We've been traveling the world again, albeit with our taste buds, and bring you reviews of wines from Austria, Israel, Italy, Spain, Chile, France, New Zealand and, of course, California. It's a way to have a vacation, without leaving your air-conditioning. We've found some good, and different, varietals for you to try. Bon voyage!

2008 Zantho Blaufrankisch, Burgenland, Austria ($13.99, online): This is the first Zantho wine I've had, made from two of Austria's most commonly planted varietals, St. Laurent and Zweigelt. The winery's name comes from a lizard native to the area.

It's a fairly lightly colored red wine, and it's light on nose, too, with raspberry. It's a lighter-bodied wine, with light red fruits on taste, as well as some spice and a little leather. It's a bit tart on finish, but that's OK. It went well with a Greek chicken dish and also would complement heavier foods.

2010 McManis Family Vineyards Malbec, California ($8, online): The nose on this big wine is fragrant with currants and raspberries and all big red fruits that go well together. It's one of the sigh-worthy wines I love. It tastes deep and yummy, with a slight spice, some cocoa and more currants. Definitely a bigger, heavier food wine. Good value on this one.

2010 Casa by Lapostolle Carmenere, Rapel Valley, Chile ($14.99, Total Wine): I like the carmenere varietal, so I was looking forward to this wine. It has a light cherry nose, but turned out to be just slightly cherry on taste, and very acidic. It wasn't what I expected, even after it was open for 24 hours. Maybe in another six months, it will be more approachable, but right now the acidity was too overpowering for my taste.

2007 Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva, Italy ($29.99, Total Wine; $29.99, ABC Fine Wine): This has a big, juicy, ripe cherry nose on it, and I like that in a Chianti. Even though I was expecting a bigger taste, it is a nice, light cherry and is actually a medium-bodied wine with a smooth finish. It is very tasty paired with food: anything with red sauce (of course!), lamb or red meat.

2007 John Anthony Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, California ($47.99, online): This wine, from Michele and John Anthony Truchard, has a great, fragrant nose on it with deep, dark fruits. It's basically what's called a fruit bomb, and the taste follows the nose along with some leather and light spice.

The second night, after it had opened a bit more while storing in the fridge, it was brilliant (that's what my notes said). It was full, rich, strong and hard to put down, due to enjoyable dark fruits and the spice that gave it a kick. I drank it with a dinner of lamb, and the wine added depth to the meal and richness to the food's flavor. This is on my buy-again list.

2008 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, California ($35.94 online, $39.99, Total Wine): I enjoy having a wine experience start with the bottle. This wine has a beautiful label in gold and green, with the Frank family members listed on the back. It's a family-affair vineyard that started in 1992.

I opened the bottle an hour before drinking and then used an aerator, because this is a dark wine with a lot of tannins. The combo of cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot and cabernet franc needs some air. The nose had cinnamon, raspberry and strawberries, the taste included spice, figs, red cherry candy and was loamy, tasting faintly of brambles, but not in a bad way! This was a well-crafted wine from the bottle to the last drop.

2008 Girard Artistry, Napa Valley, Calif. ($33.99 online): This is a nice blend (cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petit verdot, malbec, merlot) that results in a big, deep, cherry nose. It's a purple-colored wine and tastes of blackberries, currants, some figs, plum and cocoa. I drank it with a steak dinner, and it paired beautifully, with smooth, rich flavor. It has a long finish and is a well-rounded wine. It's worth the price.

SELECTIONS FROM J. GWENDOLYNNE BERRY (DRY)

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet, Columbia Valley, Washington ($15.49 Total Wine, $16.93 Crown, $17.99 ABC): Dark fruit aromas of blackberry and black cherry greet the nose with hints of mocha and oak. On the palate, the wine is a bit of a fruit bomb with dark, ripe fruit flavors, a medium-full body, soft tannins and a bit too much alcoholic heat.

2010 Santi Moscato Montedoro, Vigneti delle dolomiti, Italy ($10 online): A bright and sunny color in the glass, with a fresh, sweet nose of candied lemon, honey and peach. On the palate, the white wine has sweet, juicy fruit flavors of nectarine, pineapple, apricot and peach with a medium body. The wine is slightly sweet but kept in balance by a nice acidity, with an off-dry finish. Simple but pleasant.

2010 Yarden Mt. Hermon Red, Galilee, Israel ($12.99 Total Wine, $14.99 Crown): A ruby color in the glass with a mild aroma of red fruit and spice. On the palate, the wine is slightly sharp with tart and sour red cherry, cranberry and currant flavors, a high acidity and soft tannins. The finish is slightly bitter. Not a wine I'd seek out.

2007 Beni di Batasiolo Barolo, Italy ($28 online): A deep garnet-purple color in the glass with aromas of plum skin, black cherry, blueberry and oak. On the palate, the tannins started out quite firm, but smoothed out quickly as the wine opened. It was very accessible for being such a young Barolo, something to drink early rather than saving too long. Not the most complex wine, but nicely balanced and enjoyable.

2010 Condes de Albarei Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain ($9 online): A straw-colored wine with a perfumey nose of white peach, citrus, apple and white flowers. On the palate, the wine tastes of white peach and melon with a medium body. The finish was quite tart and a tad unpleasant.

J. J. Vincent Cremant de Bourgogne Brut, Burgundy, France ($20 online): Made from chardonnay grapes, this is a very light sparkling wine with a soft nose of citrus, apple and white flowers. On the palate, the wine is light and soft with a nice balance of crisp acidity and fresh fruit flavors. A very pleasant sipper, great with light hors d'oeuvres or on its own.

2010 Craggy Range Te Kahu, Gimblett Gravels Vineyard, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand ($17 online): This Bordeaux blend is made from mostly merlot grapes with some cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and malbec. It's a deep purple color in the glass with aromas of dark fruit like plum, blackberry and blueberry with hints of roses and earth. On the palate, with wine displays dark fruit flavors with a medium body and a smooth mouthfeel and soft tannins. Definitely a people-pleasing wine that is pleasant and easy-going.

2007 Chamisal Vineyards Pinot Noir, Edna Valley, California ($29 online): A sweet aroma of red fruit greets the nose, full of wild cherries and raspberries with a hint of vanilla. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with juicy red fruit and vanilla flavors and soft, integrated tannins. The alcohol (14.5 percent) felt a bit too strong .

2009 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, California ($33.99 Total Wine): One of the most enjoyable pinots I've had of late, this wine is a bright cherry color in the glass with a ripe and juicy red fruit aroma of cherry, strawberry, vanilla, cinnamon and cocoa. Ripe, red fruit flavors carry through on the palate balanced by bright acidity and soft tannins. A lovely wine with nice balance.