanicals from the ancient spice route, Opihr Oriental Spiced London Gin (£22, 70cl, Waitrose) - pronounced 'o-peer' - will stand out from the crowd with its headline ingredients of cubeb berries from Indonesia and coriander from Morocco, with enough peppery spice to put a sting on a dragon's tail.

:: LIQUID NEWS

Prosecco in poll position... Our insatiable thirst for prosecco has led to Brits splashing out £181.8 million on the Italian sparkling wine in 2014 - almost twice the previous year - compared to £141.3 million on champagne, with Asda selling more than 700,000 bottles of prosecco over Easter.

"We've been following this trend since way back in 2013, however it's interesting to see that prosecco has finally taken champagne's crown," says Marc Ambrose, Asda's champagne and sparkling buyer.

"By nature, prosecco hailing from Italy is far sweeter than the majority of champagne, so we can see it appeals to females and a younger audience, plus the price point makes it easy to splash out on a few bottles when hosting a party."

According to the report in The Grocer, prosecco volume doubled to 21 million litres last year, more than champagne (6.5 million) and cava (13 million) combined.

"Despite prosecco proving popular with customers, our £10 Easter champagne deal on Louvel Fontaine Champagne Brut sold in excess of 100,000 bottles this year - a record," says Ambrose. "We intend to make champagne as accessible to our customers by offering great value deals on quality wine."

Asda's Louvel Fontaine Champagne Brut, France, normally retails for £24.25, so look out for special promotions over seasonal events.