Courtesy of the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival’s 2010 Top 25 Under 25 event – that I attended earlier this year. On arrival, the staff handed out wallet sized cards, as a takeaway, which listed all 25 wines.

Because summer time is a great time to try new wines, here is the list:

From 2010 Buyer’s Guide: 25 under $25, PlayhouseWineFest.com

1. Argentina: Bodega Catana Zapata Alamos Malbec ’08, $15.99
2. Argentina: Bodegas Francois Lurton Pinot Gris Reserve ’08, $18.99
3. Argentina: Familia Zuccardi Santa Julia Reserva Cab Sauv ’08, $15.99

4. Australia: d’Arenberg The Custodian Grenache ’07, $23.00
5. Australia: Evans & Tate Margaret River Chard., ’08 $19.99
6. Australia: Hardys, The Chronicles Butchers Gold Shiraz Sangiovese ’08, $15.95
7. Australia: Peter Lehmann Wines Clancy’s Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc, ’08 $16.99

8. BC: Gray Monk Estate Winery Pinot Auxerrois, ’09, $15.99
9. BC: Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Cab. Franc ’07 $17.99

10. Chile: Vina Cliterra Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ’09, $12.99
11. Chile: Miguel Torres Cordillera Chardonnay, ’08, $21.99

12. France: Blason de Bourgogen/ La Chablisienne Cremant De Bourgogne NV, $24.99
13. France: Reutenauer les Vins du Sud Quest Chateau Croix du Mayne ’07, $19.99

14. Schloss Reinhartshausen Estate Riesling QBA Troken ’07 $19.99
15. Italy: Altesino Rosso di Toscana IGT ’06, $21.99
16. Italy: Santa Margherita Prosecco Brut Valdobbiadene, DOC NV $21.99

17. New Zealand: Allan Scott Family Winemakers Marlborough Pinot Noir, $24.00
18. New Zealand: Stoneleigh Riesling ’09 $19.99
19. New Zealand: Sacred Hill Marlborough Sauv. Blanc ’09 $19.99

20. South Africa: Nederberg Winemaster’s Reserve Riesling ’08, $22.99
21. Spain: Grupo Faustino Fortius Tempranillo ’07 $13.99
22. Spain: Freixenet Cordon Rosado NV, $14.99
23. LJ. Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay ’08 $22.99

24. US: MacMurray Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, ’07 $24.99
25. US: Stonehedge Winery Cab. Sauv. ’06 $19.99

At the tasting event, I tried almost all of the wines and all were enjoyable. Most liquor stores or wine stores should carry these.

But if you can’t find them, sometimes, I confess, it is simply fun to pick a new wine purely based on the label… Regardless, happy patio dining!