Red wine lovers, summertime does not mean you have to worship solely at the altar of light and white. Fresh, zippy reds with firm acidity, minimal oak aging and restrained alcohol levels hoover heat as well as any Pinot Grigio. Stick one of these favorite red wines into the fridge for 15 minutes, or the cooler for five, for optimal chillaxing.
Crivelli Ruche de Castagnole Monferrato, Italy 2012
Whiff the ruche grape and try to place its distinctive aroma. Summer-scented, spicy geranium comes to my mind. Have a glass: It tastes of pomegranate dipped in milk chocolate lavender. Walk, drink and smell the flowers. $16 at Ellwood Thompson's Local Market
Anton Bauer Zweigelt Wagram, Austria 2011
Flavors of sweet roasted tomato underpinned by white pepper and cherry make Zweigelt the ultimate pizza wine. Anton Bauer makes this one with little to no oak, so you can drink it without filling up. $14 at J Emerson, Inc. Fine Wines & Cheese
Left Coast Wine Cellars: Cali's Cuvee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2012
The year 2012 has been an Oregon wine lover's misty dream since the last rainy days of the 2011 harvest. Elegant drinking, but still wrapped with a tutti-frutti Willamette ribbon, this all-estate Pinot Noir hails from a summer of sunshine and daydreams. $20 at Once Upon a Vine
Jacey Vineyards Norton, Wicomico Church, N/V
Dr. Daniel Norton of Richmond developed the Norton grape varietal in hopes of competing with the chateaux of Bordeaux, the ne plus ultra of the wine world in 1835. What he grew was an acidic grape that ranges in power according to how it is oaked and aged. This is a lighter style of Norton, with fresh plum flavors and a grape-filled depth that complements cheeseburgers and barbecue. $22 at C'est le Vin
Oakencroft Farm Chambourcin grape juice, Charlottesville
Depending on your taste, this bottling is either unrealized potential or a little red wagon rider's delight. Instead of letting their Chambourcin squeezings ferment to red wine, Oakencroft fills 750 ml bottles with naturally sweet grape juice — no added sugar. Pour over ice, add fruit slices, and you have instant nonalcoholic sangria. $9 at Whole Foods Market
