John Smith wrote:

Where else in the world other than Australia can you drink a good red for
less than $5 a bottle?

California?

Trader Joe's has "Robert Shaw" merlot for US$2.99. In my opnion, if a
Californian pays more than the "Minimum Wage" ($6.50) for a bottle of
wine, he is getting taken. There is plenty of good $4 wine in
California. But then you have my blessings to pay upwards of $24 if you
think that's necessary. I go by the state fair awards posted on the
supermarket shelf.

According to this guy http://www.billybubbles.demon.co.uk/. The French
pay one euro per litre for decent red wine, in a take your own empty
bottles fashion. He buys wine from the coal merchants, who sell
straight out of the barrel.

My wife selects wine based on the pretty label on the bottle. I
scoffed at her approach, until I realized it had some merit. My theory
on why her methon works is that a wine maker who creates a stern and
traditional label on a bottle, probably creates a stern and traditional
wine. However a maker who creates a very pretty label, probably creates
a very pretty wine.