The best summer wines are those which are easy to drink under the sun and which combine well with standard summertime dishes. As the days get warmer and you get the itch to begin picnicking, hiking, going to the beach, and enjoying the outdoors, a great bottle of wine at the end of the day can really brighten up the occasion.

Thankfully, the best summer wines don’t necessarily need to cost a fortune. Here’s a mix of whites, chill reds, sparkling wines, and more to choose from.

1. Domaine Houchart Rose 2018

The Domaine Houchart Rose 2018 is an attractive summer wine choice and a reliable vintage to revisit. Ripe with raspberry flavors and hints of caramel, it’s a lightly textured summer beverage and full of fruit. It’s a classic blend that might be a little too standard for some but it’s not a wine which should be discounted.

11. Swanson Vineyards Pinot Grigio 2018

According to WineOnline.ca, the Swanson Vineyards Pinot Grigio 2018 from Napa Valley has a 14% alcohol level with peach, melon, and tropical fruit washed together in lively acidity. This is one of the best summer wines pairing with seafood appetizers. There’s no Californian Pinot Grigio more appropriate to this summer than a bottle of this surprisingly delicious wine.

3. Enrique Mendoza La Tremenda Monastrell 2016

This is an exceptional red wine which you’re sure to find clean, fresh, and vibrant. It’s like having your own fruit salad, complete with plums, cherries, raspberries, and other red fruits. There’s even some chocolate thrown in there as well. For any picnic or if you’re looking for the best summer wine to pair with something grilled, try the Enrique Mendoza La Tremenda Monastrell 2016.

4. August Kesseler R. Kabinett Riesling 2017

This light-bodied Kabinett pulls from crushed mineral tones, white floral tones, lemon and grapefruit, and more. This is an elegant summer wine, balancing citrus acidity with a zesty sweetness. You may also notice a lingering after-taste of salt and slate. This classy wine is a great gift option, especially when you package it inside a customized wine box.

5. Salcheto Obvius White 2017

The Salcheto Obvius White 2017 is organic and sustainably cultivated. Deeply colored, this traditional earthy white wine has no added sulfites and its aromas are a unique combination of scorched Earth, pressed wild flowers, black olives, dried peaches, and Mediterranean scrubs. The tangy palate is also dressed in ripe apricots, orange rinds, star anise, and salt. For as unusual some may find the Salcheto Obvius White 2017, it delivers on its intrigue!

6. Sea Slopes Chardonnay 2016

The Sea Slopes Chardonnay 2016 is a truly magnificent summer wine, cultivated from grapes having been slowly matured in a cool, sunny climate. This chardonnay is elegant with golden apple goodness, citrus flavors, and more unfolding with a hint of vanilla. This isn’t one of those buttery chardonnays which are going to tire out the palate. The restrained Sea Slopes Chardonnay 2016 is filled with luscious fruit which makes it a perfect summer pairing.

7. Jerusalem Wineries Gerstein Special Edition Marselan 2016

The Jerusalem Wineries Gerstein Special Edition Marselan 2016 comes from the warm gardens of Israel and is a red wine perfect for any occasion where you don’t want to go with a standard French or Spanish red wine. Expect to have some kumquat jam, yellow peach, and rose water mixed in with this special edition summer wine.

8. Attems Ramato Pinot Grigio 2017

The Attems Ramato Pinot Grigio 2017 has a gorgeous copper color to it, the direct result of prolonged contact between the purple-gray skins of the grapes and the fresh pressed juices. Aromas, flavors, and texture are elevated. This is one of the best summer wines with mellow acidity, blending together white peach, cantaloupe, and bitter cherry.

9. Sobon Estate Barbera 2017

The Sobon Estate Barbera 2017 is a medium-bodied wine alive with aromas of fresh raspberries and red cherry. Across the palate, you’ll find tart fruit flavors. This is a vibrant, appetizing wine perfect for almost any summer meal, be it a small BBQ, a fresh salad picnic, or a romantic get-together someplace special.

10. Alpha Estate Turtles Vineyard Malagousia 2017

Bringing together peach, melon, and white floral aromas, the Alpha Estate Turtles Vineyard Malagousia is a poised and pert white. From northern Greece, this summer wine is packing a punch of lemon zest, peace, and spice. Complex, clean, and elegant, for the more advanced wine palettes, here’s a new wine to give a try.

11. De Wetshof Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2018

The De Wetshof Bon Vallon Chardonnay has a gentle toasted challah character in an otherwise bright wine. Dried apple, orange, and lime zest are noticeable in this light wine, with white carnation and chalky limestone. Well-balanced and with a lingering flourish of lime zest, the Chardonnay is one of the best summer wines for anyone seeking something bright and nervy.

12. Kellerei Cantina Terlan ‘Tradition’ Pinot Bianco DOC 2017

Derived from northern Italy, the Kellerei Cantina Terlan ‘Tradition’ Pinot Bianco DOC 2017 is a classic gorgeous white. From the mountainous slopes with calm Mediterranean breezes to the glass, the Pinot Bianco is filled with a ripe pear, apple orchard nuances, some saline minerality, and more. Meet one of the best Pinot Bianco wines ready for the summer.