Single or Taken -- Valentine's Day is a Good Day for Wine

Valentine's Day is one of those holidays that people love when they're involved and hate when they're not. One of my favorite anti-Valentine's day events I've heard about is Atlanta's "Bitter Ball" -- entertaining to say the least.

borrowed from http://bit.ly/frjrTa

But regardless if you're celebrating Valentine's Day with your love, roommate, friend, or mom - it's a great excuse to enjoy some good wine.  Wines can quickly get expensive and for anyone on a budget, that can be a big deterrent from enjoying a nice glass of vino.

Lately I've been on a hunt for fantastic wines under $15, but my mom found a great article in Country Living about some of the best red wines under $10!  To find anything under $10 is practically a miracle these days, so finding good (emphasis on good) wines under $10 is equally miraculous.

Here are their recommendations:

1. Alto Almanzora Este, 2006 ($8.99)
 With flavors of blueberry, plum, fruitcake, and chocolate, this Spanish six-grape blend is delish at $8.99. (garnetwine.com)

2. Alamos, 2008 ($9.99)
I love Malbec wines and they're quite the popular choice of red right now.  This is an Argentinian Malbec with a hint of sweet spice, making it a fabulous companion for a well-cooked steak, especially at such a reasonable price. (wine.com)

3. Sagelands, 2005 ($9.89)
This Washington Cabernet Sauvignon is said to get better with time, so store some extras of this for a great party wine. (drinkthegrapes.com)

4. Penfolds Koonunga Hill, 2007 ($7.97)
This is a new favorite of my parents.  This remarkably well-priced Australian mix of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon is incredibly drinkable, but goes exceptionally well with roasted root vegetables and lamb. (crownwineandspirits.com)

5. Vinos Pinol Ludovicus, 2007 ($8.99)
This was the favorite choice of the author of the article.  It's a combo of four Spanish wines and was described as an, "eye-opener."  It tastes expensive, making it a great inexpensive gifting wine that doesn't need to taste like a gifting wine. (bassins.com)

6. Borsao Campo de Borja, 2008 ($7.99)
This is one of my favorite reds and I was so excited to see that it's appreciated by others too!  This is another Spanish wine, a mix of Grenache and Tempranillo, and its dark fruity flavor is great with everything from a rich chicken to cheese and crackers to a hearty steak. (thewinecountry.com)

7.  Domaine Andre Brunel, 2005 ($7.00)
This French Grenache is enjoyable in its simplest form by the glass, but it's also great for an elegant dinner. (winespecialist.com)

8. Nine North Ten Mile, 2006 ($9.99)
This is a four-grape California red is often recommended as wonderful accompaniment to duck. (ultimatewineshop.com)

9. Redtree, 2008 ($6.99)
Wine bloggers are crazy for this light-bodied California Pinot Noir, with flavors of clove and summer berries. (klwines.com)

(all photographs are from Country Living)

Happy Valentine's Day... and bottoms up!