In a perfect world, everyone would have the time to stop in at their local wine shop to pick up an eclectic bottle or two for dinner. But the reality is, sometimes all that’s possible is to grab a bottle of red or white from a supermarket or big box store.Here’s what I found at Target last week. Their selection isn’t huge, but it’s still possible to come home with something that won’t embarrass you. These may not be the most exciting wines on the block, and I wouldn’t necessarily serve them to wine-geek friends, but they’re decent drinking and widely available. 2012 Hess Select Chardonnay "Monterey County" ($9.99)The Hess Collection has always paid as much attention to the wines at the lower end of their line as to the top wines. The grapes for Hess Select Chardonnay come from their Shirtail Creek vineyard in Monterey County. The wine is crisp and aromatic, with zesty citrus and tropical notes. It even spent some time in French oak, not a given at this price. 2011 Clos du Bois Chardonnay "North Coast" ($9.99)Target is selling this Clos du Bois Chardonnay from the North Coast appellation at a good price.

If you like your Chardonnay creamy and oaky, then this is the one that won’t break the bank. best wine quotes about friendsA respectable everyday Chardonnay.2012 Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling "Columbia Valley" ($7.49)The entry-level Riesling from Washington’s respected Chateau Ste. Michelle is sourced from Columbia Valley. where can you buy wine in njCrisp and refreshing with accents of lime and mineral, it is off-dry, which is important to know before you buy. best cheap wine under 5 dollarsBut before you put that bottle down, consider that it’s just the wine for Thai dishes and other Asian cuisines.good wine from 1996

2011 Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages ($10.99)The most basic of Beaujolais from well-known producer Louis Jadot. best white wine for brunchIt has some character, a bit of earthiness, but not the lush fruit or complexity of a Beaujolais cru. best wine making softwareStill, for just more than $10, it’s a great pairing for grilled sausages, a burger or BBQ take-out. 2012 Castello di Gabbiano Chianti ($7.99)An enjoyable Chianti from Castello di Gabbiano at a very good price. Easy drinking, this is the red for a pizza or spaghetti night at home, and at this price, you don’t have to worry whether someone is pouring themselves wine at a pace far faster than everybody else. The very definition of quaffable wine.2011 Sterling Vintners Collection Cabernet Sauvignon "Central Coast" ($11.99)Okay, so this is a big step down from the behemoths Robert Parker anoints with the big scores.

But it’s Cabernet Sauvignon and it’s well under $20. Think of it as aspiring to be great with that Cab spiciness, and yes, the requisite notes of dark fruit and tobacco. It’s got tannin, too. Just pair it with a juicy steak or some pork chops and it will do fine.2011 Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Claret ($15.99)With its dressy black label and gold netting, Francis Coppola’s Diamond Collection Claret (even the name is old-school) is a convincing package — and the most expensive wine on this list.  Even so, it’s less than $20 and looks like something pricier. A Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet with small amounts of Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it’s smooth and easy drinking, if a bit too tame.2011 Clos du Bois Merlot "North Coast" ($10.99)A blend of Merlot with tiny amounts of Syrah and Petit Verdot, this is a Merlot for drinkers who enjoy a soft, velvety wine with sweet fruit flavors and supple tannins. A gentle red, in other words, which would make nice with a roast chicken or grilled lamb chop.2012 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir "California" ($10.99)The best-known name in California wine, Robert Mondavi makes wines all over the map and price points.

The Private Selection label is one of his least expensive lines, but implies some sort of exclusivity and panache for what is a very basic red wine from a historic Napa Valley producer. Just the thing for a burger or some ribs.2011 Ravenswood Vintners Blend Old Vine Zinfandel "California" ($10.49)From the Zinfandel pioneer Ravenswood, this is a bottle to grab for that barbecue you’re planning. Ripe, intense and peppery, this feisty Zin has more personality than you’d expect at this price point. The grapes are sourced from vineyards all over California, and in this case old vine Zinfandel is blended with 16% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah and 3% other dark grapes.11 red wines to go with lambOreo snack hacks by Michael Votaggio, Roy Choi and Nguyen TranBierBeisl's Bernhard Mairinger to open Imbiss downtown this summerIf you’re like most Americans, you drink champagne maybe three times a year. New Year’s Eve, a friend’s wedding, one boozy brunch—that’s it. It’s only a special type of drinker who makes champagne part of their regular diet, and “poppin’ bottles” exited our culture through the same back door as Autotune, Blackberry, and LMFAO.

But, sometimes you need to pick up a bottle of bubbly for an occasion. Unfortunately, as with many products, you can’t trust a label or a price to signal how much you’re gonna like it. To test this out, we walked to our local Target and purchased five bottles of inexpensive sparkling wines. Then we assembled a panel of brave tasters and gave them each a whirl. (First a note: Yes, we are aware that “ only comes from the French region of .” These bottles claimed to be prosecco, sparkling wine, and “California Champagne.” We’re going use these words indiscriminately here, but if you care about this kind of thing, you might want to go readinstead.) Ten of our of bravest friends sat around an office conference room and tasted each variety. They covered their eyes so they couldn’t see what they were swilling, because Next, they each sniffed, tasted, maybe gagged, and then told us what they thought. Then they predicted how much that bottle would cost at Target.

The results surprised us. We figured we’d get the most from our intrepid tasting panel, many of whom had real work meetings to attend after this session, by starting with one of the more popular and moderately-priced options. But Korbel was our biggest under-performer, and nobody really seemed to enjoy drinking it. We heard from our panel, “this reminds me of childhood,” which is a weird thing to say about an alcoholic beverage, until they clarified that the bouquet evoked “Fruit Roll-Ups” and “Tree Top sweetened applesauce.” Our favorite tester took a slug, muttered “This is dees-gusting,” and then slammed the rest. Better keep an eye on that one. Of all the samples we tasted, Cook’s was the most reviled, yet not the cheapest. The first thing you notice upon pouring is the color, or rather the lack thereof. This brute (get it?) is nearly clear, but kind of disconcertingly -clear, like a glass of melted ice that once had a drunk-up cocktail in it.

But don’t let Cook’s looks deceive you. This bad boy goes to town on all your other senses. Cheese came up a lot in the comments. Like “this smells like bleu cheese,” and “it smells like cheesy feet.” Assessment of the flavor profile was nearly unanimous. Everyone made quizzical “I taste nothing” faces, followed by shared looks of disgust. The aftertaste was a major concern. (“This tastes like when you keep flowers in a vase too long, and then the water starts to turn.”) How much did our testers dislike Cook’s? Mimosas were even ruled out. “I wouldn’t even put orange juice in this.” “This would ruin a good glass of O.J.” The most positive comment was “I bet this would taste okay after you already had two glasses of it.” Most people didn’t finish even their meager samples. Verdict: Not for brunch. Maybe for well after midnight, under pre-soused circumstances. Menage a Trois is a solid wine brand that’s really blown up in the last 10 years.

And it was the first one we tried that didn’t make people wince. The pour started well. “Ooh, it actually sounds fizzy,” remarked a tester with her eyes closed. When they opened their eyes, more positive vibes were shared. “This is the most promising looking one,” we heard. But one tester was unimpressed with the scent. “It smells like a handrail. Or maybe a bike rack.” But people really liked this bubbly, at least compared with the prior two blech-makers. Verdict: Save this bottle for your friends, then serve something cheaper to randos.Who doesn’t like candy? Our panel kept referencing candy varieties during the smell portion. “It smells like a Jolly Rancher.” “It smells like Haribo Peach Rings.” “It smells like chemical strawberry cough syrup.” Yum, all the kids’ favorites! But things took a dark turn when they sipped. This Barefoot variety was clearly some kind of fruit moonshine concocted in a prison cell, and yet… and !… people went high on the predicted price.

What is going on? There’s a phenomenon called the Netflix Effect. People put and difficult documentaries about the justice system in their queues, and then they binge on and Our actions often betray our hopes and best intentions. So yeah, you wince at this sugary Barefoot Bubbly, but then you go and price it above retail, you wacky testing panel. You like the sweet stuff. Verdict: Drink it with someone who has even less shame than you. Andre California Champagne is Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson. It is the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors beating Lebron. It is Hilary Swank winning Best Actress. Andre, the cheapest bubbly at Target, won our panel. This $4.99 bottle—yes, $4.99, less than you’d pay for an equivalent portion of 2% milk—received the highest predicted price from our tasters. “This smells like champagne,” was the first comment we heard. That’s promising,” was another. Yes, people were united in their assessment that Andre was legitimately the type of fluid we had promised to put in their glass.