There certainly have been some hot days this summer. Over the years, I have discovered that when I’m hot, heavy amounts of oak and higher alcohol levels in wine are not what I am looking for.

After a day of yardwork recently, my wife, Cheryle, oohed and aahed over a well-chilled, thirst-quenching glass of Henri Perrusset Macon Villages (about $15 a bottle).

This is chardonnay grown in the limestone soils of southern Burgundy. These soils create a minerality that buttress the wine’s innate lemon-edged acidity, which adds to its refreshing crispness. It behaves on the palate much like lemonade. In addition, because limestone is a meager soil, this wine has a remarkable lightness and lower alcohol levels.

In short, it is ideal for warm-weather sipping.

Another wine Cheryle uncorks on especially warm days is the Palmina Pinot Grigio (about $16). The grapes for this Santa Barbara, Calif.-based white wine are grown in largely marine soils such as sand, which create minerality and buoyancy for a refreshing result.

One would be hard pressed to find another pinot grigio of this caliber in this price range, even from Italy.

I usually recommend value-driven wines in this column, but I cannot help mentioning the J. Lassalle Brut Rose (about $68). It really is like no other sparkling wine because of its sheer elegance. This offering possesses an innate pedigree with its sublime lightness, tiny, flirtatious bubbles and absolute deliciousness. Although this Champagne can be difficult to find, it really is worth the search.

I also need to add to this list the Dr. F. Weins-Prum Riesling Feinherb "Graacher Domprobst" (about $20). Feinherb is an unofficial German labeling term that notes when a wine is a bit more sweet than those classified medium-dry, or "halbtrocken." This one definitely has a sweet-and-sour edge reminiscent of a refreshing lemonade.

Winemaker-owner Bert Selbach is a master at producing effortlessly light German rieslings that are all about delicacy and finesse.

Selbach’s vineyard is so steep and rocky that it makes one wonder who would want to work so hard to grow these wines. Napa Valley surely provides great motivation. Hillside-grown wines can fetch $150 to $200 a bottle there.

Hopefully, this fact will cultivate a greater appreciation for this affordable offering.

Chuck Furuya is a master sommelier and a partner in the DK Restaurants group. Follow his blog at chuckfuruya.com.