10 Great Wines Under $12 - By: Kevin Cohen

Finding good tasting wines that don’t cost a fortune is not easy. I have been tasting and selecting value wine for my gourmet pizza shops, Bene Gourmet Pizza, for nearly 10 years. At first it was difficult, but over time it has gotten easier.

In light of these economic times, it makes more sense to search out value wines, so I’m going to throw you a bone. Here are 10 great wines under $12.

Red Wines

1. Falesco Vitiano Rosso 2007 – The Falesco is a young Italian wine from southern Italy that is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet, and Merlot. It can be drunk with a wide array of food, especially pizza.

2. Maipe Malbec 2008 – The 2008 Malbec is packed with black cherry and raspberry flavors with some good tannin on the back-end. Perfect with steak or dark chocolate.

3. Sierra Catabria Rioja Tinto 2006 – The 2007 Tempranillo has a nice balance between fruit and spiciness. Great value!

4. Perrin Cotes du Rhone Villages Rouge 2007 – This Rhone blend is made from mostly Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre. This full-bodied wine is great with steak and mashed potatoes.

5. Tin Roof Merlot 2005 – The Tin Roof is a silky Merlot from California. Get over the bashing of Merlot; this wine is versatile and stunning for the price.

White Wines

6. Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc 2008 – This Chilean Sauvignon Blanc has a nice blend between fruit and minerals. Easy to drink.

7. Freixenet Sparkling Cordon Negro Brut – The non-vintage Cava from Spain is great for everyday drinking. It tastes like a $30 bottle of bubbly.

8. Bogle Chardonnay 2008 – The Bogle Chardonnay has all of the buttery goodness of $25 California Chardonnay at under $10. Great for parties.

9. Placido Pinot Grigio 2007 –This refreshing Pinot Grigio is from the Veneto region of Italy. This balanced white is great with seafood and poultry.

10. Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare 2007 – The Bonny Doon rosé has a nice blend of fruit and acid. Perfect as a hot summer day aperitif or to wash down a summer salad.

In today’s economic climate, finding a great tasting wine at a good value makes a lot of sense.

Kevin Cohen is co-founder of Corx Wine Bags LLC, an online retailer and wholesaler of the original, high-tech wine bags and wine accessories. Corx Wine Bags can be found in select wine shops and online at www.corxwinebags.com. In addition, Kevin is a serial entrepreneur, CPA and co-founder of Bene Gourmet Pizza, an Oregon-based, three-store restaurant group specializing in gourmet pizza and wine.