Altos Las Hormigas Malbec 2000

Region: Argentina

Varietal: Malbec

Cost: about $10

Big wine for a little price. The Argentinians have taken one of the hohum Bordeaux blending grapes and shown what it can do with the right growing conditions and winemaking. Mouthwateringly fruity, blackberry, anise with flowers and stone fruit on the nose. Velvety going down. Perfect with grilled summer fare such as burgers, also great with burgers and by the way, absolutely awesome with…burgers.

Eyrie Pinot Gris 1998
Region: Oregon

Grape Varietal: Pinot Gris

Cost: about $15

David Lett way back in 1970 was the first to produce this varietal in the US. Hmmm, some thirty years of working with a grape has got to mean something. It does, this is considered the benchmark for PG this side of the Atlantic. Medium in body with perfectly balanced acid, this is food wine plain and simple. It's like silk charmeuse on the palate and brings to mind fresh cedar, vanilla, Asian pear and white peach. A perfect match for salmon poached in white wine.

Taurino Salice Salentino 1996

Region: Campania, Italy

Varietal: Negroamaro

Cost: about $8

This is robust and very good drinking for the price. All the south of Italy's sun seems to be bursting from the ripeness of the grapes in this bottle. This will be fantastic with grilled Italian sausage (spicy of course), marinated skirt steak or tuna with a pepper crust.

Zaca Masa 1998 Roussane Zaca Vineyards
Region: Santa Barbara, California

Grape Varietal: Rousssane and Viognier

Cost: about $12

Spicy, floral, hedonistic warmer weather wine. Clover honey, nectarine and mandarin nose balanced by some minerality on the finish. Great with fusion cuisine and some mexican dishes. Was perfect with last nights shrimp

.L. Wolf 1999 Forster Pechstein Riesling Spatlese

Region: Rheinpfalz, Germany

Varietal: Reisling

Cost: about $17

J.L Wolf is in the capable hands of Ernie Loosen (of Dr. Loosen famez). Put together a capable winemaker, good location and what do you get. Pretty darn amazing wine for the price! The slight sweetness is what makes this fragrant, pretty, hedonistic wine perfect for Asian Pacific Rim fusion cuisine, or my personal favorite, cajun BBQ wings. Prost!

Chateau Fage Graves de Vayres 2000

Region: Graves, Bordeaux,France

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon

Cost: about $10

Graves comes for the French word for Gravel. This region is more famous for it's noble reds but produces some very drinkable dry whites such as this. Crisp with s little roundness from the Semillon, it's perfect for Smoked Salmon & Goat Cheese foccacia. Throw a little fresh tarragon on there and now your talking.

Cantelle Salice Salentino 1996

Region: Apulia, Italy

Varietal: Negroamaro

Cost: about $10

Salice is a workhorse of a wine. Meaning, it will usually be consistently robust, fruity, big wine at a reasonable price. This had good fruit on the nose and was supple and balanced for the price. Picked up hints of really ripe cherries, some leather and a little wood. Fire up the grill and make burgers, throw a little Gorgonzola on there and it makes for a happy, happy kind of meal.

Paul Goerg Brut Champagne
Region: Champagne, France

Grape Varietal: Chardonnay

Cost: about $20

The best thing for a Champagne induced hangover, is more Champagne. I'm living proof of that theory today. Anyhoo, all of Paul Goerg's vineyard sites are ranked Premier and Grand Crus. Makes you wonder why it's only $20 but hey, are we going to say they should charge more for it? Get it while you can. Crisp, creamy, slightly citrusy bubbles that go perfectly with cold fried chicken. Nothing like a balanced breakfast. Seriously, great for dinner as well, shines with Asian food or lightly spiced chicken dishes.

Terre Rouge, Tête à Tête

Region: Sierra Foothills, California

Varietal: red Blend

Cost: about $11

Red wine you sip and enjoy without being analytical. "Easy drinking" as a good friend of mine would say. Grill some chicken, a simple salad, fresh bread and you're home free. Any questions? Enjoy!

Vincent Delaporte 2000 Sancerre

Region: Loire Valley, France

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

Cost: about $14

Benchmark Sancerre from a producer who knows a thing or two about making the stuff (they've been doing it for over 50 years). A refined Sancerre that smells of grass, gooseberry, herbs and must. A rich but dry feel on the palate. Perfect summer food wine. Warm toasts with chèvre served over mesclun greens with a lemon zest dressing just beg for this wine.

Nicolas Reserve Provence Rosé 1999

Region: Provence, France

Varietal: Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah

Cost: about $8

On a gray day like today, a breath of Provence is a welcomed delight. A real bouquet of Provence on the nose. It's an easy sipping, pretty, quaffing wine to enjoy with simple summer foods such as light niçoise salad, hummus and pita bread, cheese and olives.

Hardy's Botrytis Semillon 97 375ml

Region: Australia

Varietal: Semillon

Cost: about $18

This wine is a "treat yourself" and be very judicious about who you share it with kind of wine. It's hedonistically sweet and rich with fig and caramel flavors that overtake your tongue. Crème brulée anyone?

Ségries Tavel Rosé

Region: Rhône Valley, France

Varietal: Grenache and Cinsault

Cost: about $10

Balzac (the famous French writer) was a huge fan of Tavel, people suppose many of his writings were fueled by the stuff. Well, his writings are classics and so is this. Delightful wine full of berry, stone fruit and summer breeze on the palate. This is perfect picnic wine; grab a bottle, some cheese, some fruit and paté head out into the fresh air. Aaahhh.....

Fasio 1999 Insolia "Torre dei Venti"

Region: Sicily, Italy

Varietal: Insolia

Cost: $11

This wine is a great alternative to "Chardonnaire" The wine smells of hay that's baked in the sun, grass, butter and a certain hint of almond that is characteristic of the grape. It was served with a Baccalau soup (salted cod fish) and was just perfect with it. Brava!

Chivite Gran Fuedo 1997 Crianza

Region: Navarra, Spain

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

Cost: about $9

Olé! Big wine at a little price. Vino with gusto it brings to mind really ripe juicy red fruit, spice and the presence of a matador staring down a bull. Don't even bother messing around with chicken. This is beef wine. Grill some steaks, pour yourself a glass (or two) and get a whole new perspective on Spain.

Hardy's Botrytis Semillon 1997

Region: Australia

Varietal: Semillon

Cost: $18 375ml

Liquid love. Rich, unctuous, hedonistic wine. This wine has Cardamom, fig, currants and Irish dairy cream on the nose and palate. A complex and elegant body that finishes very well balanced. Perfect with vanilla crème brulée or on it's own with a piece of fantastic blue cheese.

Fife Vineyards 2000 Redhead Rosé

Region: Redwood Valley,Mendocino, California

Varietal: Carignane, Sangiovese and Syrah

Cost: $15

The jewel-like color of this wine is almost enough for me to love it just for that. Imagine pale pink rubies in a glass. The nose smells of pomegranite, Herbs de Provence and wild raspberries. The taste is a blend of those with some Watermelon slightly reminiscent of Jolly Rancher. A cheerful wine, perfect for this dreary weather. Serve as a pre-dinner sipper or with Thai peanut rock shrimp.

Hill of Content "Benjamin Blend"

Region: Western Australia

Varietal: Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc

Cost: $15

Perfect for summer. Flavors of grapefruit, hay, white peach and herbs waft up from the glass. Great balance and acidity making me think this would be perfect with food. Large grilled scallops or crab cakes would be perfect with this very tasteful wine.

Boekenhoutskloof Farms

Porcupine Ridge 2000 Syrah

Varietal: Syrah

Region: Franschoek , Western Cape, South Africa

Cost: About $12

In your glass you will find an iron hand in a velvet glove. A nose of dried cherries, caramel, white pepper and a bit of anise seed is a preview of the sip to come. On your palate you'll find rich, red, fruity, juicy, smoky fruit that begs for cracked pepper crusted baby lamb chops on the grill. A tremendous value and perfect for entertaining large groups.

Woodhall Wine Cellars Cab Blanc 1998

Region: Baltimore County North, Maryland

Varietal: Cabernet Franc

Cost: about $9

As the weather warms up, thoughts turn to wines perfect for summer entertaining. Al Copp (owner and winemaker) understands food and that comes through loud and clear in his wine. With a nose of mushroom, spring cherries and wet leather it's a dry wine but with balanced acidity that makes it perfect with many summer foods. Picnic fare, fried chicken, smoked salmon even sweet Barbecue would work.

Hill of Content 1999 Grenache Shiraz

Region: Clare Valley, Australia

Varietal: Grenache, Shiraz

Cost: $15

"Hill of Content is supposed to be the wine that reflects a perfect state of mind. I can tell you that it put me in a pretty pleasant mood. Delicious, rich, red, forward fruit. Great acidity and balance with a lengthy finish. This is not an intellectual wine, this is "G'day" in a glass. Perfect for smokey, sweet red BBQ sauce covered ribs.

Washington Hills Dry Chenin Blanc 1999

Region: Washington, US

Varietal: Chenin Blanc

Cost: $8

"Crisp and clean with no caffeine…" only kidding. Seriously though, this is light, crisp and clean tasting wine. The perfect quaffing wine. Honey, dried apricots, fresh white peach. It's perfect wine for light fare such as pasta with shrimp and a lemon cream sauce.

Goats du Rhône

Region: South Africa

Varietal: Pinotage, Cinsault, Grenache, Shiraz, Carigniane, Mourvedre

Cost: $8

Nothing like a four day weekend to put you in a good mood in the morning. This South African blend of Rhone varietals is fragrant, rich and easy sipping. Nothing cerebral to mull over, just a very tasty wine. Grilled spicy italian sausage and fresh salad from the garden. Perfect.

Gibault 2000 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Loire, France

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

Cost: $8

Racy is a word that comes to mind when I sip this wine. Crisp, herbaceous with a lot of grapefruit on the nose. A great weekend white because it will work with or without food. Very refreshing, perfectly delightful with goat stuffed ravioli in a pesto sauce.

Nominee Cabernet Pasa Robles 1998

Region: Paso Robles, California

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

Cost: $8

Paso Robles is a location you need to keep your eye out for, this AVA is one of the places you can still find value and excellent fruit concentration in California. Bright, forward fruit with a touch of toffee and spice on the nose. Smooth, supple and drinking very nicely. Burgers are a no brainer.

Chateau Haut Maillet Pomerol 1998

Region: Bordeaux, France

Varietal: Merlot and Cabernet Franc

Cost: $40

Ever wondered what all the fuss is about with Bordeaux? Treat yourself to a bottle of this and you may begin to get a clearer picture. Pomerol, home to the famed Petrus wines also has a few bargains to be had, this being one of them. It's chewy now, perfect for seared prime rib. There is loads of black cherry, violets, and a hint of coffee on the nose but, to really see its true beauty you need some patience. Buy two, one for now, and a second to see how it evolved in oh...5-7 years.