(6) Wines that cost $20-30

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

Even though the Nabers have adopted the Aussie spelling for their wine, the 2006 Shiraz is not quite as bold or over the top as the name might suggest. The 2006 from Flat Creek is a blend of 75% Shiraz and 25% Tempranillo, and the Tempranillo contributes aromas and flavors of plums and leather to the cherry notes brought by the Shiraz. The wine also displays toasted barrel aromas, such as mocha and coffee, on top of this medium-full bodied wine. ($22)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sparkling
• Look for at: wine.com

I grabbed this Prosecco because it is made from an unusual Italian grape, the Raboso. I am trying to taste at least 100 different grape varietals to become a member of De Long’s Century Wine Club. This salmon colored sparkler provided another grape for my list and was a good drink to boot. In the glass, this medium-light bodied wine showed red fruit and berries, and in the mouth, the wine was all cherries and bubbles with enough acid to keep it interesting. I like Proseccos, and this is a good one, even if it costs slightly more than $20. ($21)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

Sideways did a lot to discourage Merlot sales, but this 2005 from Medoc might help folks get over their Merlot anxiety. Made from 50% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12% Cabernet Franc, this wine offers a nose of spiced cherries and cassis. In the glass, the dark red fruit is supported by an ample structure of fine grained tannin. Drink this wine tonight or hold it for a year or two to see what the 2005 vintage was all about. This wine is an inexpensive way to try a great vintage. ($17-22)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sparkling
• Look for at: wine.com

I picked up this wine at K&L Liquors in San Francisco, where it is a staff selection, and I can see why. We tried the Ariston along side a special cuvee from Bollinger. The Bollinger managed to surpass the Ariston by a nose, but at half the price, I would recommend you get two bottles of the Ariston. In the glass, the Ariston is fresh and crisp with a medium-fine mousse and a touch of chocolate on the end. This is a great aperitif, and it also goes very nicely with a summer’s afternoon in Golden Gate Park. ($27)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: crisp
• Look for at: wine.com

On our trips to New Zealand, my wife and I fell in love with Riesling and Pinot Gris wines we found there, but we could never seem to find them in Texas. Things are starting to change, and we are happy to see the wines from Craggy Range in Austin. These guys get great scores from Parker for their wines — particularly their Pinot Noir, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc — but do not overlook the Riesling. The nose of this single-vineyard Riesling shows bushels of peaches and a little citrus. In the mouth, there is plenty of acid, but the wine is not too bright. This light bodied wine has a medium finish and great hot weather appeal. ($22-25)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

I like Dolcettos, and they are best when they are from d’Alba. This ’06 was imported by Neal Rosenthal and has a nose of plum, vanilla, red berry, and cherry. The wine has plenty of dry fine tannins that support the cherry and plum flavors. There is good acid, and like lots of Italian wines, it wants to be paired with a fine meal. ($18-21)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

This village selection is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah (CGS) produced from 40 year old vines. Like many of the ’07 CGS blends, this one was a fine nose of peaches and strawberries. In the mouth, this rosé is not as elegant as some of the others, but it does provide nice red fruit with a round feel. ($18-22)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

This estate grown rosé is full of strawberry and cranberry in the nose. It follows with a mouth full of red berries and a long finish. This rosé is rounder and a bit lower in acid than the French rosés, but it has lots of body with an elegant mouth feel. If you can find this, give it a try, because it is an excellent summer drink. ($20-23)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

The Commaderie is produced from grapes selected throughout Provence. Like its big brother, the Chateau de Peyrassol Rosé, the Commaderie is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. The ’07 is a very drinkable wine with a nose of peaches and strawberries. The wine is medium bodied and round in the mouth. This is another of the great rosé wines that are available this summer. ($19–21)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

This rosé blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah is the flag ship rosé from Chateau de Peyrassol. The ’07 is an elegant wine with a nose of flowers, peaches, and red fruit. The wine is medium-full bodied with a great mouth feel and a long finish. It would work with lots of summer foods, like grilled fish or roast pork. ($27–30)