Marlborough, New Zealand ($12)
This is fantastic wine. There are so many different flavors: orange, pineapple, peach, fig, passion fruit - layers upon layers waiting to be discovered with each mouthful. There is a great balance between acid, fruit, and alcohol. Their Wairau Reserve ($16-$18) is even better, but much harder to find. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is my favorite white wine, and this is my favorite winery in the appellation.
Western Cape, South Africa ($6)
This is a stupendous value wine. Normally, I don't like either Chenin Blanc or Chardonnay all that much, but this blend works very, very well. Full, round mouthfeel, but with a nice crispness to the finish and nice fruitiness and aroma. Very enjoyable. This has become for a while, at least, our "house white." The blend is 51% Chenin Blanc, 49% Chardonnay.
Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy ($14)
This is still one of our favorite affordable Chianti Classicos. It's bright and fresh, with just a hint of earthiness and a soft, round finish. We try to buy this when it goes on sale for $12 or so. This goes great with pasta or pizza.
Campo de Borja, Spain ($7)
I find it hard to believe that this wine is so affordable. This is a really excellent red for all sorts of Mediterranean cuisine - pizzas, pastas, and anything with a little acid or bite to it. This wine would be a good deal at twice the price. About 75% Grenache and 25% Tempranillo. We've been keeping at least one bottle of this on hand recently.
Umbria, Italy ($11)
We first discovered this wine when we could buy the 2000 or 2001 vintages for $8 or $9. Even as it has risen in price with increased popularity, it's still a good value. It's a "Super Tuscan" style blend of equal parts Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, but the grapes are grown just south of Tuscany, in Umbria. It is very smooth, has a lot of fruit, and has a great long finish.
Southeastern Australia ($12)
This is a very nice wine. There are big flavors of raspberry, spice, and leather backed up with firm tannins, enough structure and alcohol, and a smooth finish. We've had several bottles of this with lamb and roast meats, and they've always tasted fantastic. Ravenswood is actually a California wine company, and this is their one experimental foray into Australian wine.
Napa Valley, California ($35)
A waiter at a San Mateo restaurant first recommended this to us. It is an exquisite wine, with volumes of berry flavor and a silky, elegant texture. The finish is complex and satisfying. This is more than we usually spend on wine, but I think this wine is worth quite a bit more than we paid for it.