I live in the Wine Country of Northern California (Sonoma County, next to posher Napa County) and have been tasting lots of the local offerings for the last 20 years. It takes a while to develop the palate and appreciate the subtle differences between all the varietals, growing regions, and winemaking techniques.

While I enjoy a white now and then (mostly with seafood dinners), I'm big into cabernet and pinot noir, and an occasional zinfandel, syrah or merlot.

Trouble is, as the palate develops, it gets harder and harder to find affordable bottles I enjoy drinking. The good wines tend to be pricey, especially pinot noir. That said, I recommend Trader Joe's as a good source for low-priced but drinkable wines - you just have to taste a number of them and find out what you like.

...and the wine is liquid poetry. Robert Louis Stevenson

Cheers,
Michael