Value is such an overused word today that we often shy away from using it. However, it is important when buying wine to pay attention to value, but that does not mean quality has to be ignored, because there are many terrific values in the wine market today. One of the keys to finding bargains without reading ad after ad or sifting through scores of emails is having a solid relationship with your local wine merchant who will pay attention to what you like and contact you with news of a wine that suits your taste at a price that tilts the quality price relationship in the favor of quality; making the price even better than it appears.

So where can these values be found? The answer is actually everywhere. The global economy has changed and there is overstocked wine from all areas of the world resulting in price decreases. The trick is which of these allows you to drink better wine rather than drink poor wine at a very low price? These come in every style and stopping by your local Vino 100 and see which gem they have discovered this week.

Another way to seek terrific ways to drink better for less is to look for premium boxed wines. We are all familiar with sea of inexpensive boxes of wine that have very little personality and even less flavor rewards; however, each week brings more offerings of quality in a box. There are wines from almost every major wine producing area of the world and can suit just about any taste preference. Boxed wines have been around for more than thirty years but the purists in the wine industry were rather reluctant in the early years to put super-premium wines in the bag for fear of consumer reaction. In today's world, consumers are concerned not only with the quality of wine, but with the environment and the carbon footprint of glass, and of course price. These are the reasons we now find the higher classified wines from France, Italy and Spain all available in the bag in box containers.

One of the earliest production markets was Australia, where three and five liter boxes have long been available and readily accepted by wine drinkers. One that we particularly like is the Hardy's Winery Stamp Collection Chardonnay, a three liter package (the equivalent of 4 standard bottles) available for around $20. This is a wine with fresh peach-like fruit, a medium bodied style and just enough oak for some depth. From the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., comes the Badger Mountain Pure White, a blend of Semillon, Riesling and Muller-Thurgau grapes, all certified organically grown, and with no sulphites added. The wine has all of the pleasant flavors you might look for in a refreshing summer wine such as apple blossoms and citrus fruits supported by fresh acids. This three liter box retails at about $23. Either of these wines is a great fit for summer drinking, whether it is a picnic, backyard cookout, or simply as a refreshing beverage on the patio after dinner.

There are a number of red wines to look for as well. If you want a lighter, fruit driven red that does well with a chill, look no further than Cuvee de Pena, a wine produced in the southwest of France, it is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and others. This three liter box sells for less than $25, which works out to the equivalent of less than $6 per bottle. This is a resounding statement of drink well at a terrific price! It is a light to medium bodied wine with red and black fruit flavors with a fleshy mouthfeel. Throw a box of this in the cooler and it is a wonderful addition to grilled burgers. Another wine produced over the Pyrenees Mountains in the Campo de Borja region of Spain is the Castillo de Fuendejalon (Fuendeyalon), a blend of Grenache and Tempranillo. This has the added dimension of some time in oak barrels and along with the depth of flavor of the oak and the ripeness of the Tempranillo grape, this is a good match for those preferring a bit more bottom in their wine. Maybe a little finer cut of beef is a better match for this one. Back in the good old USA, comes the Black Box Reserve Merlot, Sonoma County. The wine has bright red fruit flavors, not unlike ripe cherries, along with a toasty oak spice and depth. It is a terrific value and has appeal to a wide range of red wine drinkers. Available for less than $30.

There are so many more premium box wines to explore and enjoy, so stop by your local Vino 100 to try some of the options beyond these, such as Chianti, Cotés Du Rhone, Bordeaux and many more and see how much money you save and most importantly, drink well!