[pepsionice]

Strip away the labels and you can pretty much be agreeable with a $6 a bottle German wine against a $30 bottle of French wine. Same is true with cheap Italian wine. My wife bought an entire case of South African wine, which I have to admit is pretty good stuff...but a bit pricey.

[Cronos]

it depends on the wine (and on one's palate) -- I don't like most German wines -- the Reisling is good, but very specific. It's too dry for my taste, but for others it may be good

Italian wine -- haven't really tasted except for the Cinzano type herbed wines (which I don't like).

S. African -- you are correct

[jmax]

Good wine comes in old used 1-quart vinegar bottles and drunk from a brown paper bag. For those who are 'in the money', the same good stuff can also be bought in the 'economy' size in old used one gallon bleach bottles.

Both have old-time mimeograph labels that read 'RIPPLE'.

I mean, how could you go wrong..... it's the Drink of Choice for three quarters of Chicago's 9-million residents.

Plus, it's highly recommended by Chicago's South and West Side store-front churches. When it's time for communion, they just pass around a couple of brown bags.