Crooked Row Zinfandel 2008 - $13.99

Driving through Lodi, California one immediately notices an old-vine vineyard with crooked rows. It strikingly stands out from all the others that precisely flow across the hills and dales. In Japan they say “The nail that stands out gets hammered down.” In America we do the opposite. We celebrate the distinctive, the different, the crooked row. This Crooked Row stands out for its lush raspberr and blackberry fruit character, and its rock solid value.

Santola Vinho Verde NV - $7.99

Every summer Vinho Verde gets more popular. Why? Its is the recipe for summer success: a light, spritzy white wine with low alcohol, and low price. Although Vinho Verde literally means “green wine,” it translates to “young wine,” meant to be consumed in its first year. Santola is a spider crab, and this zingy white is terrific with any crab or shellfish. Made in northern Portugal near Spanish Albarino country, the Messias coop blends Loureiro and Alvarinho grapes into a frothy delight full of lemon, melon, and green apple flavors. ¡Salud!

Bricco dei Tati Barbera 2010 - $8.99

On my recent trip to the Piemonte (Piedmont) region of Italy, importer Manu Gaiarin drove us around the hillside vineyards. My favorite spot was his vineyard near Treiso, this Bricco dei Tati. On that clear day, we saw Piemonte lie before us like a great bowl all the way to the Alps, arcing almost 180 degrees from the Mediterranean coast to Milan. Breathtaking! A young, fresh, lively “Bar-BEAR-uh” with aromas of black and red cherries. Delightfully approachable, it is smooth, with a touch of tannin, a good body, and a hard-to-believe price. Thanks Manu!

La Slina Monferrato Bianco 2010 - $9.99

La Slina lies in Castelletto d’Orba in Northern Italy’s Piedmont. There brothers Giorgio and Mario Cichero craft a line of Piemontese wines including this lovely white blend. Cortese, the grape of Gavi, gives structure and crisp acidity; Chardonnay gives body and aromas of peach and pear; Muller Thurgau gives linden and lime aromas. Crisp and smooth, it shows a fine depth of fruit and lush aromatics.

Agoston Garnacha & Syrah 2009 - $7.99

Last month in Italy I came within a split second of totaling a wild boar (cinghiale) with our rental car. So I was intrigued by this Spanish winery’s tale of wild boar (agoston) crashing their vineyard at harvest to devour the ripe, sweet grapes. The grapes are as good as this plump & juicy red wine, I’d like to be right there with them. Seamless and full of smooth red and black fruits, this fifty/fifty blend is the perfect complement to burgers, BBQ, or my fave, cinghiale salame.

Domaine du Tariquet Blanc Classique 2011 - $11.99

The Grassa family is celebrating their hundredth year in the French Southwest region of Gascogny, land of Cognac and foie gras. This ubiquitous white wine of the region is made to perfection by Armin and Rémy Grassa. They blend Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc and Gros Manseng into a fresh, dry white that zings, sings and wakes a tired palate and readies it for the delights of cuisine and conversation. Hot summer day + ice bucket + Tariquet Classique = delicious.

López Cristóbal Ribera del Duero Tinto Roble 2009 - $16.99

Although Rioja is the most famous wine region of Spain, Ribero del Duero is fast on its heels. They both make great red wines from the Tempranillo grape, but Ribero’s wines are richer, deeper, and more full of fruit than Rioja’s. This “Roble” is aged in oak for three months, just enough time to build structure without masking its pleasingly plush palate filled with deep red berry fruits and vanilla notes. This phenomenal and insane wholesaler closeout is easily the best deal I’ve seen this year. Do not miss this pure pleasure trip.

Chateau du Coing Muscadet “Tradition” 2008 - $11.99

At the mouth of the Loire River, the Chéreau family makes this amazing value from a treasured plot of 80-year-old vines. The estate nestles in the confluence of the Sèvre & Maine rivers, home to the best Muscadets. Their Muscadet “Tradition Millénaire” shows a fresh nose of stone fruits, flowers, & minerals; while a lively acidity supports rich flavors & a dry, minerally finish. Muscadet, the wine, is often confused with Muscat, the grape. Muscat makes sweet wines (not that there’s anything wrong with that) while Muscadet is a dry white wine, produced from the grape Melon de Bourgogne. This wine is aged “sur lie" meaning it's aged on yeast sediments before release which makes it more complex. This wine is drinking perfectly right now.

(Wine-of-the-Week from 6/11-24/2012)

Milton Park Shiraz 2010

This juicy, full-bodied Aussie red is absolutely the best Shiraz value ever. Really, ever. Bargainmeister Fran Kysela imports this Barossa Valley red along with the rest of the stellar Thorne-Clarke lineup. (Terra Barossa, Shotfire Ridge, Mount Crawford.) Full of ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit with a smooth, ripe finish, this down under charmer is great with hamburger, grilled sausages, or by itself on a cool summer evening.

(Wine-of-the-Week from 6/04-17/2012)

Conde Villar Vinho Verde Rosé 2011 - Regularly $9.99

This brilliant rosé is made by the famous Quintas Das Arcas estate located in the town of Penafiel in Portugal’s northwest corner. There Fernando Machado and Henrique Lopes craft delicate, light whites and rosés in the Vinho Verde wine region. Charlottesville loves the traditional white Vinho Verde in the summer heat for its lightness of being, tickle of bubbles, and refreshingly low 11% alcohol. This delectable rosé uses the Espadeiro grape to add strawberry and cherry flavors to that suite of pleasures. War of the Rosés coming this weekend!

(Wine-of-the-Week from 5/28-6/10/2012)