I doubt Chevss intended for this thread to go off the rails so quickly.
I'm not a wine drinker and know very little about how to pick out a decent wine when I need it. We had a good friend who was very savvy with wine who once told us that at the very least, make sure the alcohol content is at least 12.5%. So that's what we do.
Any hints on what to look for other than alcohol content and fancy labels?
What I try to do is talk to people and experiment. If I try a wine I really like then I memorize it and recommend it to others. I know you like to cruise and I've found those great for picking the brains of the waiters, many of whom know a lot about wine, but a lot of liquor store managers are great and wine people just like to talk about wine. A lot of better packies will have scores and reviews from Wine Spectator next to the bottles. I like to read those. The more wine I drink the more I appreciate reds, but I still like a few whites with certain meals or when I'm just in the mood to go retro.
I don't like to spend more than 15 bucks for a bottle of wine unless I don't have a choice. This either makes me a cheap bastard without any class or wicked smart. I'm not sure which it is, but I swear you can find wine that is pleasing to many people without dropping tons of cash.
I know many people who drink awful wine i.e., cheapo white zinfandel or two buck chuck and with all due respect I can't drink that stuff. It tastes repulsive to me, but --- to each their own. Somebody might think the same about my choices below, but I've had good luck sharing them with people.
Here are a few of my 15 buck and under specials in a few different categories.
Line 39 Cabernet Sauvignon
Spellbound Petite Syrah
Toasted Head Chardonnay (I love this)
Any Italian Wine made from Sangiovese (red) grapes ( I don't know why. Waiter swore by them and he hasn't been wrong yet, imo )
Chateau St. Michelle whites (I like the chardonnay, but a lot of folks enjoy their pinot grigio)
I mean no disrespect for those that can appreciate more expensive wines, but I've found that, while many are delicious, more often than not I don't find them to be as good a value as the mid-priced stuff I favor.