Before I was a wine buyer, I was a wine consumer. And one that was a victim of our miserable economy, no less. So one of the most satisfying things about my job is finding inexpensive wines that are truly great values. And let me just say that for every “diamond in the rough” I bring into the store, there are about 20 that are… well, rough.

That being said, I have recently brought in two very noteworthy wines that are less than $10. The first, a fantastic white from the Dão region in north central Portugal, was produced by the Sociedade dos Vinhos Borges. Called Meia Encosta Vinho Branco (white wine), it has a bit of pear and lime fruits up front, followed by tons of stoney minerality. Great with light fare or just on its own, it’s a sophisticated wine for only $8.49.

The second noteworthy wine is La Croix Belle Syrah from the Languedoc region of southern France. This 100 percent Syrah has jammy fruit and enough tannin to show you it’s full-bodied, but just enough oak and great acidity to prove it’s from France. At $9.99, this one’s a steal – and a great everyday wine.

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