From: Sonoma County, Calif.

Price: $18

Serve with: Barbecued ribs, spicy pasta

Not for the faint of palate, this well-made Gallo product is a big red wine with a heady alcohol level but even more fruit. It boasts lush, ripe flavors of blackberry, wild berries and chocolate — kind of like a vintage port without the sweetness. It's a real mouthful that stacks up well against more exalted names.

— Michael Dresser

2008 Rancho Zabaco Sonoma Heritage Vines Zinfandel

From: Sonoma County, Calif.

Price: $18

Serve with: Barbecued ribs, spicy pasta