Boston Globe's Plonkapalooza

Today's Boston Globe contains the results of their annual Plonkapalooza, a compilation of 50 value wines that cost $12 or less.

Each year, the Globe asks five different wine retailers to nominate 6-8 red and white wines that cost $12 or less and that represent exceptional value. From those nominations, the list is winnowed down to 25 reds and 25 whites. Those selections are then evaluated blind by a panel of sommeliers.

The list of participating retailers included Bin Ends of Braintree, OurGlass Wine Company in Saugus, Menotomy Beer & Wine of Arlington, Panzano Provviste e Vino in Southborough, and Brookline Liquor Mart. The tasting panel included Nicole Bernier, general manager and wine director at Rendezvous restaurant in Cambridge, Kelly Coggins, wine and beverage director at Rialto Restaurant & Bar in Harvard Square and Cat Silirie, wine director for the No. 9 Group. This is a panel of people that definitely know wine. Stephen Meuse, the wine columnist for the Globe, rounded out the tasting panel.

In the article, you can read their top five red and white wines selections. You can also see the entire list of 50 wines. Most of the 50 wines (34 out of 50) came from France, Italy, Portugal or Spain). France had the most white wines (7), Spain had the most red wines (7) but Italy had the most overall wines (12). There were only 3 US wines, 2 from California and 1 from Washington. It does not seem that retailers are seeing California wines are being great values of $12 or less. There were a few scattered single choices, from India, Hungary, South Africa, Austria and Germany.

It is an interesting list, and worth checking out to see what value wines are recommended and locally available.