The world is opening up again, meaning more get-togethers, from dinner engagements to pool parties. Here are six completely different wines to help cover off a variety of occasions, from a patio white to a big, menthol-infused red. Nothing earth-shattering this week, but good stuff for the price.

Wakefield Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 — Clare Valley / Limestone Coast, South Australia ($19.95)
I’ve always said this wine might be my easiest blind tasting—dark chocolate, cassis, that typical Clare Valley menthol, rich dense black and blue fruit. It was matured for up to 12 months in French oak barrels prior to final blending and bottling. Medium+ in tannins, on the lower end of full-bodied. Smooth on the palate. 89

Parés Baltà Brut Cava Brut — Penedès, Spain ($17.99)
I’ve snuck a consignment wine in here for those seeking an organic and vegan-friendly bubbly. Granted, you have to buy it by the case of 12 (from Noble Estates), but this Cava (made with the same method of Champagne, with the second fermentation in the bottle) offers good value. Straw-yellow in the glass, there’s brioche, pear and apple to the nose, with a touch of minerality on the zesty but dry palate. 11.5% alc. 88

Farina Valpolicella Ripasso 2018 — Veneto, Italy ($16.95)
Most Ripasso-style wines offer some degree of depth and texture, given that they’re refermented on the dregs of Amarone. But the 2018 vintage of this blend of Corvina (50%), Rondinella (20%), Corvinone (15%), Oseleta (10%) and Molinara (5%) seems more restrained and medium-bodied than in the past. Still, its dry, earthy, dark red fruits, tobacco/leather aromas and bright acidity sort of grew on me. Pair it with aged cheeses and burgers. By the way, if you’ve previously been a fan of this wine, it’s sporting a new label. 88

Beronia Rioja Tempranillo 2019 — Rioja, Spain ($13.80)
Such a near-miss for my annual Best 36 Wines Under $18 list. Wood smoke, eucalyptus, dark red fruit, tobacco leaf, nice finish. It was aged in oak less than a year, but there’s still lots of evidence of that wood on the finish. 88

Illuminati Riparosso 2018 —  Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Central Italy ($13.80)
A dry Montepulciano that earned a Gambero Rosso Award for Best Italian Wine with Best Value. Think “humid October forest floor night” and a little gamey on the nose. The fruit is dark—brambleberry/blackberry/black cherry/plum. It’s medium+ in both body and the tannin department. A nice pasta pairing. Solid value. 87

Fazi Battaglia Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi DOC — Marche, Italy ($12.80)
Looking for a unique bottle to bring to a pool party? How about this clear amphora bottle from Fazi Battaglia? Edging into the medium-bodied realm, this dryish, easy drinking white offers melon, pear and soft citrus notes with a little green apple added to the palate and a smooth finish. Nothing extraordinary, but also no complaints—especially for the outstanding price! Pair it with vegetarian dishes, shrimp or light poolside fare. 86