Give me your best “this didn’t cost much but tastes like $100” wine picks. I’m ballin’ on a budget 
Rioja all day. You can find aged bottles for under $20 with that leathery, earthy goodness. So underrated.
Try The Walking Fool by Caymus. It’s a little more $$$ (around $30), but soooo worth it. Rich, smooth, kind of like if Cabernet and Zin had a baby.
If you want POWER, go for Amarone or Barolo. Those wines hit like a freight train (in the best way). You can actually find cheap bottles of them at Trader Joe’s.
I still can’t believe how good some Montepulciano d’Abruzzo bottles are for like $12. Total dinner party hack.
Trader Joe’s Reserve wines are lowkey solid. Look for the Gold Label series—tastes like $40 bottles.
Côtes du Rhône. You can get a solid bottle for under $15 and it feels fancy. Super smooth.
Tempranillo all the way. Spanish wines in general give you way more bang for your buck than California.
Honestly I think glassware helps too. Pour that $14 Garnacha into a big glass and suddenly you’re in a Nancy Meyers movie.
If you’re into whites, look for Picpoul de Pinet. Sounds fancy, costs like $11.
Bogle makes a Petite Sirah that’s like $9 and punches way above its weight.
I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned Portugal yet. You can get killer reds for under $10 and they drink like double that.
Zinfandel gets a bad rap but some Lodi Zins are 
for under $15. Big flavor, tiny price.
Pro tip: look for second-label bottles from big producers. Sometimes they make ‘off-brand’ wines with the same grapes but way cheaper.
Once found a $6 Malbec at Aldi that I swear could’ve passed for $30. Not always consistent, but fun to hunt for.