Affordable, Quality Wines -- Demystified

When wine writer and certified sommelier Carolyn Evans Hammond saw a gaping hole in wine coverage, she quickly brainstormed a book idea. Most magazines play up expensive bottles that are difficult to find at your local wine shop, she says, and that intimidates many people. What about mass-produced wines which cost less than $15?

"Good, Better, Best Wines: A No-Nonsense Guide to Popular Wines" (Alpha Books) is her second wine book, a follow-up to "1000 Best Wine Secrets" (Sourcebooks). The book reviews some of the world's biggest wine producers in an attempt to defy the myth that big is not better when it comes to wine. "The market really drops off at $15. The vast majority -- about 90 percent -- of what we drink is under $15," she says.

Consisting only of reviews, each page is devoted to a different wine, organized by varietal, with a dollar-symbol attached ($: $5, $$: $8, $$$: $11 or $$$$: $15). In researching the book she sipped 500 wines and ultimately included her top 250 picks. Another criterion was that the wines had to be available from coast to coast in the United States.

We asked Evans Hammond to reveal her favorite pick in each category, with special attention paid to summer-appropriate vino. Find her favorites after the jump.
Wine under $5: Gallo Family Vineyards Twin Valley Moscato, California
"It really should be a dessert wine -- it's sweet and balanced with great acidity. Lovely wine and you can't beat the price."

Wine under $8: Trapiche Varietals Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina
"It's absolutely chock-full of fruit -- a crowd-pleaser -- and Malbec's really hot right now. It's killer. And a great barbecue wine."

Wine under $11: Mark West Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, California
"Pinot Noir is very hard to produce, and expensive to produce. Pinot Noir is what you turn to for a red to go with fish. It's honestly a steal for that price. I think you need a light wine for summer." Plus, she says, it's consistently good from vintage to vintage.

Wine under-$15: Mirassou Winery Pinot Grigio, California
"Pinot Grigio is really hot right now. It's really hard to find one that has mineralities and complexities. Lovely, elegant and delicate with the traditional crispness you associate with Pinot Grigio."

But what about those times when you walk into a local shop and have no clue what is a good label and which wines you'll only regret buying. Evans Hammond offers these three fail-safe tips:

1.) Ninety percent of a wine's flavor comes from its grape variety. Learn a few grapes you like, she advises, and "if you like the taste of black currants, for instance, you'll always love Cabernet Sauvignon."

2.) "If you buy from a reliable producer, you won't be let down and after all, these are large producers who have the resources to make consistently good wines."

3.) The best value continues to come from the biggest producers.