It’s time again for my annual report on the wines I’ve tasted over the past year that deliver top value as well as sheer deliciousness. Happily, while sampling 2,705 (yes, I checked that count) red, white, rosé, orange, and sparkling examples, I found more great vino at a reasonable price than ever. And that’s despite the pandemic, recent extreme weather that decimated crops and reduced quantity, and this year’s logistical problems including a glass bottle shortage and shipping delays! So where to look for 2021’s best buys? I was surprised by the number of good values coming from Italy , from bright whites to savory reds from lesser-known regions such as the Marche and Puglia. Newly popular Portugal has a wealth of hidden gems, especially from little known grapes like sousão and antão vaz. (I’d never heard of the latter until this year.) In France, look to the south in Roussillon, with a new wave of vignerons making wines from organic grapes and old vines. Riesling from everywhere is still woefully undervalued, as are such regions as Alsace and Beaujolais. Inexpensive pinot noir from Chile is just getting better and better. Among the fizz category’s top buys, some of my favorites are trendy pet nats, or petillant naturel-style wines; they’re made by the methode ancestrale, in which partially fermented wine is bottled and then finishes fermenting, trapping carbon dioxide in the bottle. And don’t forget Bordeaux. In top vintages such as 2016, second wines from classic estates and cuvées from smaller châteaux can be super buys, as are many of the region’s whites. Naturally, the producers I’ve recommended in previous 50 under $50 columns are still turning out go-to bottles, but here I’ve tried to highlight what’s new. My last piece of advice, as always, is to shop around. The holiday season is prime time for sales and discounts, particularly for bubbly. Fun fizz from around the world There’s more of it than ever! 2019 Gerard Bertrand Heritage An 825 Cremant de Limoux Brut ($18) Innovative winemaker Bertrand produces a wide range of inexpensive, reliable wines in the south of France, like this sparkling blend—a fine aperitif, especially with goat cheese. NV Louis Pommery Brut California The noted French Champagne house unveiled a California sparkling wine four years ago. The latest version is crisp, mineral, vivacious. 2018 Bisol Crede Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore Brut ($21) Yes, there are proseccos worth drinking straight. This one is fresh, fruity, mineral-like, and widely available. NV Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups Montlouis Triple Zero ($30) This lightly fizzy pet nat is made from very old chenin blanc vines by top Loire Valley winemaker Jacky Blot. It’s dry and herbal, with subtle pear notes. 2020 Bichi Petillant Naturel rose Pet Mex Fresh and vibrant, this pet nat rosado with a fun label put Mexico’s Bichi winery on the world’s natural wine map. 2015 Recaredo Terrers Brut Nature Corpinnat ($38) A splinter group of nine top growers in Spain’s cava region ditched the cava appellation to distinguish themselves from mass-market brands. Its labels carry their own private Corpinnat certification, which guarantees higher quality and terroir standards such as 100% organic farming. Recaredo’s super dry example brims with sumptuous depth and tangy acidity. When only Champagne will do Non-vintage (NV) blends from young grower-producers continue to offer the best value. NV Etienne Calsac L’Echappee Belle Extra Brut ($45) Vibrant, pure, and chalky, this is a deliciously supple, almost-all-chardonnay bubbly from an adventurous young producer. NV Vincent Couche Elegance Extra Brut ($45) This talented grower farms biodynamic vineyards in Champagne’s Aube region, a hotbed of experimentation. His very dry, pale gold fizz is peach-scented and crisp. NV Drappier Carte d’Or ($38) The first carbon-neutral estate in Champagne, Drappier makes more than a dozen cuvées. Its entry-level bottling is heavy on pinot noir, which gives it a mouth-filling spicy character. NV Moet et Chandon Imperial ($47) Jeff Bezos sprayed this fizz on the crowd to celebrate his return to Earth after 11 minutes in space. Forget the shower: Drink it for its balance, spice, and party-pleasing mellow texture. NV Pierre Moncuit Champagne Delos Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut Fresh, racy, and intense, with aromas of white flowers and subtle citrus-mint notes, this stunning all-chardonnay fizz comes from grand cru vineyards. NV Laherte Freres Champagne Extra Brut Rosé de Meunier Rising star Aurelien Laherte, the seventh generation at this family estate, created this vibrant, biodynamic pink fizz that sports a gorgeous label. White wines From light, bright aperitifs to lusciously rich wines for a grand dinner. 2021 Allan Scott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc This mouth-watering, fruit- and herb-driven white is a top example of New Zealand’s entry level “savvies,” from the regi
