The Best Inexpensive Wines Available Now

Current faves

Vermontie 2000 merlot
paranga 2001 shiraz

both can be had for under $10 a bottle and are pretty good for cheap wine.

I am clearly much less experienced than you guys, but I think the following two are screaming bargains:

Charles Shaw Merlot ... $1.99 from Trader Joes (the other Charles Shaw varieties were not very good). Yes $1.99 and very pleasant.
They were also carrying Seven Peaks Chardonnay for $2.99 a bottle. This is the one of the smoothest chardonnays I have ever had (I usually don't spend more than $10 on a bottle, though I have tasted $50 bottles that are not as good as this seven peaks).

Bella Sera for me works great but some puffff works much better.

Disclaimer: pronouns sound 'f' to yourself not like conventional english alphabetic sound 'f'...:-)

my vote goes to Brancott vineyard Sauvignon Blanc....from New Zealand....an absolutely oustanding value at $9.99!.....and for those special nights a bottle of Talley Vineyards California Pinot Noir is very special at $21.99 here in Dallas!

This should be an enjoyable thread.

I've always enjoyed any ol' cheap red Italian wine ($5 or $6). I've never been disappointed. However, when the listening calls for low lighting any Classico Reserva (however its spelled) in the $20 to $25 range sits quite well. I also prefer my wine at almost room temperature.