In the summer, I want wines I can drink barefoot on a picnic, wines I can relax with on my porch, wines that can match burgers, and ones that can match lobster rolls. This is no time for fascinating complexity or aging potential. So, when our wine tasting group got together for our summer wine tasting, we wanted to find good value wines that are refreshing, food-friendly, and fun to drink.

Question: What happens when you combine

12 wine geeks + 8 bottles of wine + 10 yummy dishes + 1 roof deck = ?

Answer: 5 great summer wine recommendations!

"Casal Garcia" (Vinho Verde, Portugal) by Aveleda - $6
Don't let Vinho Verde's past reputation scare you away; its recent production has been admirable. "Casal Garcia" has a lovely effervescence, a pleasant nectarine smell, and light body. It is fantastic with shrimp and other light appetizers and salads. It also makes an excellent aperitif when mixed with Cassis (black current liquor) or Chambord (raspberry liqueur). At $6/bottle it's one of the best value summer white wines.

2002 Pinot Blanc (Alsace, France) by Sipp Mack - $10
Sipp Mack's Pinot Blanc is a soft, well-rounded wine with good sweetness/acidity balance. I found its banana, nectar, and mineral flavors interesting and delicious. It is a pleasant wine to drink on its own, but paired with lobster bisque it really comes to life.

2002 Gewürztraminer Spätlese (Bechtheimer Stein, Rheinhessen, Germany) by Machmer - $10
This wine has been one of my favorites for a long time. There is nothing shy about this bright Gewürz -- it is sweet enough to pass for a light dessert wine, but can also match savory food. The tangerine and peach nose is unmistakable and makes this wine a good match for a Tangerine Chicken Salad or Scallops Ceviche with Mango. It is also a great match to spicy food as it tends to soften and balance the heat. This wine is a bit hard to find, but Martignetti's Liquors carries it.

2001 Shiraz (Coonawarra, Australia) by Wynns Coonawarra Estate - $11
It's hard to go wrong with Australian Shiraz because "Down Under" consumers don't let bad wines last on the market for long. Wynns Coonawarra Shiraz is one of the best summer reds you can get for $11. It's an intense, juicy, well balanced wine with red fruit flavors and a touch of smoke. It has enough acidity and tannin to match anything off the grill, particularly lamb.

2003 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zeland) by Babich - $13
New Zealand has been getting a lot of attention from oenophiles for good reason. They make some of the best Sauvignon Blancs, and Babich is a prime example. This excellent wine exhibits assertive tropical fruit flavors with hints of lemon grass and lime. It's a great match to a coconut curry, or Mahi with Cilantro Lime Butter. But avoid pairing it with spicy foods -- it amplifies spices, making your mouth feel like its on fire!