Summertime is grilling time, and lighter weight red wines are good companions for those steaks, ribs, and burgers, even chicken skewers and hot dogs.  Here are a few mid-priced choices for summer entertaining, even with their lighter tannins and body, they don’t skimp on flavor and vibrancy.

Rutherford Ranch Winery of Napa Valley offers two good value red wines.  The Rutherford Ranch 2014 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is mostly Cab Sav, with a dash of four other varietals for spice, with the actual percentages at 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 2% Zinfandel, and 1% Malbec.  The 2014 vintage reflects California’s drought conditions, with the fruit more ripe and concentrated, yielding a balanced wine that spent over 12 months in French and American oak.  Aromas and flavors of black cherry, boysenberry, ripe currant, dark chocolate, toasty caramel, and a hint of mint grace this lighter weight red, its velvety mouthfeel is framed by soft tannins, ending in a lighter medium finish, it’s a good pair with hearty foods and cheeses.  It retails for $35, and considering it’s made from premium Napa Valley fruit, it’s a good deal.

The Rutherford Ranch 2014 Napa Valley Two Range Red Wine is a full-bodied blend of Merlot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.  This debut vintage encompasses lots of complexity, with black cherry, raspberry, and dark chocolate aromas and flavors, highlighted by notes of exotic spice.  This is a fabulous wine, well balanced in its acidity and ripe tannins, seductive in its rich mouthfeel and long finish, overall very yummy!  Named for the two mountain ranges that define Napa Valley, the Vaca and Mayacamas, it’s crafted from some of the best fruit, and aged in French oak barrels.  This aromatic, spicy red blend is a great deal, at a SRP of $25.

Geyser Peak of Sonoma County, one of California’s oldest and well known wineries, offers two wines from its Appellation Series.  The Geyser Peak 2012 Alexander Valley Tectonic Red Wine Blend is made of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, and 2% Petite Sirah, yielding a lighter weight wine, with a rich fruit palate.  Named for Geyser Peak Mountain’s geothermal steam fields, that gives substance to the fruit through it’s “Tectonic” soils, the wine has backbone held up by soft tannins, and a vibrant depth of flavor from an accent of the brooding and exotic Petite Sirah.  Aromas of blackberry, currant, cocoa, and fennel plays with the flavors of black cherry, mulberry, and mocha, ending with a medium finish.  The 2012 vintage is a result of optimum growing conditions, with the fruit gaining more flavor and depth, and retails for $30.

The Geyser Peak 2013 Alexander Valley Walking Tree Cabernet Sauvignon, 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Syrah, is a pleasant front-loaded wine, whose dark charms need time to reveal themselves, at least a 30 minute decant to get the full experience.  Aromas of black plum and mint evolve into flavors of black cherry, cassis, black fig, mocha and spice, with an accent of toasty vanilla from French oak barrel aging.  Named for an oak tree that migrated or “walked” down the steep vineyard slope during heavy rains, while remaining alive and well, this is definitely a food wine, the earthy bent more of a mineral accent, that is set free in the alchemy of food and wine pairing, and sells for $30.

Kick back with friends and family during the hay days of Summer, these lighter red wines, from the iconic wine regions of Napa Valley and Sonoma County, offer value compared to the upper echelon wines that often command the spotlight.  They’re pleasant wines, with classic aromas and flavors, that will accompany a variety of dishes, perfect for outdoor grilling or picnics in the park.