Last week I went to my new favorite wine store for a good value, Stew Leonard's Wines, and picked up a bottle of their Venue Pinot Noir for just $11.99. 

I must admit that my hopes were not too high for a Pinot Noir that was less than $15, but I was pleasantly surprised once I tried this tasty light to medium bodied red.

Right away I picked up on the notes of cherry and currant, and was impressed by it's quality of flavor.  This is not a watery budget Pinot Noir!

Pinot Noir is a very versatile wine for pairings...if you are going to be using the grill this weekend you could enjoy this red with grilled chicken, salmon, or steak!

I discovered this red a few months ago and since then it has become one of my go to Friday night wines to share with my husband.  This Italian red is from Sicily and is made 100% from the Nero D'Avola grape.  In my opinion this is a fruity, smooth, and delicious full to medium bodied red that is an incredible value!  It pairs well with many foods, but I like it with pizza or a tomato based pasta dish.  

I have found this wine for $9.99, but if you can't find this for under $10 near you, than you can buy it online here for $7.99!  Now that is a steal!