I found Charles Shaw unpalatable, but I did find some enjoyable $4, $6, $8 Italian wines. Up to a point though, you are buying something with price: reliabilit

I found Charles Shaw unpalatable, but I did find some enjoyable $4, $6, $8 Italian wines. Up to a point though, you are buying something with price: reliability. I got a lousy run of our favorite $4 nero d'avola. Never bothering to buy that one again. A friend of mine makes wine, here in SF bay. My wife and I splurge the $30 on his blended white, because we so rarely find white wines that excite us like his does. Are we overpaying? As an occasional treat, it is nice to know you will get something we will really like, rather than being so "clever" as to save money and not get a truly enjoyable glass with our meal.