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The great French wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy have been priced out of hand by nouveau-riche Chinese and Arabs.who only know big names and labels and want to impress others, show off their wealth or use it as an investment.

I couldn't have said it any better. There are plenty of great wines available to regular consumers. $20 will get you a fantastic bottle of Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc; $25 a terrific Pinot Noir; and a delicious, full-bodied Cabernet can be had for less than $50.

I dare say that most people couldn't tell the difference between a $7000 bottle of wine and a $70 bottle; it's so pretentious to think otherwise.

I have said before and I will say it again -- Trader Joe's sells a $20 Amarone that is the real deal.

Twenty. Dollars.

Elsewhere, very good barolos can be had for $40-50. Brunellos for about the same.

Still more than you want to pay? Check out the delicious barbarescos and nebbiolos in the $30 range, or the many tasty ripassos for about $20-25.

Still too much? Classico superiore for $13.47. Excellent Dolcettos for ten crummy bucks.

Sure, some of these are considered "table" or "everyday" wines. But they are very good everyday wines. and when it comes to whose advice to take on which everyday wines to drink, you can definitely do worse than the Italians.