Fifty years ago if you’d asked for a glass of Malbec, you'd probably be greeted with a long, awkward silence.

At some point early in your dating history, the person you're newly with is going to say, "You know what I could really go for?

If you’ve ever choked up at a restaurant when the sommelier asks if you’ve had a chance to look over the wine list, or developed an immediate vendetta against anyone who claims to be a “wine expert”, then fear and hate no more.

Your wall-mounted bottle opener has served you well, but it’s time to invest in a corkscrew, because, even though you really, really love beer, there’s a bottle of vino out there with your name on it (especially if your name is Ernest & Julio Gallo).

Because not everyone wants to spend more than the cost of Chinese take-out on a bottle of wine you are bringing to your friend Brad's friend Rachel's friend Liz's house party, we asked Jonathan Cristaldi of The Noble Rot to select four whites and eight reds that are great and under the cost of a container of beef and broccoli (with rice for two, and maybe some Peking ravioli).