Every fall, we jump back into the same hectic routine. School is back in full swing, work is heating up and the weather is cooling down. There are some evenings when trying to navigate rush- hour traffic to make it home in time to prepare a home-cooked meal just isn’t in the cards. That’s when we run up the white flag and surrender to the siren call of carryout pizza and a good bottle of wine.

While we may not always agree on the type of pizza we like to unwind with, we do agree on three simple rules for “pizza wines.” The wine should be able to mix and mingle with a variety of toppings, it has to cost $20 or less, and it should be easy to find in local wine shops. So in an attempt to help reduce the stress of having to make one more decision at the end of a busy day, we offer our annual picks for the perfect wines to go with pizza. Retail prices are approximate.