Three Inexpensive Wines

By Andrew Kohn.

I'm an adventurous drinker. Just as any professional athlete is always looking to improve his game, I'll sample almost anything. It's with excitement that I look at the D.C. areas drinking rejuvenation. In a town where it's all too easy to cater to the clientele with either expensive Scotch or cheap beer, I'm thrilled to know there are true artist in the city re-claiming the past and defining a future for often neglected and forgotten spirits. Perhaps a little too trendy at the moment, however, this too will settle and the spoils will remain for those original riders of the bandwagon.

Much has been written about the new drinking trends of the city. A recent Washingtonian detailed the 75 "best" bars in the area. I need not get into this. Not today - today I'm going to share three great wines with you that are inexpensive and versatile. We all love to go out drinking, but it can easily drain our bank accounts with expensive cocktails and buying drinks for certain people we would never do so for under normal circumstances. This is for the Tuesday night FUNctional alcoholic: home from work, musing over dinner, and looking for a simple glass to drink while opening the mail.
This one is for you!

THE RED: Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin 2006. I'm in love with this wine. Let me be the first to admit, I know very little about the science of wine tasting. But I've drunk enough over the years to know what tastes good and what doesn't. This is, however, pure opinion. But, just so you know, I'm usually right. Give me a heavy red, a meaty red, a red with body! I don't normally like being punched in the face, but I'll allow it from this wine. Deliciously robust, this Zin let's us know who he is from the opening sip. Described as having "heady layers of vanilla and chocolate" a Dixie Cup this is not!

And the best part is, you can get a bottle for about $9 from Safeway. Reduced in price for months, I've recently been stocking up, expecting at any moment for the price to shoot back up to $16. Courage my friends, get while the getting's good!

THE WHITE: 365 Everyday Value® Diflora Pinot Grigio. That's right, a Whole Foods Pinot Grigio. As the website says, at $11.99 per 1.5 liters, this wine works out to about .80 cents per glass (albeit small glasses). I like to think I'm an expert of the cheap Pinot Grigio. This is my water, my liquid diet. I wouldn't have gotten through law school without my Fish Eye. Do I have a problem? Yes. I can spend more time in the 1.5 L section debating the merits of cheap wine then most people. But, because I'm a giver, you are now benefiting from my hours of extensive thought and labor.

I hold no grand illusion that this wine is phenomenal. But for the price and the quality, it far exceeds its competitors. Light, airy, and a nice color, this wine will be a staple at my summer extravaganzas from the back yard to Wolf Trap. Get out there and try it before Whole Foods realizes this delight is being offered at a Trader Joe's price.

THE BUBBLY: Banfi Rosa Regale. I've saved the best for last. I went through a champagne period where I drank a bottle everyday - my Absolutely Fabulous era - sampling almost everything available. This red liquid ambrosia is beyond compare the best I've ever tasted. Champagne is a tricky game. Even the expensive stuff isn't a guaranteed homerun. With this glass, rose petals and raspberries subdue your pallet. And I discovered it in Vermont! Who would've guessed?

This is not cheap; at about $18 it's not something you're going to buy everyday. But then again, how often do you drink something sparkling? Milliliter per milliliter, this is the best you're going to find. And don't dilute this gem with anything. It doesn't need it. Find it where you can and get two bottles - one for now and one for later. I can think of no better accompaniment to celebrate a special occasion.

Please enjoy these bottles! It is possible to drink well while on a budget! Any one of the three bottles I've suggested should please even the toughest critic. And if not, remind them how much it costs and that you're not picnicking somewhere in Chateauneuf du Pape. Grab your corkscrew and have a wonderful time!