Over one hundred people tasted 24 reds priced under $10 selected from Billy’s Best Bottles Wines for 2009. These wines were ‘brown bagged’, with no labels showing. Wines were from Italy, France, Portugal, South Africa, Australia, Canada, Chile and Argentina. Everyone voted for their two favourites in Old World and New World categories.

– every wine scored at least ten votes
– there was no runaway winner
– a $11 Ontario red was included and it scored well
– Portugal and South Africa were the winning countries

***Print off the complete list of Recession Reds here (great shopping list!)***

Thanks to all the wine importers who donated generously, and to Roberto and Lucia of Grano for giving over their restaurant for the evening. The spaghetti meatball supper was a hit with everyone.

THE RESULTS
OLD WORLD STYLE: Very dry reds that work best with food. Rustic and refreshing.

JOINT FIRST PLACE OLD WORLD STYLE
Quinta de Crasto 07 Douro ‘Flor de Crasto’ Portugal $9.95 89870
Spinelli 07 Sangiovese, Abruzzi, Italy $7.50 621961
JOINT SECOND OLD WORLD STYLE
Cesari 07 Merlot, Venezie, Italy $7.45 572453
Sogrape 05 Douro ‘Vila Regia’, Portugal $8.15 464388
Alianca 07 Douro ‘Foral’, Portugal $8.50 239046

NEW WORLD STYLE: Rich, spicy/sweet wines that win you over on the first sip. Food or party wines.

FIRST PLACE NEW WORLD STYLE
Familia Zuccardi ‘Fuzion’ 08 Shiraz/Malbec, Argentina $7.45 83188
SECOND PLACE NEW WORLD STYLE
Obikwa 07 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Africa $8.95 665323
JOINT THIRD NEW WORLD STYLE
Ubunto 06 Shiraz, South Africa $9.95 66528
Trapiche ‘Astica’ 08 Merlot/Malbec, Argentina $7.45 359075

ALSO scored well
KWV 07 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Africa $9.95 220004
Long Flat 07 Cabernet/Merlot, Australia $12.85/1 Litre Tetra 24802

P.S. Peller Estates 07 Cabernet/Merlot, VQA Niagara ($10.95 58628), was inserted as a ringer and it finished between the first and second places. Impressive.