Twelve Wines Under $20
As wine chugging season approaches, perhaps you notice a purposeful "theme" in the economy-sensitive arena, i.e. 10 Under $10, 12 Under $20. For those of us living in wine, it is a fun challenge to root out wines which taste much better than they are priced. How much skill is involved in paying $70 for a bottle of wine which "might" be worth it? >>> This Month's Column

2008 Calendar
Want to see the ALL the remaining courses in 2008? Download a schedule.

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Ten Wines Under $10 NEW
Tuesday, August 12th (AWS Wine Room, Roswell)
Instructor: Jane Garvey

The economy-sensitive course. Discover 10 new wines that taste better than their retail prices would suggest! >>>> More Info

Wines & Cheeses (featuring ACS Award Winning Cheeses)
Wednesday, August 13th (AWS Wine Room, Roswell)
Instructor: Michael Bryan

Artisanal cheeses are no less labors of love than their wine counterparts. Location of pastureland, seasonality of milks, and aging all weigh heavily on the final taste experience. Join us for 8 pairings of wine & cheese. >>>> More Info

For Beginners ONLY (SPECIAL SATURDAY CLASS!)
Saturday, August 16th (AWS Wine Room, Roswell)
Instructor: Michael Bryan

Sure you can drink it, but can you pair it? Can you speak it? Come to terms with it in a special tasting that helps you express yourself in the world of wines. Don't be left standing there holding the bottle--get more confidence and find more pleasure in every sip.

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World of Whites (WOW)
Wednesday, August 20th (AWS Wine Room, Roswell)
Instructor: Paul Kelly Wheeler

Ten amazing white wines from ten areas of the globe.

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Certified Specialist of Wine Training Program
Sunday, September 7th (AWS Wine Room, Roswell)
Instructor: Michael Bryan

Get the confidence that comes with having a "wine expert" credential. Includes 18 hours of training sessions, 250-page Study Guide, online study modules, quizzes, and exam. Almost 100 enthusiasts have gained this credential through us since November 2007. >>>> More Info (Discounts for Trade Personnel)

For Beginners ONLY
Wednesday, September 10th (AWS Wine Room, Roswell)
Instructor: Michael Bryan

Sure you can drink it, but can you pair it? Can you speak it? Come to terms with it in a special tasting that helps you express yourself in the world of wines. Don't be left standing there holding the bottle--get more confidence and find more pleasure in every sip.

>>>> More Info

Introduction to Wine, Level I
Monday, September 29th (AWS Wine Room, Roswell)
This is the last Intro Course in 2008

Text book, tasting guide, riveting interactive lectures, and six to twelve wines to taste per class. This course takes the wine curious and creates wine enthusiasts! >>>> More Info

• Wine Travel for those breathing Rarified Air
  When we ran our promotion for this year's Napa trip in October, most people said "Hey, looks awesome, but we can't afford it!" In retrospect, $3k for 5 days is cheap compared to $3400 for one night! What do you get in Bordeaux, France for $3400 per night? Read on
• Israeli Wines (Kosher or NOT) Getting Noticed
  Robert Parker, by far the most influential wine critic in the world, tasted 90 Israeli wines. In his prestigious Wine Advocate he gave 13 of those wines scores of 90-93. Even more recently, Wine Spectator rated 39 Israeli wines, of which 13 attained scores of 90 or 91. Read on for the top wines
• Bottle Shock Movie Not Representative of Reality (but receiving favorable reviews)
  If you read George Taber's Judgement of Paris, the basis for the movie, you'll discover that Spurrier was young at the time (played by 62 year-old Alan Rickman), that he was not struggling at all with his retail store in Paris, and that Mike Grgich of Chateau Montelana, as well as Warren Winiarski of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars played roles of enormous importance (but not important enough to garner air time in the movie) In the end, however, it is a MOVIE and we all know the difference between entertainment and documentary, of which this is the former. >> More
• 4 GB IPOD Nano for Winner of Six-Word Contest
  The Cranky Flier, a popular award-winning air travel blog, and BottleWise(TM), maker of smart travel solutions for the culinary traveler, will award the person who writes the best story with a 4GB iPod(R) nano. BottleWise eliminates wine travel challenges with an innovative travel bag that lets travelers safely transport two bottles of wine or other culinary treasures inside their checked baggage. The Contest
• Get Wild in Wine with a Sonoma Serengeti
  This 400-acre African wildlife preserve and safari tent camp -- smack dab in the heart of California wine country -- is home to more than 400 exotic African mammals and birds from all over the planet. >> More
• Poem Seemingly on Wine Actually About a Woman
  When you read the title as reader, you expect the poem to be about wine, when, SURPRISE! it’s actually about how wine reminds the poet of a certain special woman in his life. >> More
• Wine as Body Art
  Your editor here has thought about indelible imprinting of a wine-themed symbol on his skin more than once--these people, however, already have the guts. >> More

Jane's Monthly Dozen: Twelve Wines Under $20
by Jane Garvey

Some years ago, it was chic to be seen wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the pronouncement that life was too short to drink cheap wine. I saw this garment on a gentleman in the market, and said something about drinking only with one's mouth, not with one's wallet. (You see, I have a pillow in my living room emblazoned with "Life is too short to drink bad wine.") He smirked and rolled his eyes upward, and I quickly concluded he was not going to benefit further from my wisdom on the matter.

Bad wine can cost a lot of money, while good wine can treat one's wallet gently. The Spanish poet Antonio Machado (1875-1939) wrote in one of his little rhymed two-liners: Todo necio/confunde valor y precio. (All foods confuse price and value.) It doesn't rhyme in English, but you get the depth of his meaning.

Does it apply to wine among many other things? You bet. Leaving cheap aside, we look for good value wines--I often call them "Wednesday Wines-"--that bring delight to the lips and a lift to the palate. They may or may not be wickedly complex. If you're lucky, they will be. But even the simple ones have their merits They're wines that one doesn't need to exclaim over and analyze to death, but wines that simply give pleasure. Chill 'em if appropriate; drink 'em; and done. With friends or solo. Doesn't matter.

In today's economic straits, such wines will become increasingly sought after. Friends in the business of selling wines tell us that $19.99 is the new glass ceiling. While finding wines under $10 is becoming increasingly difficult, it's not beyond the realm of possibility. And even still there are some Europeans to look for, even with the dollar depressed against the Euro. And all this without having to reach for miserable drippings bearing the name of some exotic or fanciful critter.

Herewith is a round-up of good to excellent choices under $20. They cover the range, from sparkling to still, from lean to lush, and from dry to sweet. They can take you through a serious meal or supply you and a few choice friends with a lovely balmy evening on the back deck. So ain't life grand.???!!!