These bargain wines—a Sicilian red and a French white—will pair with any casual meal

From left: Dominio del Soto 2016, Glunz Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Medici Ermete Arte e Concerto 2017, Villarini Nero d'Avola 2019, La Marina Cuvée Oceane 2019 (Photo courtesy of The Washington Post)

Here are two wines—a white from France and a red from Sicily—that offer great quality at a price that allows you to stock up and add them to your rotation for casual meals and occasions. We also have a Spanish tempranillo that’s a home run for Washington baseball fans, a Paso Robles cabernet with a local restaurant connection, and a spicy, earthy lambrusco to pair with smoked meats or pizza.

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Dominio del Soto 2016

Three stars (Extraordinary)

Ribera del Duero, Spain, $23

Fans of Washington Nationals slugger Juan Soto may gravitate to this wine, but whether you like baseball or not, this 100-percent tempranillo knocks it out of the park. Leafy tobacco and blueberry flavors dominate, with a savory meaty note on the finish. Alcohol by volume: 14.5 percent.

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Glunz Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Three stars (Extraordinary)

Paso Robles, Calif., $24

Fans of big cabs will appreciate this wine. Paso Robles, about an hour’s drive north from San Luis Obispo, is a great source of quality cabernet sauvignon at prices that don’t mirror the high cost of Napa and Sonoma counties farther north. This is usually warmer-climate cabernet, and Glunz is located on the eastern, warmer side of Paso. The blend of 93 percent cabernet with petit verdot making up the balance, results in a rich, big and plush wine. It’s a bit hot at this level of alcohol, but the fruit carries the day. Local note: The Glunz family is related by marriage to Geoff Tracy of Chef Geoff’s restaurant group. ABV: 15.1 percent.

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Medici Ermete Arte e Concerto 2017

Two and a half stars (Excellent/Extraordinary)

Reggiano Lambrusco, Italy, $24

Lambrusco, the fizzy red from northern Italy, is by no means a fashionable wine. But it is an ideal partner for cured or smoked meats, such as Italian salumi, French charcuterie, Spanish jamon and American barbecue. Dark cherry, a hint of wood smoke and a refreshing spritz highlight this beauty. Serve slightly chilled. ABV: 11.5 percent.

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GREAT VALUE

Villarini Nero d’Avola 2019

Two and a half stars (Excellent/Extraordinary)

Sicily, Italy, $13

Nero d’Avola resembles syrah in its savory bacon and ripe berry flavors, but it tends to be lighter in body and texture. This wine from Villarini, made from organic grapes, delivers great juice with refreshing acidity and a nice dry, mildly tannic finish. Try it with hearty pastas or grilled meats. ABV: 13 percent.

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GREAT VALUE

La Marina Cuvée Océane 2019

Two stars (Excellent)

Cotes de Gascogne, France, $12

Here’s a simple, refreshing white wine with aromas of wild herbs and flavors of mango and ruby grapefruit. Great by itself, this is also a worthy partner to lighter seafood dishes. ABV: 11 percent.