This $13 pinot grigio finds the perfect balance between sweet and bitter.

This week we have three great wines at a reasonable price to explore: a pinot grigio from northern Italy, a savory red blend from Spain and a refined cabernet franc from Bulgaria.

Great value for money:

Kris Pinot Grigio 2021, Delle Venezie, Italy, $13.

Kris is the benchmark for pinot grigio, a grape whose popularity has caused most wines made from it to become bland and boring. Here, however, we find accents of honeydew and lime, as well as a slight bitterness of almond in the aftertaste. Alcohol content: 12.5 percent. Bottle weight: 480 grams (light).

Acuma from Ego Bodegas, red blend 2020, Jumilla, Spain, $15.

This juicy monastrell-based red blend, s''Minor involvement of syrah and pti verdo. It has enough density to match hamburgers or steaks, offering flavors of tea, olives and sarsaparilla over blackberry and plum. Vegan. Alcohol content: 14.5 percent. Bottle weight: 650 grams (medium).

Bononia Estate Istar Cabernet Franc 2021, Danube Plain, Bulgaria, $24.

A classic cabernet franc with herbal notes of tomato leaf and white pepper spice over flavors of black plums, dried black olives and tea.

Prices are approximate. For availability, check Wine.com, Wine-searcher.com and the websites and social media platforms of wineries, importers, distributors and''your favorite local liquor store. You can also ask your local retailer to order wines from the listed distributors. Do you have questions about wine for Dave McIntyre? Send them to: Food@washpost.com.