Full-Bodied and Delicious Red Wines Under $10

If you are like me, you will enjoy the feeling of satisfaction that comes from seeking out red wine that is both delicious and affordable. A $10 bottle of wine is roughly the "equivalent" in quality to a $20 or $25 bottle at a fine restaurant-this is because mark-up on wine at restaurants tends to run from 100% to 200%, whereas liquor store markup over the wholesale cost is more reasonable (around 50% in many cases). To put it simply, you can find a great bottle of wine for much less if you buy it at a liquor store as opposed to drinking it at a restaurant.

My two favorite brands of under-ten dollar red wines would have to be Australia's scrappy Yellowtail Syrah (or Yellowtail Shiraz, as it is frequently marketed) and the American-made Ravenswood Vintners Blend (Merlot).

Yellowtail is a massively marketed wine brand here in the United States, although interestingly the brand is hardly recognized in many parts of Australia, where the wine is actually made and bottled.

Yellowtail's Shiraz is fruity, sweet, and delicious. The bottle sports a tempting kangaroo graphic and colorful promotional text; all Yellowtail corks are rubber (actually a blessing as this guarantees a good bottle every time. Traditional corks fail up to ten percent of the time, meaning there is a chance you could get a "cork rot" bottle that tastes like vinegar.)

Regarding cork rot, should you ever encounter a bad bottle of wine, many state liquor laws allow you to return the bottle for another bottle of the same brand should you suspect the wine has "gone bad".

Not only is Yellowtail immune to cork rot, but they use fresh grapes-the sun-drenched vineyards of southern Australia are an ideal environment and climate for good winemaking. (In fact, Yellowtail is so affordable in part because there is so much wine being produced in this region. It's an economy of scale. A bottle will only cost you $6 to $8 at most U.S. liquor stores.)

Ravenswood Vintners Blend is a slightly more expensive red wine; I usually see it priced at around $9.99 in the U.S. It is a strong, oaky merlot with a great finish for such an affordable wine (yes, it has a traditional cork, but don't let this discourage you).

Ravenswood is arguably my favorite affordable California red. The brand is well-known and is frequently available at high-end restaurants as well.

I have found that Vintners Blend pairs well with a prime rib or juicy steak. Avoid it on summer nights when you want a "lighter" glass of red, though, as the flavor is pretty intense.

For a while, Ravenswood had a "no wimpy wines" promotional graphic on the back of their bottle labels-the vineyard prides itself on having sulphites in the wine. Sulphites can cause hangovers, but they also add flavor to the wine. If you are looking for a virile wine with strong domestic flavor, go with Ravenswood Vintners Blend. If you want something lighter, but still a red, opt for a bottle of Yellowtail Shiraz.