Yes, that $85 Cabernet Sauvignon is a special bottle. But when the winery offers a lighter version that may not have the aging capabilities and complexities of the more expensive bottle, it still gives folks a chance to to taste the quality, style and flavor profiles of their wines.

One of these that comes to mind is the Ciacci Piccolomini Toscana Rosso. Ciacci is an incredible Brunello producer and one of my favorite wineries (in fact, I’m such big a fan that my dog is named Ciacci…true story). Their Brunello starts at about $65 (retail for their entry level), with the single vineyard Brunello at over $100. And yessss…they are worth every penny!

But this is where the Toscana Rosso comes in. Made from younger vines and blended with small amounts of Merlot and Cab Sauv, you now have a wine that shows off Ciacci’s winemaking style without the high price tag. It’s a less tannic, ready to drink, lighter bodied, red wine at under $25.

Another wine that comes to mind is the Evening Land Salem Chardonnay. Evening Land makes an incredible selection of higher end Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, along with a few other fun varietals. Their wines are some of the finest coming out of Oregon.

Salem is a newer label for Evening Land…again, with some younger fruit and less time in the barrel, this allows them to offer a very approachable, lightly oaked Chardonnay that has mass appeal at under $25.                                                                                                 

Occasionally, we come across a supplier that just has a gift for finding value wines of incredible quality.

One of these would be Mary Taylor Wines. Mary has had a passion for European wines for decades and decided her mission was to introduce folks to the wide swath of wines available in Europe…and do it prices that don’t intimidate. So today we offer up two of her selections, both from France.

Mary’s Bordeaux Rouge was a wine that really caught me off guard. The dark fruit and structure were reminiscent of a wine at a much higher value. For those wanting to explore the world of Bordeaux, pick up a bottle and start your journey.

My second selection from Mary is her Macon-Villages from Burgundy. To my Chardonnay-loving friends, this is a wine not to be missed. No, you are not going to hit in the head with oak. What you will get is citrus fruit, hints of melon and kiwi, and enough acidity to keep this wine fun and refreshing. Again, it’s a great way to explore the subtle nuances of Burgundian Chardonnay. Keep your eyes open when shopping for Mary’s wines

And let us not forget about California.

Sean Minor started his winemaking journey back 2005. He has searched out the best vineyards in California and has consistently released wines that not only scream quality, but don’t make you scream at the prices. His Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir offers up aromas of wild plums and cloves, with flavors of vivid red cherries, spices, and vanilla. This wine shows why Sonoma Pinot Noir is so sought after.

OK…the big finish, with my favorite wine region and my favorite grape, Nebbiolo.

Piedmont, Italy, is home to both Barolo and Barbaresco, both of which are made with 100 percent Nebbiolo grapes. They are stunning wines, both showing powerful aromatics, lots of red fruits, zingy acidity and silky tannins. Both are very age worthy and yes, pricey.

Now to their younger brother. Many of the producers will release Nebbiolo from their younger vines. These young Nebbiolo wines are fresh and fruity…they are great food wines and a terrific way to work your way up to “The Big B’s.” At the moment, one of my favorite Nebbiolos is the Angelo Negro Angeline Nebbiolo.

So, to finish up…I could have written about any lesser-priced wines, but these selections allow you to get a look at some wines that you may not have been familiar with, or perhaps were intimidated by the cost. The journey — and it’s worth it with these regions and grapes — has to start somewhere. These wines give you some insight as to what can follow, at a price that hopefully works.

Click below for some of our favorites…

Mike Stolese is the owner of Vermont Wine Merchants, a wholesale distribution company based in Burlington.