Everyone’s got a story about Yellowtail. Alice found out about it from the guy at Trader Joe’s; now her in-laws are hooked. Taylor’s parents bought a few cases because it was $5 a bottle, and they needed gifts to bring to hostesses. When five different people called to say how great it was, we uncorked a bottle and gave it a try. It was spicy but smooth, the kind of soft-tannin wine that people use words like " plum " and " cedar " to describe. It’s a perfect dinner wine — vigorous but not overpowering. One sure sign of its success is that the price keeps going up: originally, you could pick it up for under $6. Now it’s $9.99 at Trader Joe’s.

Available at local liquor stores.