Save money with these delicious wines under $15 at the LCBO

Made from 80 per cent Garganega and 20 per cent Chardonnay, this light-bodied thriller with a mere 12.5 per cent alcohol swirls with delicate scents of white flowers, cool clay and lemon zest. Then it beams in sunlit and pure. Its impeccable balance and understated flavours nod toward oranges and lemons, pears and cream with a subtle white pepper note on the lengthy finish. Delightful wine for about the price of a song. Score: 92

Pair this lively, satiny Soave with a bowl of buttered pasta sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and a good crank of black pepper for a soul-warming winter meal. It also works well with pan-seared tilapia with boiled potatoes and a side of steamed, buttered peas and carrots.

Also excellent is bone dry, medium-bodied 2022 Cecchi La Mora Vermentino Maremma, DOC from Tuscany, Italy (LCBO $14.95). This white wine draws you in with its barely-there scents of salt and stone, grapefruit and green almond. The silky entry is well-balanced with equal parts of flesh and taut tension, so it tastes round yet refreshing with flavours that hint at fresh lemons, seashells and wet stones. Well-made wine at a very reasonable price that is a pleasure to drink. Score: 90

Serve this bright white with chicken legs brushed with butter, sprinkled salt, oregano and pepper and roasted on a sheet pan. A side of rice studded with diced vegetables completes the plate. The 2022 Cecchi La Mora Vermentino Maremmo is also excellent with tuna or seafood casserole.

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For a juicier white wine based on lip-smacking Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc, reach for the 2022 Toro Bravo white from La Mancha, Spain (LCBO $9.95). This zippy, bone-dry refresher is attractively low in alcohol with a mere 11.5 per cent. And it’s delicious.

Each sip starts with pristine purity of fruit on the nose and palate and then slips in with glassy-cool flavours of ripe pineapple and lemon-lime — immediately mouth-watering. Then, this Spanish blend tapers to a sliced white peach finish. Easy to enjoy and easy on the wallet. Score: 92

Fabulous choice with a warming bowl of dal and basmati rice or your favourite chickpea curry. Or make it Mexican and serve Toro Bravo white with fish tacos, bean burritos or taco salad with seasoned beef, shredded cheese, guacamole and salsa on a big bed of dressed lettuce.

The 2021 Lab Vinho Regional Lisboa Red from Portugal (LCBO $11.65) with the Labrador retriever on the label a knockout buy. It’s a dry but not-too-dry blend of Castelão, Tinta Roriz, Syrah and Touriga Nacional. The result is a fistful of muddled, field-fresh berries on the nose. Then, the wine sweeps in and drenches the palate with a crush of wild blueberries laced with blackberries, black earth, dried plum and a touch of walnut. This medium-bodied red with 13 per cent alcohol and some good length offers outstanding value for money. It could sell for more. Score: 92

Serve this Portuguese red with shepherd’s pie for a satisfying yet economical meal. And of course, pepperoni pizza works well, too.

For a bigger, bolder red, reach for the 2021 Gufo Primitivo, Puglia IGP, Italy (LCBO $13.35). This jammy-rich crush of cashmere fruit calls to mind ultra-ripe strawberries and raspberries drizzled with bittersweet chocolate and crushed gingersnaps with a dollop of cream on the finish. Though this wine clocks 14 per cent alcohol, it doesn’t show beneath the lush folds of fruit. Ripe, smooth and full of fruit. Score: 93

Serve Gufo Primitivo with smash burgers and either oven fries or a big Caesar salad. This combo is always a crowd-pleaser but won’t bust the budget.

It’s tough to beat a good glass of wine with a delicious home-cooked meal. Now you can indulge in that pleasure while keeping your budget in check. Here’s to living well now and throughout 2024.