IntoWine.com asked our panel of wine experts their recommendation for one California Central Coast wine worth seeking out (but which won't break the bank): Tucked into the sun-drenched hills of Paso Robles, the vineyards and winery of L’Aventure continue to impress. Directing the project from the soil up is Stephan Asseo, a ‘renegade’ vigneron who understands that incredible wine must be and can only be a truthful expression of place. Never short on sensibility, Asseo planted his warm Central Coast vineyards to Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon , and Petit Verdot in the late 1990’s and has since been reaping the benefits. Find L'Aventure Wines During a recent visit to the estate, I had the pleasure of tasting the 2006 L'Aventure Optimus , a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot. This is a big, big wine that is as friendly and approachable when young as it is soft, supple and voluptuous while it ages. If you can find it, try it. This wine frequently sells out and is highly sought after. (About $45) - Benjamin Spencer , a diploma student with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, writes for IntoWine.com about wine from a winemaker's perspective.

Attend the 2009 Rhone Rangers Grand Tasting March 22 in San Francisco 10. Spit in public! The best way to appreciate samples of some of the 500 or so wines available from about 125 American wineries is to use the provided spit cups in front of about 2,000 utter strangers. Well, it’s ok to swallow some of your very favorites. But using the spit cups most of the time sure enhances the experience and lets you enjoy a great dinner in San Francisco afterwards.

The region of Tuscany makes many outstanding and well knows wines. Intowine.com has already explored Super Tuscans , Chianti ,...

Cheap Wine is Au Courant With all our economic woes, it is nice to know you can cut back on wine, without having to “cut back on wine,” if you know what I mean. Bargains are everywhere these days, with many premium wines actually lowering their prices to retail outlets. But you can also find excellent quality wines and hidden gems in the under $25 range. And my philosophy is that price does not always dictate quality when it comes to good wine.

When it comes right down to it, a ‘bad wine’ can almost always be attributed to a flaw in the winemaking . A multitude of influences can determine how intense a wine is and thus how it is perceived by the taster, but the actual act of making wine is the catalyst between the grape and the glass – between plonk and quality wines. Anyone can squeeze grapes to make juice, let it ferment, and settle. That’s the easy part, and it’s quite natural – ever left a container of juice in the fridge too long?

Spanish wine expert Julian Jeffs calls Terra Alta "a place to watch." Winemakers in this remote northeastern region have set their sights high. They hope to make Terra Alta a star player on the international winemaking stage, following in the footsteps of their neighbors from Priorat. With wine lovers around the world focusing on value as well as quality, Terra Alta's winemakers have an opportunity to do just that.

IntoWine.com asked our panel of wine experts their recommendation for one Spanish wine worth seeking out (but which won't break the bank): See also: Best Spanish Red Wines Where to begin? Spain is so huge with so many different styles of wine. Yet, people talk about it as if it were one region. I am going to let the traditionalist in me take over. For most of Spain’s wine history over the last two hundred years, the area that produced the most famous wines was Rioja. This landlocked area in north central Spain still makes some of the best wine: some of it in the modern style, while other wines are produced in a traditional method. Find Muga Wines I am going to suggest the traditional producer of Muga. This winery, founded in 1932 makes a variety of wines at many price levels. I first am going to recommend seeking out wines from the fabulous 2004 vintage. Then look for either the Reserva or Selection Especial. These should cost around $30 and $45 respectively. While not inexpensive, these wines can be brought home and drunk or cellared for a decade or more. Made from the Tempranillo grape, they have brilliant cherry flavors with vanilla notes. Perfect with hearty to light foods or by themselves. This is a winery I would trust in all vintages with all of their different wines. - Loren Sonkin is an IntoWine.com Featured Contributor and the Founder/Winemaker at Sonkin Cellars.

Along the French border with Germany lies the region of Alsace (all-SAHss). The region’s customs are a combination of both the French and German culture, a result of the political turmoil this region has long experienced. Alsace has changed ownership four times in the past few hundred years. Since World War I, this area has belonged to France. The wines, however, bear as much resemblance to the wines of Germany as they do to the wines of France. To be more precise, the wines of Alsace are a hybrid of the two, yet distinct from either.

Click on each image below to view a pictorial tour of Porto. Includes pictures of Porto from both sides of the Douro as well as many of the major port houses and attractions. Included you will find multiple images of La Maison des Porto, a must see port only wine bar/retail store a block off the...