Col di Luna Veneto Flora Rosato Frizzante NV, 11 percent, $16.99
Some wines, like this gently sparkling rosato, are great both in the summer and in the winter. How so? Because they are so refreshing, and that’s a year-round need. Flora, made from the raboso grape, a local variety, is dry and spicy, with herbal and floral aromas. (Portovino, Buffalo)
Gioventu Chianti 2022, 13 percent ,$16.99
If you’ve followed my recommendations over the years, you may have noticed that I love the Sangiovese grape. No wine goes better with cooked tomato sauces than those made with Sangiovese. My favorite region, Chianti Classico, has largely left the $20 category behind, but there’s a lot more to the wider Chianti region. Gioventu is owned by Michael Schmelzer, who also runs the excellent Chianti Classico estate Monte Bernardi. This bottle is easy to enjoy with red fruit, lively acidity and dusty tannins. Try with any red sauce dishes. (T. Edward Wines, New York)
Skull Wines California Red Wine 2021, 12.5 percent, $17.96
Patrick Cappiello, the New York sommelier turned California winemaker, is the proprietor of Monte Rio Cellars. He also collaborates with Pax Mahle, the excellent producer, on Skull Wines, which makes a series of moderately priced bottles, all made from organically grown grapes and intended for easy drinking. This red is a blend six grapes, which undergo carbonic maceration, a favorite method for making Beaujolais and other breezy wines. It’s lively, fresh and delicious, and it goes down easily.
