Wines that Rock: Little Known Best Wine Picks

You're not going to believe this, but there are people out there who know more about wine than I do. Seriously! I recently had the pleasure of talking to one of those people: Gwendolyn Wilson Osborn, Director of Wine at wine.com. We discussed several topics. The one closest to my heart would have to be the value of wine ratings. We agreed that scores from top critics are excellent guides to picking out a good wine, but they shouldn't be the be-all and end-all when it comes to wine shopping. There's nothing like discovering a nearly-anonymous diamond in the rough all on your own, or with a little help from your local wine merchant or wine-loving friend.

With that in mind, I got Gwendolyn to answer a few questions about finding those not-so-publicized, possibly un-reviewed wines. As expected, she had some great information to share. Read and learn, readers and learners!

Q: You mentioned that you just launched a Chile program at wine.com. I am a huge fan of South American wines, which typically provide good bang for the buck and also give you the chance to try some lesser known (at least to the US) grapes like Carmenere. Could you give us some recommendations for more obscure Chilean wines that provide good quality-price ratio, for wine drinkers that want to explore beyond the usual suspects like Montes and Concha y Toro?

A: Definitely! South America is a region producing some amazing values that are not just your everyday Cabernet or Chardonnay. Our Support Chile program, which is through the end of March, is a great way to give back to the country as they deal with the devastation caused by the recent earthquake and its aftershocks. Our program is this:  for every 12 bottles (or case) of select Chilean wine sold, we donate $100 to charities helping those in need during this time. Customers can purchase any quantity of wine--from 1 bottle to 20 bottles--as every purchase helps us reach our goal. 

As for my wine recommendations, last night I had the opportunity to re-taste one of my favorite wines,  which is also part of our Support Chile program,  the Errazuriz Carmenere. This wine is a beautiful example of Carmenere and I enjoyed it even more than I remembered. It's full of spice and ripe blackberry fruit, a touch of smoke and a super long finish. To me this is better than many $40 wines I've had and it's only $19.99.

Another fantastic wine on this list is the Veramonte Primus, a red blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Carmenere--it is a delicious, smoky wine with notes of black currant and spice and a touch of tobacco. A perfect wine to pair with meat! It's also $19.99. For great values under $10, the Cono Sur Pinot Noir is a bright, cherry-filled red wine that is perfect for spring and summer, and any Sauvignon Blanc lover will adore the great value whites coming from the country.

Q: I typically tell people to stay away from Napa if they are looking for a bargain. There's just so many up-and-coming appellations in California where you can get much better value for your dollar. What's your favorite lesser known California wine region? Also, do you think I'm being unfair to Napa?

A: You are quite right that Napa and bargain are not a typical match. There are so many wine regions in California, and some great values in many of them. My favorite lesser known wine region is a tough choice. I love Mendocino right now. Its cooler climate is perfect for making very structured reds and the Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah from the area are delicious! Mendocino is also home to some excellent sparkling wine and like you, I cannot get enough good sparkling wine! Mendocino is home to Anderson Valley, which is where Roederer Estate, a favorite of mine, is located.

For those seeking bargains in Napa Valley, it's not completely impossible. Avalon and Louis Martini make Cabernet Sauvignon under $20 that is actually quite good. Not a wine for your cellar by any means, but good Napa fruit making some nice wines. Duckhorn also has a line of wines called Decoy, which all retail under $25 and are a great way to taste Napa for less.

Q: I've always found it challenging to find French bargains as well, unless you already possess a good knowledge of smaller French wine regions. I find the best tactic is to make friends with your local wine merchant, who usually gets a chance to try a variety of lesser-known French wines. As someone who has tasted many of the vintages in wine.com's French portfolio, what smaller-label, hidden gems can you recommend?

A: With all the value wine regions like South America and Australia, it's hard to find a reason to spend more for French wines that you may not even like as much. I think you have it absolutely right to make friends with your wine merchant or wine-knowledgeable friend so someone can suggest which wines are worth their price or which off-the-beaten-path French wines to try. One region that is full of great values in France is the Rhone, particularly the Cotes-du-Rhone. With a string of strong vintages ('05 through '08), it's hard to go wrong in choosing a good wine from this area. They need no age, they are a wonderful mix of red fruit and spice and herbs that are great for any season and many food pairings.

Right next to the Rhone is the Languedoc-Roussillon region, another fantastic place for good red values.  Some are a bit rustic and spicy, but if that is your style, it's a great place to try! If you like white wines but don't want to invest $50 into a nice White Burgundy, try a wine from Macon.  Also based on Chardonnay, Macon is in southern Burgundy and while not as complex as a Montrachet or Meursault, Macon wines are crisp and refreshing and usually under $20, sometimes under $15. Another white worth seeking out is Muscadet. From the Loire Valley, Muscadet (both a region and a grape) is known for being a perfect match for oysters.

Wow, a big thank you to Gwendolyn for these amazing tips! For those of you dying to go shopping armed with Gwendolyn's info, be sure to use our exclusive $10 off $150 code for wine.com. And if you'd like to check out more of Gwendolyn's wine wisdom, she just happens to write the wine.com blog.

Cheers!