Barefoot Chardonnay

From: California

Price: $7

Serve with: Casual party food

The world is in dire need of well-made, enjoyable (as opposed to merely tolerable) $7 wines that you can pick up just about anywhere. I tasted through a group of $7 Barefoot wines, and this was the pick of the litter for this nonfan of chardonnay. It's bright and fresh, without any harsh or overbearing oak. It has good acidity and a clean finish. You could do a lot worse at four times the price. This nonvintage wine is no paragon of complexity, but it's just fine for serving at a holiday party.