Aerating has an affect on the tannins in a red wine that mellows out the flavor and allows the distinctive characteristics of the wine to come forth. Aerating simply means exposing the wine to air and it is a practice that has been done ever since the first bottle was uncorked.

Give the wine a break and let it air out a bit

Perhaps you’ve heard of “resting” the wine. This simply means uncorking a bottle and letting it sit so it has a chance to mix with the air. Actually it means more than that. Simply uncorking a bottle and setting it aside is going to accomplish nothing. Think about it for a second. You have this big bottle of wine and this relatively small opening at the top. Just how much air do you think that wine is exposed to?

There are a couple of methods you can choose from to properly “rest” or aerate your next bottle of vino.

Fancy or plain the choice is yours

The first is the age old practice of decanting. Now you can go out and purchase a fine crystal decanter to accomplish this task or you can use the pitcher you normally use to keep orange juice in. The idea here is to put the wine in a container that allows maximum surface exposure to the air. You can be as fancy or as plain as you like when aerating using this method. However if you’re having guests over, it might be nice to use an attractive decanter rather than an empty coffee can even if the can “good to the last drop” printed on the side.

Another method is to aerate the wine directly in the wine glass. This eliminates the need for a decanter and also adds a certain flair to the place setting if you’re having the wine with a meal.

Remember wine does not have a head on it like beer. There is no need to pour the wine down the side of the wine glass. Rather pour it directly in the center and allow a good 6 inches of “fall” (distance between the bottom of the class and the mouth of the bottle) to encourage aeration.

The downside of traditional wine aerating

Both these methods are time tested with the operative word being time. Using either of these traditional methods can take up to 20 minutes to correctly aerate wine.

That brings us to the third and best choice, the wine aerator. This handy gadget aerates the wine as soon as you pour the wine through it. It’s small, attractive and a great way to impress your less knowledgeable friends. And best of all it works! Using a Venturi type of action the wine aerator is able to embed the air directly into the wine allowing for its full flavor and characteristics to come out. Simply hold the aerator over the wine glass and pour.

Even if it’s just a casual gathering and your guests are sitting on kitchen bar stools at the kitchen divider they are going to be impressed with your sophistication and wine knowledge. Just make sure you’re pouring something that cost more than $2.95 a bottle.

Speaking of being impressed, if you’re on a budget and the kitchen counter is your main dining surface, dress it up with a Hillsdale bar stool. Dressing up your space with attractive and comfortable seating and then wowing your guests with the wine aerator will make what is an essentially low budget event seem absolutely chic.

Author Bio

A resident of Boston, David Dawson is a full time organic chemist who loves to spend his off time entertaining friends and family along with his wife and three kids. David turned his love for social gatherings into a great side business when he created a website dedicated to providing everything you could possibly want to know about bar stools

Join the International Wine of the Month Club Here

Wine of the Month Club History

The story of the Wine of the Month club is as spicy as a good Malbec. The founder of the Wine of the Month Club’s, Paul Kalemkiarian Sr., came to the United States way back in 1949 to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Southern California. Mr. Kalemkiarian earned his bachelor’s degree in Pharmacognosy at the University of Cairo in Egypt.

It seems Pharmacognosy would have to wait — after getting involved in the pharmacy business (buying and selling more than a dozen pharmacies), Paul made what would be his last purchase, a pharmacy that came with a liquor store attached. Named Palos Verdes Wines and Spirits, this small liquor store project would become one of the top wine shops in Southern California during the 60s and early 70s, and it was at that wine shop in 1972 that the idea of a monthly wine club came to be.

Owning a wine shop means putting wine in the hands of your customers, so when a customer needed advice on a wine purchase, Paul Kalemkiarian Sr. would direct them to the monthly selections he had on display. This monthly group of wines changed at the beginning of each month, so customers would constantly be trying new vintages, new varietals, and new labels. It was only a matter of time before customers started to demand that they have their monthly selections delivered directly to their homes. Paul Kalemkiarian Jr., recently licensed to sell wine, started making monthly deliveries of Paul Sr.’s wine selections, making the rounds in his delivery truck crammed with wine bottles.

By the end of the 1970s, Paul Kalemkiarian Sr. was ready to leave the retail business, selling off his pharmacies one by one. Even Palos Verdes Wines and Spirits was sold, but due to some management problems, the shop closed within a few months. Luckily, Paul Kalemkiarian Sr. was smart enough to retain rights to the mail order business, having trademarked the name “Wine of the Month Club.” With no retail pharmacy or liquor store business to get in the way, Kalemkiarian Sr. started the Wine of the Month Club as a freestanding business. For nearly ten years, the Wine of the Month Club was the only wine mail order service in the country.

In 1989, Paul Kalemkiarian Sr. sold the Wine of the Month Club to his son, Paul Kalemkiarian Jr, the ex delivery boy. Kalemkiarian Jr. waited about six months to make his own career change, purchasing the business from his father. Paul Kalemkiarian Jr. continues the tradition of his father, tasting between 300 and 400 wines a month, appraising them in terms of quality and value, and selecting only four (two reds and two whites) for each of the Wine of the Month Club’s three series of monthly selections.

Wine of the Month Club Details

The original Wine of the Month Club is still one of the best deals you can get — for starters, there is no “membership fee” or other hidden fee. Your membership in the Wine of the Month Club is easy to cancel, and the company guarantees that you’ll never pay more than $19.85 a month for two bottles of wine, which ships with the company’s famous “wine letter” describing and rating the wine. Best of all, if you don’t like a wine, you don’t have to pay for it. If you have a bottle shipped to you that is damaged or has been improperly stored, Wine of the Month Club is happy to replace the bottle or reimburse the cost.

There are three levels of membership at the Wine of the Month Club. The Classic Series membership contains two bottles of wine as selected by Paul Kalemkiarian Jr. from a massive collection of about 400 bottles tasted a month. According to the Wine of the Month Club, only about 15% of wines tasted end up on the Wine of the Month Club list. The next step up, the Vintner Series, promises wines from the best winemaking regions on Earth, and most of the time contains one domestic bottle and one international bottle per month. The high end Wine of the Month Club series is called the Limited Series, and promises to ship two “super premium” wines to you, one red and one white, for just under $40 a month.

Though the Wine of the Month Club cannot guarantee the Wine Spectator or Robert Parker ratings for its wines, the tasting process that lands a given wine at your doorstep guarantees that you’re drinking the best of the best wines that Wine of the Month Club comes across. While many of the wines that end up in your shipment will be rated in the highs 80s and 90s (as arbitrary a thing as wine ratings are, many customers find them important) but some labels are small “finds” that may not even get attention at the national level. In general, the highest rated wines will be available at the Limited Series level, but that doesn’t mean the wines in the Classic Series are anything to sniff at. Rather than focus on what some wine snob thinks of the bottles the WOTM Club is sending you, sit back and enjoy the wines for yourself.

Wine of the Month Club Coupons

There’s usually a promo code or two available for your Wine of the Month Club purchase. Currently, by entering the coupon code “Review”, you get an automatic $10 off your purchase. Wine of the Month Club displays the currently valid promo code on their website, right next to a handful of links to reviews of their service. Check it out here.

Another way to save yourself a lot of money with the WOTM club — ordering multiple months in advance. You don’t need a coupon to get free shipping on your Wine of the Month Club order for a year, just pay 12 months in advance (at a discounted rate of just $36.95 a month) and you’ll never pay a dime for shipping.

See their website for information on joining the Wine of the Month Club or giving a club membership as a gift.

Wine of the Month Club Availability

Not everyone in America has the ability to join the Wine of the Month Club. In fact, Wine of the Month Club is prohibited from shipping to quite a few US states. Twenty American states limit the participation in wine clubs, including Texas, most of New England and the Eastern Seaboard, and many states in the South. To check your Wine of the Month Club eligibility, check out their handy map here.

Wine of the Month Club Shipping Charges

Though the Classic Series membership for the Wine of the Month Club costs less than $20 a month, the shipping charges on something as fragile as wine will naturally be higher than shipping a book or other item. You can expect to pay between $9 and $26 a month, depending on what part of the country the Wine of the Month Club will be delivering to. Generally, the closer you are to Southern California, the less you’ll pay for shipping. The highest shipping rates are in Alaska and Hawaii, both of which will cost you over $25 in shipping costs. Still, two specially selected bottles of wine per month delivered for between $29 and $50 is a good bargain.

Is the Wine of the Month Club worth it?

If you are the type of oenophile that likes wine from lots of different sources, Wine of the Month Club is certainly worth the cost. For less than $50 including shipping (less in some areas of the country) you can have two surprise bottles of red or white wine sent to your doorstep a month. On the other hand, some wine lovers have wine shops they deal exclusively with — that wine shop knows their tastes, their budget, and some customers prefer the intimacy of a relationship with a wine merchant. People who have to get their hands on their wine before they buy it probably won’t like the “surprise” element of the Wine of the Month Club.

If you are located close to Southern California, your shipping costs will be low enough to really make the Wine of the Month Club a good deal. And of course, if someone gives you the gift of the Wine of the Mont Club, you’re getting two free bottles of wine (hand selected by a wine expert) at no cost to you. I can’t think of a better value than that.

There are many “wine of the month” imitators, from region specific wine clubs to “gourmet” wine selection services, but Wine of the Month Club is a true original. For more information on the Wine of the Month Club, check out their FAQ or if you’re ready, go ahead and join the club.

You may also be interested in one of these wine topics:

• What Is a Wine of the Month Club?
• When Did the California Wine Industry Begin?
• How Do You Buy Wine Glasses?
• How to Taste Wine

Yet over the past several years, there has been a growing interest in wines. It is not just for a select privileged few. More and more people are letting their taste buds experience the different vintages. The growing interest has even sparked numerous wine blogs.

Wine blogs cover everything from different labels, to which wines had a good year, to where you can get some affordable deals on a good bottle.  Here is a list of some wine blogs for anyone wanting to know more about this wonderful drink of the gods.

Some Good Wine Blogs

The Wine Spies – The Wine Spies is a fun but very informative blog that critiques different wines from several vineyards. The blog is written like a mission file for a spy. For every wine reviewed, the blog names the mission, the agent, the objective, the current wine and winery, and the wine maker. After conducting a tasting of the wine (that also involves look, smell, and feel) a mission report is written that gives the conclusion of the mission.

Some of the wines that are reviewed in their ‘missions’ are 2004 Frazier Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 Burgess Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Dry Creek Vineyard Somers Ranch Zinfadel, and more.

Wine Girl – Written by a couple in Cincinnati, this blog mainly focuses on local wine events in that area. They have a Wine Trail that has a list of area wineries along with wine tastings for every night of the weekend. The blog even has an events calendar. The couple has some experience with wines as they have been judges for several wine tasting competitions. One of the interesting items about the blog is the wine rating scale. It is a series of smiley face icons that range from a happy face for wines that they loved to a sour face for wines that they didn’t like at all.

Steve Heimoff – This blog is written by a wine aficionado who has written two books, A Journey Along the Russian River and New Classic Winemakers of California. Heimoff is also the West Coast Editor of Wine Enthusiasts magazine. He has been writing about wines since 1989 and has been involved in the industry as an educational speaker, hosting wine seminars, reviews, and marketing. His blog probably has everything you could want to know about wine. He writes about types of wines, sales, shipping, packaging, wineries, and events.

Wanderer Wines – Here is an interesting blog that centers on a different part of the world. Wanderer Wines is a blog dedicated to the wine industry of South Africa. While South Africa may not be France, the industry there is doing well as the climate and conditions are similar to that of California. The site has a lot of local information which is only helpful if you live or are traveling to South Africa in the near future. But the blog also has a wine educational section that features articles on food pairing and reviews of international wine events. There are also reviews of local vintages that are an interesting read.

Wine Lovers Page – Credited as the oldest and largest wine site on the Internet, it is the definitive authority on wines. If you can’t find it here, it probably doesn’t exist. They have articles for beginners such as how to properly taste wines and what makes a good wine. There is a whole section with several chapters on wine education. They take you from the origins of wine to the current wine makers in the U.S. There is an extensive list of wine tasting notes from all over the world. If you have any questions, there is a section where you can ask a wine expert or join in on a forum discussion.

About.com’s Wine Blog – About.com is a large and resourceful site full of useful information. They have a pretty decent blog section for wine. There are articles on the basics of wine as well as introductions to red wine and white wine. The blog covers information that is suitable for beginners. There are videos on how wine is made, how to store and serve wine, wine tasting, and buying wine. The blog also has recipes for sangrias and reviews on various wines.

Wine Welfare – Advertised as “Wine Suggestions for the Fiscally Challenged”, this blog is mostly all reviews on wines that have a great taste and an affordable price tag. Nothing reviewed is over $20. The articles are all written in ‘layman’s terms’ so that you don’t have to be a true wine expert in order to read and understand it. But the reviews are pretty extensive as far as covering a wide variety of wines. And no boxes were reviewed.

Serious About Wine – This blog is a little different from the other wine blogs. It focuses more on wine marketing, packaging, and design. The categories for the blog cover everything from Innovation, Branding, Jobs, Label Design, and such, it is interesting to see what the latest trends are in the market today. This blog really is for someone who is in the wine business or maybe thinking about getting into it. Still good reading, though.

Bordeaux Undiscovered – This site is simple to navigate but has a very wide range of wine-related topics. He writes about everything to do with the industry from news, different wine maker profiles, wine reviews, wine history, and even some really good recipes that go well with wine. The best thing about this site is the writer gives so much background into early wine makers and how their labels came about.

Vinography: A Wine Blog – Vinography is a popular blog created by a man named Alder Yarrow. He has been proclaimed as the pioneer of wine blogs. Vinography was started in 2003 and has been going strong since. The site gives wine reviews, articles about wine events, wine bars and restaurants of the San Francisco area, and so much more. A really great source if looking for a review about a particular wine.

What is the Mediterranean diet?

The Mediterranean diet is not like the Adkins diet or the Skinny Bitch diet — there is no text to read or prescribed rules to follow. In fact, when people say they’re “on the Mediterranean diet” you may be surprised to learn what exactly they’re consuming. Rather than concentrating on eating a certain number of calories, a certain number of meals, or buying expensive pre fabricated meals from a diet system, these people are simply eating the way that people who live in the Mediterranean have eaten for hundreds of years. Specifically, people on “the Mediterranean diet” mimic the way that the people of Greece eat.

Why do they do this? It has become apparent that people who follow the diet of the Greeks tend to live longer. In fact, the people in the world with the longest life span are people who live on the islands surrounding Greece.

Among the thousands of popular fad diets and diet books available to the consumer, the Mediterranean diet is considered heart healthy as well as easy to eat — put simply, the foods you eat on the Mediterranean diet are good. What is it about the Mediterranean diet’s menu that makes it so healthy? You will often hear people suggest that the amount of red wine consumed in parts of Europe makes for healthier hearts, while others place emphasis on consuming good quality olive oils.

A study released Tuesday in the British Medical Journal attempted to answer this question once and for all. Doctors and researchers from Harvard the University of Athens Medical School in Greece looked at the diets and health statistics of more than 20,000 Greek men and women participating in a study known as the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Over the course of about eight and a half years, the doctors (led by Harvard’s Dimitrios Trichopoulos and the University of Athens’ Antonia Trichopoulou) compared the relative health of the study’s participants against that patient’s diet — how “Mediterranean” was the diet, and what exactly was it made up of?

What the study found was that certain foods on the Mediterranean menu offer the majority of the nutritional benefits, and that some long held beliefs about the Mediterranean diet may need to be re-evaluated.

According to the study’s author, the date collected indicates that the dominant health components of the Mediterranean diet are “moderate consumption of alcohol, low consumption of red meats, and high consumption of vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts, and olive oil” are the keys to Mediterranean longevity. While some had suggested that the Greeks’ high consumption of fish, cereals and grains, and a general avoidance of dairy have little to do with their long lives, contradicting what many experts once believed.

Of course, no single study (regardless its length) should be taken as God’s own truth. In responding to the study, one researcher suggested that “examining the Mediterranean diet food by food may not be the best approach.” The Mediterranean diet’s benefit may come from a combination of foods and eating habits, a “diet pattern” that contributes to heart health and longevity as a unit, not as individual pieces in a puzzle. A researcher from Yale, responding to the publication of the study, suggests that “Once you have a mostly plant based diet and eat few processed foods, almost any variation on the theme will be fine.” The suggestion here is that the Mediterranean diet is healthy for what it doesn’t contain as much as what it does.

What to avoid? The Mediterranean diet is basically free from red meat protein and high amounts of sugars and preservatives.

So now that you’re ready to live long and prosper, like the Greeks, how can you use the study’s findings to improve your diet? To live by the Mediterranean diet means to eat large amounts of certain foods.

Fish and Seafood

While researchers are not in agreement about seafood’s ability to contribute to a longer life, some suggest that the health benefits of consuming seafood may be tied directly to two factors — the “fattiness” of the fish and the way it is prepared. Believe it or not, a “fatty” fish can help lower cholesterol, as long as it isn’t deep fried.

Olive Oil

This versatile oil is widely used in Mediterranean style cooking, in fact, olive oil has become a symbol for the Mediterranean diet as a whole. While Greece is not the only nation that consumes a large amount of olive oil, they are one of the largest consumers and producers of the product, and eating larger amounts of good quality olive oil along with the other foods in the diet appears to improve your cardiac health and contribute to a longer life.

The healthy reputation of olive oil may be justified, as the authors of the new study into the Mediterranean diet have found that this component of the Greek diet appears to contain much of that diet’s health benefits.

Why? Olive oil is rich in something called monounsaturated fat. This is a fat that scientists believe can lower your total cholesterol and has special impact on the levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood — this is the “bad” cholesterol we’re all trying to avoid.

Of course, consuming too much olive oil is just as bad as not consuming enough healthy fat — pouring the stuff all over your food is definitely too much of a good thing.

Don’t forget that olive oil has just as many calories per gram as unhealthy fats. Olive oil does not contain cholesterol that will clog your arteries, but it will almost certainly have a negative impact on your weight should you become too fond of it.

Alcohol

This one is controversial. While some researchers suggest that moderate intake of alcohol contributes to heart health and longevity, others suggest that individuals who consume only a moderate amount of alcohol are healthier to begin with than people who may consume larger quanitities. Regardless of where your opinion lies, it is no secret that the Greeks love their wine.

The debate over what place alcoholic beverages should hold in a healthy diet has been going on for decades. First alcohol was bad, then it was good, now its bad again. Who can you trust?

According to the new study into the Meditteranean diet, a moderate level of alcohol consumption (in Greece this traditionally comes from red wine) appears to have a protective effect against heart disease. That’s right — according to these doctors and researchers, having your glass a day could keep the cardiologist away.

In fact, one doc who participated in the study had this to say about the impact of alcohol on the Mediterranean diet — ” . . . of all the components in the diet, the strongest association [with positive health] was regarding protection from moderate alcohol.”

How does this work? Doctors believe that resveratrol — a compound found in grapes, wine made from grapes, fruits like pomegranates and a few other purple colored foods — is the chemical in some alcohols that has a positive effect on heart health. But along with the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption come some dangers. We all know that too much alcohol can have a devestating impact on heart health, as well as put extra weight on our bodies and potentially damage our livers and internal organs.

So unless you can control your drinking it would be best to skip the bottle and reach for a glass of water.

Fruits and Veggies

Your mother was right. Eating your fruits and veggies can be a major factor in living a long and healthy life.

This fact was verified by the researchers into the Greek diet. In fact, the veggie and fruit heavy meals and snacks of the Mediterranean diet are responsible for a great deal of that diet’s positive health impact.

The more fruits and vegetables in your diet the healthier you will be. Food that comes out of the ground is simply healthier for us than any other food. Fruits and vegetables are full of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants. It seems new research appears daily to verify what we already knew about natural foods. The Mediterranean diet suggests that we eat these foods every day, ideally that means consuming at least one fresh fruit or veggie at every meal.

Besides what they contain, fruits and veggies are another healthy food for what they do not have — few calories. Besides absorbing healthy amounts of water and fiber, fruits and veggies are more filling than other heavily caloric foods and fit better into a low calorie diet. Layman’s terms — you can eat more of them without feeling guilty.

The Question of Dairy

Probably even more controversial than the role of alcohol in the Mediterranean diet is the question of dairy. Many doctors are concerned that people avoiding dairy here in America (for health reasons and as part of fad anti dairy diets) is contributing to an epidemic of diseases related to a lack of calcium, such as osteoporosis, broken hips, and other calcium deficiencies. In the Mediterranean diet, dairy products are generally very scarce. Thankfully, according to the new research into the way Greeks eat, doctors don’t feel that the lack of dairy contributed either way to the Greek’s relative health.

If you are going to consume dairy, reach for low fat dairy products. Remember that avoiding dairy altogether could be a dangerous decision. You don’t want to deal with brittle bones later in life.

Nuts and Seeds

The final aspect of the Mediterranean diet that seems to contribute strongly to its success was the presence of large amounts of nuts and seeds.

Nuts and seeds offer a healthy source of unsaturated fatty acids, specific nuts like almonds and walnuts offer a wealth of nutrients including calcium potassium and fiber.

Almonds and walnuts are favorites in the Greek diet, and both have been tied to better heart health through research.

Just like other facets of the Mediterranean diet, nuts and seeds are healthy for what they don’t contain as much as what they do — these foods tend to be free of “bad” fats, as well as sugars and salts if they are properly prepared.

Is the Mediterranean diet for you? If you’re looking to extend your life, increase your heart health, and enjoy the food you’re eating while you do it, the Mediterranean diet is one of the only “diets” approved across the board by doctors. If you don’t think you can handle cutting out red meat, and depending more on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats for your calories, you may be better off with a fad diet. After all, if you don’t like what you’re eating, you won’t stick to the diet.

A side note — you won’t find many pinot noir wines on this list. I simply haven’t found many solid pinots for under $40 or $50 dollars — there are cheap pinots on the market, but they all seem watered down and fairly flavorless. Having said that, there are plenty of good, cheap red wines to be found on this list. Enjoy.

Best overall good cheap wines

These are my choices for the the top wines available for under $20 — all varietals considered. Stock these sixteen wines and you’ll have a wine for any occasion, all at great prices. To keep you in anticipation, I’ll save the best for last.

1. 2005 Te Kairanga Sauvignon Blanc ($12.99) – This would have been a list of 15 if not for this little stunner of a Sauv blanc — not normally a varietal I really enjoy. I simply had to add this wine for its low cost and big payoff. This New Zealand white is straw colored and heavily floral, with notes of passionfruit and lime. The flavor lingers in your mouth in a way you just don’t expect for a wine under $50. If you’ve never tried a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, this is a great starter, and at just under $13 you can’t go wrong.
2. 2004 Dry Creek Vineyard Zinfandel Heritage ($7.99 – $12.99) – Described by most reviewers as an “old school” Zin, this Sonoma masterpiece would be a steal for triple the price. Peppery, spicy, and featuring slight blackberry floral notes, this inky purple wine is what a Zinfandel ought to be — bright, long, and juicy. Avoids the “jammy” flavors of some of the newer style Zinfandels.
3. 2005 Beckmen Vineyards Cuvee Le Bec ($16) – A red blend from California’s Central Coast in the style of classic Rhone reds, this blend has an amazing array of flavors to offer — from woody and leathery to smoky and slightly fruity.
4. 2004 Domaine Larochette-Manciat Pouilly-Vinzelles Les Longeays ($15.99) – A value wine from Burgundy, this white is a bright straw color (a good quality in most white wines) with a unique aroma — almost all mineral and almond, with no fruit “nose” whatsoever. The mineral notes continue upon tasting, although there is a slightly “citrus” quality to the flavor. This wine will be a conversation piece among your wine loving friends — and they’ll probably choke when they learn how little you paid for it.
5. 2004 Toad Hollow Merlot Reserve Richard McDowell Vineyard ($19.99) – Merlot has a “bad boy” reputation in America — the wine snob main character of the wine obsessed film Sideways famously refused to drink Merlot, and many of my friends who enjoy wine shy away from this often complex red. Plummy aroma and flavor, fruitier than many merlots, and with a texture like silk, this Merlot refuses to be ignored.
6. 2003 Herdade do Meio Alentejano Garrafeira $20 – Unfortunately, this great cheap wine is not easy to find in the US — don’t let that stop you from trying to track it down online or from a collector. This is a red blend from Portugal that is worth well more than its $20 price tag. An earthy and spicy aroma leads to a surprisingly fruity palate — “fruit forward” as wine collectors say — and heavy tannins. Considered a “table wine” in Portugal, this is an entry level red blend that will please any lover of red wines.
7. 2004 Chateau Falfas Bordeaux ($19.99) – Take a whiff of this Bordeaux’s aroma, and you’ll be blasted with notes of candied strawberry and cherry. The flavor is similar in the mouth, with just a hint of cedar. Considered a “new world Bordeaux” by wine know-it-alls, this is a French Bordeaux that American palates can agree with.
8. NV Soligo Prosecco Brut ($15.99) – No bitterness to this Prosecco — just creamy lemon and citrus and an elegant bubble shape. Gentler than a typical sparkling wine, this is a perfect label for your next celebration.
9. 2006 Handley Pinot Noir Rose ($18) – A bone dry alternative to sweet white wines, this Rose (made from stately Pinot Noir grapes) will win you over with aroma and flavors of strawberry and raspberry. The major complaint about Rose wines is that they don’t pair too well with food — this elegant Rose is an exception to that rule. At $18, don’t be afraid to serve this unique Rose with your next meal.
10. 2003 Chateau Coupe-Roses Minervois Cuvee Vignals ($16) -A blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan, this red stands up to the strongest food flavors you can throw at it. Pairs perfectly with beef — blackberry flavor, with herbal notes and a slight sweetness that surprised the hell out of me. I hear the $16 price tag I attribute to this wine can be cut by as much as half if you dig about online. An amazing value red wine.
11. 2005 Sineann Gewurztraminer Resonance Vineyard ($16)- I am not a fan of Gewurztraminer as a rule — most varieties of this German white are simply too sweet for my taste. But this release from Oregon made me do a double take. Super spicy and dry, with just a touch of fruit, I had to check the label again to make sure I was drinking a Gewurz. Looking for a white wine that’ll stun those who may shy away from whites? This aromatic white from the Willamette Valley will blow them away.
12. 2006 Bodega Renacer Malbec Punto Final ($13.99) -Malbec is quickly becoming a popular varietal in the United States — I have seen more wine bars and restaurants offering this unique grape in the last two years than ever before. Originally used in France as a blending grape, the varietal has caught on in Argentina where it flourishes. This release is fruity without being sweet, and the aromas are all leather and anise seed. Earthy and even a bit mineral, this is a complex wine, even for a Malbec, and should be enjoyed all on its own — no need to pair with food. Never tried a wine from Argentina before? This is a great bottle to start with.
13. 2004 Sandoval Cabernet Sauvignon ($11.99) -The least expensive of my favorite 16 wine values, this extraordinary Cab tastes like a $40 or $50 wine — stock up on as much of this as you can find, as it is becoming less available since its appearance on just about everyone’s “great wine values” list. Dark chocolate flavors tease your tongue, and after a moment you catch the berry, pepper, and vanilla notes hinted at in the aroma. A perfect Cabernet in my opinion.
14. Cameron Hughes Lot 25 Carneros Sparkling Wine ($20) -A sparkler from Sonoma, California, this wine raced to the top of my “top 16″ list with its impressive drinkability. I prefer bubbly on the dry side, and this wine does not disappoint, although there’s a touch of sweetness to ensure that all your guests will enjoy. Sweet apple flavor matches with an amazing golden color that must be seen to be believed — pick up a case of this for your next party and impress your guests.
15. 2000 Royal Tokaji Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos Red Label ($20) -Perhaps the strangest wine on the top 16 budget wine list, this wine from Hungary surprised me with orange, honey, and even brandy notes on the nose. Flavor was similar in the mouth, with just a bit of acidity and sweetness. Looking for a wine to impress your wine snob friends? I can almost assure you they’ve never heard of this label.
16. 2004 Escafeld Petit Verdot, ($19.95) -Though not made from a well known varietal in the United States, this wine could change all that. Made in California (where the climate allows the picky Peit Verdot grapes to ripen perfectly late in the season) this is a robust and punch-you-in-the-face red. The aroma of coffee and chocolate must be experienced to be believed — and the flavors of blackberry are well balanced in acidity to keep this wine from being too fruity. I would drink this wine every day of my life if I could find enough of it . . .

Best good, cheap sparkling wines and champagnes

Believe it or not, there are some great tasting bubblies to be had for less than $20. Here are ten great celebration wines that won’t put a dent in your party budget.

1. Roederer Estate Brut, Anderson Valley (Around $20) – One of the pricier “budget” sparklers on our list, this is a delicious California wine that hits your palate with a toasty and nutty flavor before the flavors of citrus and pear wash over your tongue. Roederer is best known for making the celebrity bubbly of choice — “Cristal”, which retails for around $300. In a way, when you drink this budget champagne, you’ll be living the rock star lifestyle at a rock bottom price.
2. Argyle 2000 Brut ($16) -This bubbly sets the standard for budget champagnes in America — this wine features those much sought after “tiny bubbles” with flavors of citrus and green apple. Don’t let the price fool you — this is a sophisticated wine, only slightly sweet with a fruit tone.
3. Non Vintage Barefoot Bubbly California Premium Extra Dry ($9) -A very popular California vintner — Barefoot makes a sweet chardonnay blend champagne that somehow manages to also come across as incredibly dry on the palate. A crowd pleaser, this sparkler features flavors of bread, honey, and citrus. With a cute label and a name like “Barefoot”, both the wine and the label will be a big hit at your next party.
4. Mumm Napa Brut Prestige, Napa Valley ($16) – This is a straight up budget champagne, well worth the less than $20 price tag. Crisp and dry with a gentle sparkle, you and you guests will enjoy the aroma of citrus and melon.
5. Gruet Brut Blanc de Blancs ($13) -I live in New Mexico, and have the privilege of living near many of the wineries producing solid vino from this non traditional “wine state”. Gruet is getting a ton of buzz in the wine world for their range of sparkling wines, and this affordable sparkler is an exceptional example of the “Blanc de Blancs” tradition. Enjoy this wine’s mature taste (for flavor, think pear, apple and hazelnut) for under $15.
6. Korbel Sparkling Natural Chardonnay ($12.99) -Chardonnay-exclusive champagne is a relatively new category in sparkling wine – since Chardonnay is “America’s favorite wine”, it is natural for a company to use the singular grape varietal to make an outstanding champagne. This is another very “drinkable” bubbly, though wine snobs will say its a bit too sweet. Avoid this wine if you prefer more “dry” wines.
7. Veuve Clicquot Non Vintage Brut Yellow Label ($34) – This is a bit out of our “budget range” — but if you’re willing to make a small splurge, this is an excellent champagne to venture out for. Veuve Clicquot is smooth and creamy at first taste with that classic toasty champagne finish. If you’re generally put off by the sweetness of champagne, this is a good choice, as it is also not too “dry” for the novice champagne drinker.
8. Freixenet Brut Nature ($9) – In Spain, sparkling wine is called “cava”, and Spanish sparklers are usually terrific values. I picked Freixenet because their line of cavas is exceptional, and for less than a ten spot you can pick up this very dry and smooth bubbly, with what wine connoissuers call “a mineral complexity.”
9. Martini & Rossi Prosecco ($12.99) – The Italian version of champagne is called “prosecco” and is less “bubbly” than most sparkling wines. A gentle bubbly wine, Martini & Rossi’s prosecco is a very “drinkable” wine with a clean and crisp finish. The flavors found here are a mix of bread and peach, apple, and melon. Surprise your guests with a less traditional “prosecco” toast at a great price.
10. Cook’s Grand Reserve California Champagne (Approx. $5) – Not only the cheapest on this list, but also likely the most “drinkable” budget sparkler — I often find this beauty on sale for as little as $2.50 a bottle. Perfect to buy in bulk for large parties and suitable for those who fear champagne, this wine is dry with a mild fruit flavor and overtones of vanilla.

Good, cheap European-style red blends

A great way to find an awesome deal on a red wine is to look for a European-style red wine blend — that is, a wine composed of many different grapes. These are incredibly tasty, and many of them are great deals at twice the price.

1. Cousino-Macul 2004 Finis Terrae ($18) – This Cab and Merlot blend from Chile will knock your socks off with flavor and aroma. From cherry and vanilla to oak and plum, its all here. Aromas of herbs and black currant entice you to drink up. An amazing and complex blend, this wine is a steal at just under $20.
2. 2003 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ($22) -This was not a great year for the grapes that go into this blend — the result is a severely “alcohol” taste that almost overpowers the typical red blend flavors of blackberry, currant, and dark berries. Even through the alcoholic flavor, the aroma and mouth feel are well worth the cost of this wine. A unique blend meant to be drunk as soon as possible.
3. Martin & Weyrich 2003 Insieme ($15) -Spicy and peppery with plenty of cherry and fruit, this is a well balanced red blend that is not too tannin heavy — don’t expect an overly “alcoholic” taste. Pairs great with Italian foods.
4. Foppiano Vineyards Lot 96, Bin 001 ($9) -An incredible value, this wine features heavy tannins and alcohol, and a big “punch” to the nose in terms of fruit aroma. Flavors are typical for red blends — dark fruit and cherries.
5. Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards 2003 Mandolina Classico Toccata ($19) -Made in the style of the popular and usually pricey “Super Tuscan” wines, this blend is not the most affordable on the list, but certainly one of the tastiest. Made from a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet, and Merlot grapes, this is a wine you will not soon forget. Expect berry aroma and flavor, along with notes of cherry and currant.
6. Altano 2004 Douro ($8) -Cherry and red fruit dominate this extremely affordable red blend that registers somewhere between a sweet and a dry red. Great for the price, but not my favorite blend — this wine should be consumed as soon as possible, as age can only descrease the flavor and aroma.
7. Arnaldo Caprai 2003 Montefalco Rosso ($19) -A “typically Italian” blend — this is another everyday drinking wine in the classic Italian style. Not too intensely flavored, but bolder than similarly style blends. Expect dark fruit and cherry on the nose and in the mouth.
8. Perrin & Fils 2006 Perrin Réserve ($10) -A beautiful ruby color in the glass, this blend is ideal for stocking around the house for everyday drinking. Spicy in the nose and on the palate, there is a slight licorice undertone to the expected dark ripe fruit flavor.
9. Cellar de l’Encastell 2006 Marge ($20) -A mostly Grenache blend that is heavy with cherry and blueberry notes, this wine is spicy and full of flavor. Decant this wine for an hour or so to fully appreciate its flavor. Long lasting and “big” in the mouth, this blend rivals reds that cost three times as much.
10. Trentadue 2003 “0ld Vines Red” Sonoma County Red Wine ($14.99) -A dark, inky-purple wine that is almost opaque in the glass, this blend from Sonoma is made up of 5 classic red grapes, and the heavy dark fruit flavors are evidence of this varied blend.

Good cheap Cabernet sauvignons

One of the most popular and well known red wine varietals, Cabernet sauvignon can be found world wide. Cabernet is pretty unique in that you can find incredible Cabs for really cheap. Most of the Cabs on my list are less than $10 — many of them under $5. Here are the ten best deals on this popular and tasty red.

1. Fish Eye Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 ($7.99) -Dark plum flavors and a fairly heavy alcohol content set this Cab apart from its equally priced competition — I also detected a bit of pepper on the nose, which is strange for a Cab but certainly a welcome guest to the party.
2. Glen Ellen Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 ($4.99) -Well paired with a pizza, this is a Cab that is uniqe for being not all that dry — many wine drinkers would call it downright sweet. The main flavor and aroma here is cherry. Enjoy it with your favorite pie for a perfect Italian-American feast.
3. Marcus James Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 ($4.79) -A very dry, crisp Cab that is extremely inky-dark in color — berries, cocoa, vanilla, and spice flavors are all a part of the Marcus James experience. A complex wine priced just under $5.
4. Long Neck Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 ($5.99) -Cherry and ripe fruit overwhelm you when you pop the cork on this Cab, and the flavors are youthful and aromatic without being too sweet. Strangely light in color for a Cab, this bottle could probably stand a few years to age.
5. Asti Winery Cellar No. 8 2005 ($9.99) -Lots of ripe fruit flavor here without crossing the line into ‘fruit bomb’ territory — this Cab is an incredible deal, and could easily be sold for three times the retail price. Smooth and concentrated texture belies the fact that this is a pretty inexpensive Cab.
6. Root : 1 2005 ($10.99 – $12.99) -When opening this bottle, be prepared to be blown away by the intense nose — the aroma is almost too complex to be broken down. Cocoa, berries, and ripe fruit are easily identified, but are so intense as to be almost offensive to some wine lovers. This is a “love it or hate it” wine that not all Cab lovers will enjoy, due to the intense nose and flavor profile. This wine was well reviewed all over the web, and is thus difficult to find.
7. Five Rivers 2004 ($8.99) -Raspberry and leather (?) on the nose make this Cab stand out in my memory — the flavors are more typical for a Cab, though the raspberry overpowers the blackberry and pepper flavors also present. A great value Cab that tastes more like a $20 bottle.
8. Red Diamond 2005 ($7.99) -A bold Cab, very “jammy” with heavy fruit on the nose and palate, and even slight lingering flavors of chocolate and coffee. Not my favorite Cab on the list, but still a pleasant wine from Washington State. Well priced and easy to drink.
9. Paringa 2005 ($9.99) -Incredible complexity of both aroma and flavor, be prepared for lots of spice and fruit, and even an herbal note that made me wish I’d picked up an extra bottle — especially at the price, just under $10.
10. Los Vascos 2005 ($9.99) -Another Chilean Cab that surprised me — I simply cannot believe I found this Cab for less than $30. The aroma is made up of strong floral notes, and there’s a mysterious smokiness that lingers in the nose for a while. A flavor of strawberry surprised me at first sip, but didn’t linger. A mysterious little Cab that won’t break the bank, and is versatile enough to be served with all kinds of food, from veggie dishes to steak.

Good cheap Syrah / Shiraz

Huge in Australia, this wine varietal is catching on in a big way here in the States. Below, you’ll find ten great Syrah wines for under $20.

1. Yalumba “Y” Series Shiraz + Viognier 2006 ($10) -Not a pure Shiraz, blended with Viognier, this wine is unique to Shiraz wines for its odd purple color — not off-putting but interesting. Tart cherry with mineral notes and an amazing aroma.
2. D’Arenberg Shiraz/Viognier McLaren Vale The Laughing Magpie 2003 ($9) -A wonderful aroma of blackberry, licorice, and mint does not disappoint — the flavors carry out on the palate. An easy to drink, tasty, very juicy Shiraz blend with a great price tag. I keep a few bottles of this Shiraz blend around for everyday drinking.
3. Columbia Crest Two Vines Shiraz 2005 ($7) -Wine Spectator magazine convinced me to try this pure Shiraz, and I was not disappointed. Very characteristic of this very specific varietal — expect ripe plum and spice throughout this wonderfully priced bottle. Perfect with a spicy meal.
4. Yellow Tail Shiraz 2007 ($7) -The ubiquitous Yellow Tail label is much maligned as “cheap wine” — and it is inexpensive. However, the 2007 Shiraz they produced is the best of all the Yellow Tail wines I’ve tried, and priced right to pick up a case or two. Eat this with your favorite strong flavored cheese for a wonderful taste blend. Full-bodied featuring notes of spice and vanilla.
5. Smoking Loon Syrah 2007 ($9) -At such a great price, you’d expect this Syrah to be light on flavor and aroma — but it doesn’t give in one bit. Blueberry flavor, with allspice and cassis aromas.
6. Fetzer Valley Oaks Shiraz ($10) – A unique cherry aroma, described by some reviewers as “crushed cherries”, invites you to taste this delightful Shiraz. Flavor of cherry is paired with a bit of spice and, strangely enough, a hint of pepper.
7. Rosemount Shiraz 2004 ($9) -A “big” Shiraz — almost overwhelming berry and cherry aromas along with big spice and “alcohol” flavor in the palate. An “everyday” Shiraz that pairs well with all types of food.
8. Purple Moon Shiraz 2004 ($3.99) – Wonderful dark purple color in the glass and characteristic Shiraz flavor — expect lots of dark berry and cherry aroma and flavor. Could stand a slight amount of chill — just under room temperature — to bring out its Shiraz character.
9. Penfolds Rawson’s Retreat Shiraz Cabernet blend 2007 ($8) -Mostly Shiraz, this blend shows almost none of the flavor or aroma you’d expect of a Cabernet, even though a full 24% of the wine is made from Cab. Expect standard Shiraz flavor notes — heavy fruit with a little spice. Great wine to pair with barbecue.
10. Lazy Lizard Shiraz 2005 ($8) -Blueberry and spice, characteristic of this varietal. A great everyday Shiraz, especially at such a low price.

Good cheap Chardonnay

This is still one of the most popular white wines in America, and its popularity has created some great deals due to the sheer amount of Chardonnay on the market. These ten Chardonnays are the best values around.

1. Stone Cellars 2007 Chardonnay ($5) -If you can get past the oddly chemical aroma (perhaps the bottle I tasted was slightly corked?), you can’t get a better Chardonnay for the price. Sweet fruit and oak aroma matches the sweet flavor — perhaps a bit too sweet for some.
2. Oak Vineyards 2005 Chardonnay ($4) -Bright straw in color, the oaky aroma gives no hint at the excellent apple flavor hiding in this very affordable Chardonnay.
3. Lindemans South Africa Chardonnay 2005 ($6.99) -Melon on the nose, with heavy citrus and melon on the palate, this Chardonnay is very crisp, but in a good way (at least for my taste). I would go so far as to say this is the most “tart” Chardonnay on this value list.
4. Jewel Collection Un-Oaked Chardonnay 2004 ($9.99) -The lack of oak exposure in this unique Chardonnay makes it worth its price — without the oakiness, Chardonnay is more akin to a Sauvignon Blanc. If for no other reason than this is a unique form of Chardonnay, you should pick up a few bottles and shock your friends. You’ll have to show them the label to prove it is indeed made from Chardonnay grapes.
5. HRM Rex-Goliath Giant 47 Pound Rooster Chardonnay 2004 ($4.99) -Hands down the winner of the “weird name” award for this list, this Chardonnay from California is floral with a nose reminiscent of a hoppy beer, strangely enough. Smooth texture with a heavy pear flavor, this is an easy drinking white wine — perhaps a good choice for those who aren’t necessarily “wine drinkers”.
6. Way Out White 2003 Chardonnay ($5) -An inexpensive French Chardonnay with a nose of honey and peach, this is a good everyday table white wine with an easy finish.
7. Xplorador Chardonnay 2005 ($4) -Grapefruit and vanilla aroma perfectly matches the flavors once in your mouth. A medium finish Chardonnay from Chile with a lasting flavor of vanilla. Great wine for the price.
8. Rosemount Diamond Label Chardonnay 2007 ($13.99) -Crisp aroma of honeydew and sweet fruits. The flavors are similar, with perhaps a grapefruit-y, citrus-y tinge and a big hit of white peach. Doesn’t linger in the mouth for long.
9. Banrock Station Semillon Chardonnay 2005 ($5) -Light-yellow in color with a severely citrus aroma. Smooth and tasty, only slightly sweet — much more dry than the other Chards on this list. If you’re looking for a Chardonnay on the dry side, here’s your wine.
10. Forestville Chardonnay 2003 ($5) -Oaky and mineral aromas don’t change much once the wine is in the mouth. A surprisingly fruit-less Chardonnay with a unique mineral taste that lingers in the mouth. Try this Chardonnay for an experience like no other, especially at this price.

“Two Buck Chuck”

Known formally as “Charles Shaw”, these wines are made exclusively for sale at retail giant Trader Joe’s. The “Chuck” in question is Charles Shaw — a real character in the world of wine, who flies in the face of wine snobbery. Shaw once quipped that he could grow wine “on asphalt”. All of these wines retail for between $1.99 and $4.99 at Trader Joe’s stores across the country, and while they may not all suit your taste, they are perhaps the best deal in all of the American wine world. If you want to serve wine on a real shoestring budget, look no further than the famous “Two Buck Chuck” line of wines.

1. Cabernet sauvignon
2. Chardonnay -Even at its low price, Shaw’s 2005 Chardonnay bested all other wines at a California Wine Competition hosted by the 2007 California Expo and State Fair. The inexpensive wine received a “98″ rating, and “double gold” medals as “Best of Class” and “Best Wine of California”. Chardonnay is known as “America’s favorite wine”, and this low price alternative is a great wine to keep around for you and your dinner guests.
3. White Zinfandel
4. Merlot
5. Sauvignon blanc
6. Valdiguie ( a “Beaujolais” style red)
7. Pinot grigio
8. Shiraz -Another award winner, Shaw’s 2002 Shiraz beat out more than 2,300 other wines at the 28th Annual International Eastern Wine Competition, receiving another “double gold” medal. Shaw’s Shiraz is further proof that great wines need not be expensive, no matter the varietal represented. This Shiraz is well reviewed around the web — a superb review can be found by following the link below.
9. Napa blend (around $5) -Not available at all Trader Joe’s locations, the “Bronco Wine Company” which bought out Charles Shaw a few years ago pulled off the impossible with this blend, earning the “Napa” label on a $5 bottle. This is a difficult feat — to earn the “Napa” appelation, 85% of the grapes used in a wine must be from the Napa valley. If you can get your hands on a bottle of Chuck’s Napa, you’ll enjoy the least expensive Napa wine on the market.

Good cheap sak e

There is as wide a variety of flavors and textures of sake as there are in Western wines. Sake is not consumed in America on a massive scale (outside of sushi bars and Japanese restaurants), sake is still a popular choice for many — and it would be a shame not to recognize these ten great budget rice wines. It is important to note that technically sake is closer to a beer than a wine in terms of how it is made — but the flavor and texture are similar enough to wine, and most Americans drink it as a wine. This is enough for me to justify including these picks on a list of great value wines. Many of these complex flavors will set you back a bit more than the $20 limit I impose on wines, but sake is a different commodity altogether, and can be a bit pricier due to importation costs and lack of availability.

1. Suminoe ($30) -Fresh and light, balanced and subtle. Well worth the extra few bucks for an outstand sake that tastes like twice its price.
2. Fu-Ki ($8 – $11) -Sweet and syrupy. Heavy alcohol content.
3. Gekkeikan Sake Silver ($10 – $13) – Clear in color with a very light rice taste, almost flavorless and beautiful on the palate. Light aroma.
4. Hakutsuru – $8 (reserve label $20) -Fresh and clean with an almost spearmint flavor at the back of the palate. Reserve label is intensely minty and to be served ONLY cold.
5. Momokawa Silver Dy ($15) -Fruity, smooth, and mellow with a pale yellow color. A surprising sake find.
6. Gekkeikan Gold  ($14 – $20) -Fairly hefty ‘rice’ flavor and aroma, make sure not to serve this sake too hot, as the standard “heat” for warm sake might ruin the intense flavors of this wonderful drink.
7. Haiku  ($13) – Intensely flavored with odd notes of jicama and honeydew, this is a unique sake that will blow away your expectations.
8. Nagasaki Sake ($20) – Off-dry flavor, slightly sweet, with spice and mineral notes. Like a complex white wine from Europe — perfectly paired with all types of Eastern cuisine.
9. Moonstone Plum Sake ($13) -Natural plum flavor and slight almond notes on the back of the palate — a surprisingly high quality sake for such a low price.
10. Horin Gekkeikan ($30 – $40) -Tons of flavor here — lime, mint, and bread dough notes set this sake apart from its competitors as my personal favorite. If you can find a bottle for the price mentioned above, snatch it up. Worth every penny, this sake is good served warm or cold and perfectly compliments Japanese food.

Best of the rest of the good cheap wines

These are the misfit wines of the great wine deal world — not fitting into any of the above categories. Try one today and discover what the world of inexpensive wine has to offer.

1. Bonterra Vineyards 2006 Mendocino County Zinfandel (California) ($14.99)
2. Omaka Springs 2007 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) ($14.99)
3. Vicentini 2005 “Terre Lunghe” Soave (Italy) ($13.99)
4. Fratelli Pala 2006 “Crabilis” Vermentino di Sardegna (Italy) ($13)
5. Château les Eymeries 2006 Bordeaux Blanc (France) ($12)
6. Huber 2006 “Hugo” Niederösterreich Grüner Veltliner (Austria) ($13)
7. Mas de Gourgonnier 2005 Les Baux de Provence (France) ($12.99)
8. Riondo non-vintage Veneto Prosecco (Italy) ($12.99)
9. Maison Lafage 2006 “Côte Sud” Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes (France) ($12.99)
10. Mionetto Valdobbiadene Prosecco Brut (Italy) ($12.99)
11. La Tour Boisée 2006 “Plantation 1905″ Vin de Table Rouge (France) ($12.99)
12. Hayman & Hill 2006 “Interchange” Santa Barbara County “Reserve No. 22″ White Blend (California) ($12.99)
13. Charles Smith Wines 2006 “Holy Cow” Columbia Valley Chardonnay (Washington State) ($12.99)
14. Montpezat 2005 Coteaux du Languedoc Palombières (France) ($11.99)
15. Foppiano Vineyards “Lot 96″ California Red Wine (California) ($11.99)

You can also find more on this subject at this site, Cheap Wine Ratings, which is an ongoing discussion of the subject of good cheap wines.

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Sometimes we need advice, and the Internet has become the place to get it. Hundreds of blog sites are written by both experts and laymen which offer tips and opinions on any topic imaginable. Here we present 100 of the best blogs offering tips and advice on a wide range of subjects, from love to the Internet, from wine to gardening. Learn from them and live better.

Love Advice Blogs

Whether you’re a lonely single looking for a connection or a social husband/wife looking for fulfillment, a blogger somewhere offers love advice. Here are ten of our favorite love advice blogs.

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1. Susie and Otto – Susie and Otto are relationship coaches and soulmates who have run websites since 1999 in order to help people improve their relationships and lead a healthy emotional and spiritual life.
2. Savvy Miss – This website is a community for women and has featured blogs regarding love advice and tips such as Eli Davidson, who was featured on the Today Show.
3. Love Advice – Anne addresses topics like marriage counseling, dating, and break-ups.
4. Internet Dating Tips – Mostly dedicated to love and relationship advice for online dating.
5. Love Birds – Open source dating ideas. Author is Lob Eng from Singapore.
6. Dear Sugar – Blogs about love and sex, health, celebrities, fashion, and entertainment.
7. Dating & Relationships at About.com – Terrific blog written by About.com dating guide Bonnie Albo.
8. Lessons for a Happy Marriage – Paul Friedman provides marriage and relationship advice.
9. Dating Thoughts – A group of friends and professionals contribute advice and personal relationship tips to this entertaining blog.
10. Practical Dating Tips – This one’s written from a decidedly male perspective.

Health and Fitness Tips Blogs

Want to lose weight? Live longer? Be more attractive? Next to love and money, health is the most popular topic on the site.

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1. Health and Fitness 101 – A blog that targets people living the Montana lifestyle, this site offers some interesting tips and advice for staying healthy.
2. The Health and Fitness Blog – Diet reviews, tips, and advice about the proper food that you should eat.
3. Everyday Health – Features some good advice from doctors in the field of chronic pain, cancer, allergies, and other ailments.
4. Diet Health and Fitness – A good source for fitness tips and articles on vitamins, supplements, and diets.
5. Your Health Product – A good resource for meditation and dealing with stress.
6. Bray Fitness Blog – Phil Bray’s blog offers advice regarding fitness techniques and tips as well as proper diets for all health enthusiasts.
7. Weight Loss at About.com – Jennifer R. Scott presents sensible and healthy weight loss tips and advice.
8. Blue Zones – A tiny number of geographical locations have a much larger than usual incidence of centenarians. The Blue Zones looks at the lifestyles of the people who live in those locations to provide advice for healthier living.
9. The Health Blog from the Wall Street Journal – Health news and events from a respected news source.
10. Health & Sports at AskMen.com – Focused on helping men live healthier, more athletic lives.

Personal Finance Blogs

Love, weight loss, and money are three of the most popular topics on the Internet. Here are some sites about money and how to manage it.

1. Get Rich Slowly – This isn’t just one of our favorite personal finance blogs; it’s one of our favorite blogs, period. Consistently well-written and brilliant, Get Rich Slowly is a must read. Bookmark this site now, and subscribe to their RSS feed. Your financial health will thank you.
2. The Simple Dollar – Another of our favorite sites, The Simple Dollar site offers personal experience from a former spendaholic about finances, career choices, investments, and spending habits.
3. Real People, Real Finances – People blog about their personal finances and share their tips and advice about money with others.
4. Wise Bread – Covers  personal finance, how to save money, and the financial industry as it relates to the average consumer. How to live large on a small budget.
5. Bargaineering – A popular advice blog about financial investments and spending, it has been around for several years now and has been cited in several financial publications. (The logo is a picture of an engineer, which is a play on the name, “bargaineer”.)
6. I Will Teach You to be Rich – Blog written by the author of the book I Will Teach You To Be Rich. He’s a Stanford graduate who co-founded pbwiki.com.
7. My Money Blog – Personal finance and investment blog that deals with portfolios, investments, and the financial markets.
8. Money Saving Mom – Save money by getting the best deals and freebies.
9. Money Blue Book – Advice about keeping up with your credit and managing your net worth.
10. Moolanomy – Financial guides, frugal living, and how to invest, from multiple authors.

Internet Tips Blogs

The Internet can be used to conduct your business as well as to conduct your social life. Most of the blogs below focus on conducting business online, but a few of them “mash up” business and social aspects of the worldwide web.

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1. Social Media – Blogs about how social media is changing the Internet, and about how you can plan a strategy around this.
2. Social Media Today – News and opinions about how social media sites are changing the Internet.
3. Mashable – Another guide to social media and the Internet. I particularly enjoy their “megalists”.
4. Biz Tips Blog – This is another blog about how to use the internet for marketing and full of advice on building your business over the web.
5. Blog Herald – Opinions and news about the state of blogging on the Internet. Very professional.
6. Guide to Blogging – This is a pretty cool blog site that deals with blogging topics such as how to set up and run a blog.
7. Top Rank Blog – A great blog about tips for the internet such as web building advice, search engine optimization, and social media.
8. RV Internet Access – Tips about how to access the Internet aimed at RV’ers.
9. The Internet Bloke – Another very useful blog designed to assist with setting up and running a small internet business.
10. Techie Buzz – This one’s more of a technology blog than it is an Internet blog, but a lot of their content is aimed directly at Internet users. One of their recent posts was about online to-do list managers. Great stuff.

Travel Advice Blogs

The travel industry is one of the largest businesses on the Internet. But no one wants their trip to suck because they didn’t get the information they needed before leaving. Here are ten travel advice blogs to help you get ready before you go.

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1. Blogabond – Multiple blogs from multiple contributors about backpackers and independent travel.
2. Everything Everywhere – Gary Arndt’s blog about his world travels along with photos and Q&A.
3. Travellerspoint – Another community of multiple travel bloggers, Travellerspoint also offers a forum, photos, travel guides and advice.
4. TravelPod – This immensely popular site features blogs by experienced travelers to just about every country in the world.
5. Lonely Planet – Lonely Planet is a company dedicated to travel information and guides, but it also features an interesting blog by one of the co-founders that features many of his travels.
6. Travel Blog – Another popular travel community with blogs, photos, videos and tips from around the world.
7. My Trip Journal – This site lets you store journals and blogs about your travels and has featured journals from contributors.
8. Travbuddy – Not only does this website have travel blogs but it also has hotel rates, reviews, and a world travel guide.
9. Wicked Good Travel Tips – Tips and advice from about various destinations, saving money, and planning trips.
10. Worldhum – Extensive site with articles that discuss world news that pertain to the traveler.

Beauty Tips Blogs

The blogs in this section might seem like they’re only for women, but we tried to include some style tips type blogs for men as well in our list of beauty tips blogs.

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1. Mens Fashion at About.com – Daniel Billett edits this excellent resource offering grooming and style tips for men.
2. Get Kempt – An Urban Daddy production about men’s style, fashion, and grooming.
3. Men’s Flair – Men’s style from those who are living it. (Whatever that means.)
4. Smarter Beauty Blog – Addresses all issues of personal beauty from hair and make-up to shaving and product reviews.
5. Makeup and Beauty Blog – Makeup reviews, tutorials, and drugstore beauty finds.
6. Dolce Beauty – Makeup tutorials and tips to natural and organic products, all inspired by celebrity beauty.
7. The Beauty Blog at Luckymag.com – The website for the magazine Lucky features a good blog section that posts both editorials and reader questions.
8. Beauty Chat Blog – Focuses on looking good and feeling good. Lots of beauty tips and advice along with reader responses and comments.
9. Beauty Blogging Junkie – A witty blog that’s very funny but still informative. Their tag line says it better than we ever could: “Beauty is the promise of happiness.” – Stendhal
10. Adventures of a Cosmetology Student – Interesting to get a perspective from a student at a cosmetology school about various beauty and grooming related subjects.

Car Tips Blogs

This section will be most meaningful to our readers from the USA, because the United States LOVES cars. Most of these blogs offer more car news than car tips.

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1. Autoblog – Obsessively covers the car industry and news, as well as offering new and used car reviews.
2. Ask Patty – Car advice for women. We love the name of her site too!
3. Kicking Tires – Advice and tips for anyone buying a new or used car.
4. Car Craft Blog – Mostly aimed at do-it-yourself car enthusiasts.
5. Carspace – A car themed social networking site. Members create their own blogs and participate in forums.
6. Classic Nation – Classic car enthusiasts share photos and advice.
7. Classic Cars Blog – A really informative blog full of tips and tutorials on classic car restoration.
8. Automotive.com – More newsy than tips-oriented, but still of interest to car-lovers.
9. Cars Cars Cars – A blog about cars. Only angrier. How can you not want to bookmark a site with such a great tagline?
10. Buying Advice – A narrow themed blog. If you’re looking for advice about buying a car, then you’ll find it here.

Wine Blogs

The best news we’ve heard in the last ten years or so was that wine (in moderation) is good for your health. Here are some blogs with tips and advice on how to better enjoy wine.

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1. Dr. Vino’s Wine Blog – Run by a writer and wine connoisseur, this site give a lot of great tips and advice about travels through vineyards, wine tasting events, and wine reviews. Wine talk that goes down easy.
2. Winelog – Anyone can join and share their own wine experiences and tips with other readers.
3. Wine Spectator – Chock full of wide topics on wine, it has a blog section where editors to share their thoughts.
4. Chelsies Wine Notes – Reviews affordable wines that don’t taste cheap.
5. Cheap Fun Wines – Covers great tasting wines under 20 bucks.
6. Alawine.com – Industry news such as vineyards, specific years, and winery awards. Especially concerned with award-winning wines.
7. Another Wine Blog – He writes about more than just wine though. He also writes about travel and beer.
8. Fermentation – Not much in the way of “tips” here, but getting to know something about the wine industry from Tom Wark is a good way to increase your appreciation of wines and winemaking.
9. Wine Blog – Juicy wine thoughts from Jo Diaz.
10. The Blog Wine Cellar – Includes some wine education videos, as well as wine recommendations and thoughts.

Food and Cooking Tips Blogs

Wine is fun, but food is even more universal. Not everyone drinks wine, but everyone eats. Here’s how to enjoy cooking and eating more.

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1. Simply Recipes – Lots or recipes broken down by category. Also features cooking tips, like how to soften butter.
2. Food and Health – Really cool recipes, food advice, and tutorials with photos on how to prepare certain recipes.
3. Joys Thai Food – If you are a Thai food lover, this site includes everything Thai, from recipes to ingredients and history.
4. 101 Cookbooks – Full of recipes and photos of mostly vegetarian or healthy dishes.
5. Blue Kitchen – Good resource site for both beginner and advanced cooks with a wide range of foods, recipes, and tools.
6. 80 Breakfasts – Dealing mainly with breakfasts recipes, this site has stuff from the ordinary morning meal to a bit more unusual.
7. Cooking With Amy – A culinary writer offers food tips, restaurant reviews, event news, and other cooking advice.
8. New Your Cooking Tips Blog – Lots of great recipes, but also some insights into food and eating, like why vegans don’t eat eggs.
9. The Orlando Sentinel Food Blog – Restaurant news and food news.
10. Culinary School of the Rockies Blog – When the chefs in training at the Culinary School of the Rockies aren’t in class, they’re providing cooking tips in this blog.

Gardening Tips Blogs

Gardening is one of those activities that pays multiple dividends in multiple ways. Gardening is a great way to be more active and get more fresh air and sunshine, which is good for your health. And if you’re growing fruits and vegetables, then you’re eating fruits and vegetables.

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1. Sustainable Gardening Blog – Lots of information about gardening tips, tools, types of gardens. Winner of the Best Organic Gardening Blog.
2. Guerilla Gardening – For people who replace trashy and neglected urban areas with gardens.
3. The Gardening Blog – Posts entries from other popular gardening blogs, thus covering a wide range of topics.
4. My Houston Gardenspot – Site run by a former school teacher who shares her gardening tips and experience. Focused somewhat on Houston, Texas gardening.
   
5. I Heart Gardening – This information site on plants and gardening has a blog section where anyone can sign up for and post articles.
6. Garden Views – Personal reflections on gardening. This one’s been online for a long time and has a huge archive.
7. The Garden Central – Recent updates include how to grow wild flowers and exotic flowers.
8. Home Gardening Tips – Bill Stanley provides advice on how to grow flowers and organic vegetables.
9. Gardening Tips & Ideas – Tips and advice for gardeners at all levels of experience, from beginner to expert.
10. Weekend Gardener – A monthly web magazine with advice and tips for gardeners.

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