This wine and food column is of extreme financial importance. Banks are failing, AIG is owned by the government, bad loans are weighing down Wall Street. I needed a meeting with Chef Dave Repp (the recipe contributor) ASAP!!

“What can we do”, I asked my friend and chef, “We’re only two men who love food and wine to an almost socially debilitating level, how can we do our part in these unsure times?”

Chef Repp was at a loss, as was I. Thankfully there was wine to drink—an excellent bottle of wine from the Bierzo region of Spain named Flavium. The chef after remarking on how good it is, asked how much it costs. It was then that it occured to me that this bottle of wine cost just $9.99 and it rocks! I told Chef Repp the cost of the bottle and after several attempts and explanations on my column concept he got a mischievous twinkle in his eye as the hamster started to run full speed on the wheel. Dave was on board and took control of this important meeting. I felt like a waiter who brought the wrong food to the wrong table. Was Chef Repp going to hug me or hurt me? Thankfully we were both working toward the same goal. Killer wines under $10 and a mouthwatering recipe done on the cheap that will make you look like a superstar chef to your friends and family. This…my friends will be our contribution to these dire financial times—Great bottles of wine under $10 and inexpensive dinners.

Nothing feels better than finding a great bottle that costs less than $10. I don’t care if you make $20,000 a year or $2 million, the satisfaction involved in knowing that you did your homework with regard to wine and now your friends think they are drinking something expensive. It’s a beautiful know-it-all type of feeling that you should embrace, just don’t hurt yourself while attempting to slap yourself on the back.

With the confines of the column I’m not going to delve too deeply into these wines. Let’s start with the Aglianico grape which is grown mainly in the hot areas of Italy. It’s a weighty wine on the palate that has smoky flavors and good acidity. They can range in price like any wine, but I have one, Carraia at $8.99 is…well… really nice. Next we have Pine & Post Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State that has some nice flavors of casis and cherry followed with some medium tannins for $9.99. Ok class stay focused—lunch time is in three more paragraphs. Next up we have the Flavium, 90 points from Robert Parker, made with the Mencia grape from the Bierzo region of northwestern Spain. This varietal and region is rapidly growing in popularity and quality. This wine has lively acid balanced with flavors of black currant, raspberry and licorice. It’s a steal at $9.99. Now I know it can be challenging to find a good Pinot Noir at $11.99 let alone $8.99…alas I have good news, I have found one…Monferrato, and it’s from Italy…that’s right Italy. It has that classic raspberry nose with a medium/light body, medium acid and a nice finish for $8.99.

For all of the white wine lovers out there, I didn’t forget about you. First on the docket is Steenberg, this great little Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa. Clean, with a refreshing nose of citrus and lemongrass that doesn’t overpower like some New Zealand Sauvignon blancs can. It finishes with a nice palate-cleansing-refreshing acidic zing, $8.99. Stay with me folks, your only homework is to drink these wines. I’m an easy “A.” Chardonnay…everyone has an opinion either negative or positive about this groovy grape. This Chardonnay is Stimson Estates made by Chateau Ste. Michelle, a classic vineyard from Washington State. My favorite wine making region in the United States. Not much on the nose which is typical of chardonnay accept a bit of vanilla maybe some litchi and a touch of oak. It is an excellent chardonnay for $7.49.

So many great wines for under $10 and not enough space to write about them. There are many more wines in my store that fall into the “under $10” category that are fantastic. I’ve tasted almost every bottle in my store and I can tell you that I had to taste a lot of sub-par “under $10” wines to find the ones that I thought were really good. My palate took all the abuse so everyone else could enjoy the wines that didn’t shake through and made onto my shelves. If you have an questions, comments or concerns…y’all know where to find me.

I’ve done my part for the economy, now it’s up to Chef David Repp, of Splash Restaurant in Westport to wow you with his economically sensitive recipe. Trust me, it rocks!

I would pair the Pine & Post Cabernet or the Flavium from Spain with the following recipe. Can’t miss!

French beef stew with mushrooms, and red wine
3 lbs stew meat such as chuck
¼ cup brandy
2 onions thinly sliced
1 tbls garlic minced
½ tsp sugar
Pinch of each, nutmeg, pepper, thyme
1 ½ cups red wine
3 tbls butter
½ pound crimini mushrooms quartered
1 cup low sodium beef broth
1 tbls tomato paste
1 tbls corn starch blended with2 tbls beef broth

Marinate the beef in a nonreactive container with the onions, brandy, garlic, sugar, and nutmeg and let sit in the refrigerator for 8 hours

In a heavy 5 quart sauce pan heat 1 tbls canola oil and brown the strained meat save the marinade

Add the onions and mushrooms and sauté

Add the tomato paste, the meat marinade, and beef broth and red wine. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 and half hours

Using a slotted spoon remove the meat from the cooking liquid to a serving dish. Bring the liquid to a boil and reduce by 1 fourth. Stir in corn starch mixture and simmer until thickened. Add salt and pepper if necessary. Pour sauce over the meat and serve with buttered egg noodles