In article >,
Mark Lipton > wrote:
>
[snip!]
>
>Sure, there are some great values to be found in CA, but they are the
>exception rather than the rule. Whereas in the regions I cite above you
>have dozens or even more quality producers making wines of character
>that retail for under $20 (including shipping costs), when I stroll
>among the "fighting varietals" in Safeway's aisles, I am singularly
>unimpressed. For every HRM Rex Goliath or Bogle you have 20 Woodbridge,
>Turning Leaf and Vendange brands that offer bland stuff with little to
>no varietal character.



Well, if you are buying your wines at Safeway then perhaps that is part
of the problem? One of my favorite wineries is Tablas Creek and they
have many offerings at under $20/bottle and most under $30/bottle. For
instance, right now I can buy the 2002 Rousanne for $16. There are a *lot*
of good zins at under $20, including Ravenswood and Ridge Coast Range. For
pinot, pinot blanc, and chardonnay, I like Jim Clendenen's Au Bon Climat wines.
Some of the Hitching Post pinots are also under $30. Another favorite of
mine, Longoria, has 14 of their 18 offerings priced under $30, with most of
those under $20.


Wild Horse (when Ken Volk owned it) used to also make a bevy of good wines
under $20. So do Qupe, Beckmen, and Curtis. If you increase the ceiling to $30
then you get a host of good wines from Ojai Vineyard, Jaffurs, Rombauer,
Turley, Justin, and even biggies like Merryvale. From Oregon, you can find
wines like A to Z, Patricia Green, Raptor Ridge, and Brick House that I find
better than anything in the same price range from Burgundy. One thing I admit
is that there is not a good cab, merlot, or meritage in that range, but that's
okay.


You can certainly find good wine from France for $30 and under, but I find
that it is much more hit-or-miss until you break that $30 mark. Same with
Italy. For better values I look to Spain and California.


Dimitri