Bargain wines for summertime sipping

Keep an eye out for these pleasing wines that sell for $20 or less.

Do I enjoy expensive wine? Of course, and I enjoy it most when someone else is paying for it.

But during the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life I cannot really appreciate the fancy stuff. There are kids to feed and labrador retrievers to walk and entertain, and the late-in-the-day emails that pour in. Under those circumstances I simply cannot fully appreciate a Grand Cru Bordeaux or even a middling Tuscan.

So let me share with you a few bottles that I tried recently and that I would gladly purchse again

Bieler Pere & Fils Sabine Aix-en-Provence Rose, 2023: What a delight, and only $10-$12 a bottle. Too often I find the roses in grocery stores too swete. This one is just lovely, and I am so glad I plucked it from the Safeway shelf. Read more.

Reflection Ridge Red Blend: I was a little uneasy when I saw this was on sale for $9. But this fruity, full-flavored red paired nicely with the plates of cheese, salami, and triscuits that was my dinner one night. Read more.

Whoa, Nellie! This red was served at a neighborhood party, and it is booms with flavor: raspberry, vanilla, and red fruit aplenty. It runs $20 a bottle and is absolutely worth it. Read more.

Last but not least is this Italian red, which is not nearly as robust as the two aforementioned ones. Don’t mistake me—this is a very good wine. It was made for summer sipping, and shows notes of black cherry, plums, and blueberry. I found a couple of bottles of this in New York City, and an upstate retailer offers it online. Terrific stuff for $16 a bottle. Read more.