100-degree temperatures leave you frowning? These two wines will take the edge of a mid-August heat wave:
• Boutari Moschofilero 2006, $14. We don’t get Greek wine this far in the middle of the country, which is a shame. Most Greek wine I have sampled is well-made, inexpensive and very food friendly, and this is no exception. It’s a light, warm-weather wine that’s low in alcohol but more fruity (think melons) than sweet. The grape variety, by the way, is moschofilero – important in Greece and almost nowhere else. Serve it chilled. Available at Sigel’s, Central Market, Whole Foods, Centennial and Majestic.
• Marqués de Cáceres 2006 rose, $9. I have a soft spot for rose. Most of it is cheap, tastes good, and goes with almost anything. Plus, the snobs can’t figure it out. The Caceres, made with tempranillo from Spain’s Rioja region, fits all those criteria. It’s not quite as dry as some Spanish roses, but it’s nowhere near as fruity as similar California wines. This also comes with the recommendation of Lake Highlands wine guru Alfonso Cevola. Available at Whole Foods, Majestic, and Centennial.