A lot of people I know refer to Whole Foods as "Whole Wallet" because of its relatively high prices on produce and other food items. I shop there regularly for health supplements and specialty foods I can't find elsewhere. I am finding, though, that their wine department, stocked with many relatively obscure organic and sustainably grown wines sourced by their buyers from around the world, does contain some relative bargains. When Whole Foods--the 30th largest retailer in the U.S., with over 400 stores around the country, as well as in Canada and the U.K.--recently offered to send me their "Summer Top 10 Wines," currently on sale and highlighted with large display posters at local stores, I said I would be happy to receive and evaluate them. What arrived was a diverse group of wines--four whites, five reds and one sparkler--from literally all over the globe. A few came from producers I am very familiar with, but most are from makers I've never heard of. The price range runs from $7 to $20.

After tasting through this collection, which I scored from 86 to 91 points, I decided to apply a new QPR algorithm I've been working on for awhile. I'm calling it the RJ Quadruple P Scale, which stands for Price Per Premium Point. My current scale is still very much a working model. I've tried to base the values and increments between the values on a rough notion of the market value of wines at various point scores. I've aimed for a PPPP averaging $2 as representing a reasonable price for wine at different price points. For example, a price of $22 is not unreasonable for a wine rated 90 points, so I've assigned a value of 11 to a 90-point score, yielding a price per premium point of $2 for a wine priced at $22. For wines of much lower quality, where the incremental price difference between a wine scoring, say, 81 points and 83 points is not that significant, the steps per half rating point are only .2. For very highly rated wines, the increments between half rating points go up dramatically starting at the 92 point level, so that is reflected in the value per point.

In the case of the Whole Foods Summer Top 10, the #1 wine after I apply the PPPP scale is a tasty, varietally correct New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, with bright balancing acidity and complex flavors. It would be a refreshing accompaniment to a variety of summer fare, especially seafood and white cheeses, and at a price of only $12, and therefore a PPPP of only $1.09, it represents a very significant value. My #2 wine on this list is a $7 Tempranillo from Spain's Castilla-La Mancha region, which resembles a decent Rioja with some bottle age on it. Its 87-point score at that price point results in a PPPP of $1.27. This would be a very drinkable and affordable pairing for everything from grilled veggies to lighter meats. My third place wine on this list is a decent Vinho Verde from an importer I have gotten to know well over the years, from having been on panels and at tasting dinners with him. Bartholomew Broadbent knows how to source good quality, well priced wine. Vinho Verde is a perfect summer wine for its bright citrus flavors and vibrant acidity.

This one is priced at $9--which is reasonable for a Vinho Verde, although there are many others that generally run under $15. It will serve well as an aperitif or with salads and light cheeses of all kinds, as well as lighter seafood dishes.good wine to drink daily Number four gets my highest rating--91 points--and also has an excellent PPPP of $1.31. best wine in canada 2015It's a flavorful old vine Zin with good balancing acidity--Valravn. new age wine redThis is a small project by the owners of Banshee Wines, based on dry-farmed bush vines ranging from 50 to over 100 years old. where to buy dry wineI've seen this wine priced elsewhere at $20, which is still a good price, but Whole Foods currently has it for only $17. best italian wines uk

This is a wine that should age well for at least five years, so would not only complement this summer's barbecues and grilled meats, but could be lovely to open in cooler months over the coming years as well. The Chardonnay on the list--Andover Estate Arroyo Seco--comes in fifth for me based on its 89-point rating and excellent price, for good California Chardonnay, of $13. best dessert wine under 20Whole Foods claims to have bought the entire production of this wine, so you're not going to find it elsewhere. can you buy wine in indiaIt will be a crowd pleaser, and a versatile wine to pair with summer afternoons by the pool and a host of summer foods.best 7 bottle wine cooler All in all, I applaud Whole Foods for this diverse summer line up and the relatively bargain prices overall. buy french wine online usa

Here's to a fun summer full of food friendly, balanced wines that don't burn a hole in our wallets. For my complete tasting notes, scoring and pricing on each of these wines, see the complete post on my blog here.And a little intimidating? Sure, it's a deep and complex subject, but unless you're a philosopher with a vineyard, wine is simply about enjoying what's in your glass. We’ve built our entire wine department on this philosophy. Mix and match with reds, whites and everything in between — and get 10 percent off when you buy six bottles or more.Wonderful Wine Under $15 Great Value Wine Picks from Whole Foods It is a while since I posted on the wine offerings at the Whole Foods Market wine shop in New York City. I first visited the store shortly after it opened in 2009. This week I went back for another glimpse, in particular to seek out some delicious but good value offerings around $10-$12 / bottle. I was more than pleasantly surprised. To be honest, when I first visited the store in 2009 and sampled the wines, I was a little underwhelmed by what was on offer.

I found little by way of differentiation, and too much of the same old big brands. In contrast, this time I felt more like the kid in the candy store, a little mesmerized, excited by what I saw and had to remind myself not to go completely mad. The store is well laid out, bright and airy. What particularly appealed to me was the nice-sized area dedicated to local wines from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Lots of wines from Long Island, including some of my favorites (Channing Daughters, Lieb) and even a Grüner Veltliner from One Woman Winery. Now that is something interesting. The Fingerlakes is also well represented, a region that is now really coming of age, as I talked about when I reviewed Evan Dawson's book Summer in a Glass. I was also delighted to see a wide selection of American wines, not just from California, which of course was well represented, but also lots on offer from Oregon and Washington State. Compared to my last visit the current wine offerings will appeal to many different consumers.

I noted many excellent wines for $9.99, which is a particularly sweet price point, as well as lots between $15 and $20 and of course above. There is also a very good selection of "super" value wines between $2.99 and $6. While I certainly spotted lots of the familiar producer names, I was taken with the number of smaller brands and producers on offer. Noted quite a few Greek gems (and not Retsina! ) as well as a delicious dry Furmint from Hungary. Mary's Personal PicksAnd so on to my selection, randomly picked, because my interest was piqued, or I liked the bottle, or the back label and wanted to see what I could get for around $10. Not a poor wine in my selection. As a simple randon selection it augurs well for the rest of the wines in the store. • 2010 Ravines Keuka Village White Wine, Fingerlakes, $9.99 - Aromas of ripe, sweet stone fruit cocktail with hint of spice. Mouthwatering with brisk, racy acidity. Light-bodied and easy drinking (if you are a high acid lover!).

• 2010 Michel Delhommeau Cuvée St. Vincent Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie, Loire Valley, France $12.99 - Subtle nose, more mineral and characteristically leesy. Delightful spritzy tingle on the palate. Nicely focused, decent depth of flavor and minerally finish. • 2010 Jardin de la Fruitière, Loire Atlantique White Wine, Loire Valley, France $11.99 - Blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Melon de Bourgogne. Broad, nose of fresh orchard fruit. Crisp, nice earthy flavor adds depth. Clean, bright with hints of fresh ferns and evergreens. More mineral than fruit driven. • 2009 Harlaftis Dry Red Wine, Nemea, Greece, $9.99 - 100% Agiorgitiko. Earthy, gamey aromas of roasted meats. Dry, savory with tasty red plummy fruit, hints of tobacco. Seems a very honest wine and one very suited to food. • 2010 Leydier et Fils Vin de Pays du Vaucluse, France (Kermit Lynch Selection), $9.00 - Bright forest fruit aromas mingled with subtle creamy milk chocolate and warm butterscotch sauce.

Vibrant taste, full of ripe jammy fruit. Soft, smooth mouthfeel and creamy texture. Fairly simple and easy-drinking but well-made, no harsh edges. • 2010 Cave de Rasteau, Les Peyrières Rasteau, Rhône Valley, France, $12.99 - Though the most expensive of my selection it was my favorite of the reds. A typical southern Rhone blend of mainly Grenache with Syrah and Mourvedre. Lively red berry aromas jump from the glass. Good depth of fruit and vibrant flavors persist. Chewy texture, fairly robust with lots of savory minerality. Love to hear from our readers on your recent experiences with wines from Whole Foods. Next week I'll share some thoughts from the Whole Foods buyer John O'Neill on wine trends he is currently observing. Until next week happy sipping! Mary Gorman-McAdams, MW (Master of Wine), is a New York based wine educator, freelance writer and consultant. Related: Whole Foods Market Opens New Wine Store in Manhattan (Images: Mary Gorman-McAdams, MW)