In these budget-conscious times, it pays to be a wine nerd. When you sense a hot trend, run in the other direction. Dare to be contrary. The world's greatest wine bargains come from places and grape varieties that are temporarily out of fashion or simply overlooked.

Think of a bottle of wine as a small vacation -- it transports you to another place. Some people always travel back to the same locale: two weeks at the identical beach rental, hanging out on the same patch of sand, year after year. But most of us want some adventure; we yearn for the rush of discovery. If we travel at off-peak times or to undiscovered locations, it will be less expensive and at least as satisfying. A certain sense of privileged intimacy occurs when a spot seems waiting to be found just by you.

There is similar gratification in buying an unfamiliar, good-value wine that is not flavor of the month. Yet it's not enough for a wine to be merely affordable. An innocuous, mediocre wine is no bargain at any price. Even on a regular weeknight at home, popping the cork should turn an ordinary meal into a special occasion. The wine should be up to the task; it should be distinctive and memorable. A good wine can intensify the richness of the moment and make it linger on your tongue.