Waterloo Region Record

These summertime sips are delicious, dirt cheap

- CAROLYN EVANS HAMMOND

Summertime calls for crisp, easydrinki­ng wines that leave room in the budget for fancy frappuccin­os, great getaways and, if you’ve got wee ones, summer camp.

With that in mind, here are five dirt cheap, delicious drops just right for the height of summer.

Every bottle offers honest value for money, costs less than $20 and tastes like sunshine in a glass.

NV Piera Martellozz­o Blu Giovello Prosecco DOC, Italy (LCBO 85316 $15.20)

Blu Giovello isn’t just a reliably smart drop; it’s drier than many Proseccos on shelves, so less apt to tire the palate after a glass or two. Expect captivatin­g aromas of freshly sliced pear and flavours of the same threaded with coy suggestion­s of bitter orange, white grapefruit and cool minerals. The effect is one of vivaciousn­ess tempered with subtlety and finesse. Pour it on its own or with food. I particular­ly like it with smoked fish mousse on toasted baguette slices. Score: 91

2016 Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde, Portugal (LCBO 89995 $12.45)

This classic Vinho Verde tastes taut and focused, delivering an instant hit of pure refreshmen­t. Scents of cool lime and gentle bay leaf draw you toward the attack, which glides over the palate with great purity and resolve. It enters like a beam of saturated flavour — green apple, grapefruit, lime oil, sea salt and bay leaf — then lingers. Delicious on its own or with Portuguese-style Peri Peri chicken. Score: 90

NV Voga Moscato Frizzante IGT, Veneto,

Italy (LCBO 267781 $13 till Aug. 18, reg. $14.50)

Juicy-sweet and gently-bubbly with a low 7.5 per cent alcohol, this bargain bottle is bright, tight and focused with flavours of chin-drip pineapple, peach, orange and mango. It’s the kind of wine you can ice down and quaff with abandon on those casual afternoons in the sun. And if you get peckish — pour it with something hot and spicy, such as slices of spicy Italian sausage or Sriracha pulled pork tacos. Score: 92 2017 Concha y Toro Frontera Sauvignon Blanc, Chile (LCBO 524348 $9.10)

Here’s a wine with all the bright refreshmen­t of your favourite Pinot Grigio, but with a bit more fruit character. Think mouth-filling flavours of Granny Smith apple, damp basil and cut grass. The bone-dry expression hovers somewhere between the restraint of French Sancerre which is, of course, pure Sauvignon Blanc, and the full-throttle style that hails from Marlboroug­h. Goes with everything from cold soups to hot nuts. Just terrific value. Score: 93

NV Barefoot Pinot Grigio, California (LCBO 53983 $10.95) Like all good Pinot Grigios, Barefoot’s version is more about cool restraint than flamboyant fruit. It starts with understate­d scents of sun-warmed tangerine, before slipping glasslike over the palate with subdued citrus and yellow plum flavours underpinne­d with a subtle, slatelike character. This casual drop tastes crisp and dry, and works well on its own or with California­n salads dotted with fruit and nuts. Another great, cheap summer sip. Score: 89+

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