If you're looking for a wine that's super easy to drink and that's enjoyable both on its own or with a weeknight meal, the cabernet sauvignon from Ironstone Vineyards is the one.

At $14, it's also the most affordable option I reach for.

The pleasant, light-red blend offers notes of juicy, ripe fruits on the nose and palate. It has just a touch of residual sugar for those who prefer sweeter fruity notes.

Domaine Bousquet is a family-owned estate in the Mendoza region of Argentina. Its reserve wines are made with hand-picked, certified organic fruit.

I love the brand's cabernet sauvignon because it tastes exactly like a cab should (full-bodied and dark) for only $18 a bottle.

The wine has a nice tannin structure, so it's on the drier side. Additionally, the notes on both the nose and palate are dark and complex.

Juggernaut's cabernet — made from grapes on hillside vineyards — majorly over-delivers for its $20 price point.

Upon first taste, the wine is dark-fruited and herbaceous in nature. Then, a smooth and velvety side comes through with some chocolate notes, giving it a rich and warming impression.

It's the perfect winter cabernet to enjoy with a pot roast in front of a crackling fireplace.

Bonterra, a leader in sustainable winemaking, offers an easier-drinking cabernet sauvignon with little tannin impression, making it less dry and bitter on the palate.

I think it delivers precisely what a cabernet should for $22: A quaffable glass of red everyone can enjoy.

Bonterra is also one of the easiest-to-find brands on the list. It has wide distribution in major retailers such as Whole Foods, Albertsons, and Trader Joe's.

From the sprawling Santa Margarita Ranch on the south side of Paso Robles, California, comes a spicy little number from Ancient Peaks Winery.

The brand's $25 cabernet has a more dramatic nose and palate, with notes of cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla.

Although some cabernets can be sipped on their own, this bottle is best enjoyed with food. I think it would shine with a hickory-grilled burger, grilled portabellas, or a spiced pork tenderloin.

Founded and owned by master sommelier Des Echavarrie, Alta Nova highlights wines made from grapes grown at high elevations in Paso Robles, which is located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Its $33 cabernet is deep, dark, and brooding in nature, with a good tannin structure. However, it's still a ripe, fruity crowd-pleaser.

Rodney Strong Winery is a legacy Sonoma producer that showcases beautiful grapes from the Alexander Valley.

Its cabernet is dark-fruited, with a lovely note of sweet spice from the oak influence.

Although it's the most expensive on the list at $35, it's the perfect bottle to enjoy with grilled steak or braised short ribs.

Assyrtiko, sometimes spelled Asyrtiko, is a white-wine grape that originated on the Greek island of Santorini. However, it has since spread to South Africa, California, and even North Carolina.

I love Assyrtiko because it's high in acid, incredibly fresh, and food-friendly. It can be pretty citrusy on the palate, with notes of guava and minerals.

With its high acidity, it's a great wine to pair with a cheese plate or charcuterie board at a holiday party.

I recently visited Armenia for a wine-tourism conference and fell in love with its white wines. The Asian country, like Georgia, is one of the oldest wine regions in the world, with thousands of years of winemaking history under its belt.

I was impressed by the variety and high quality of wines I tried there.

Armenia is better known for its brandy, but if you find any white wine, grab it.

These wines pair perfectly with the highly aromatic cuisines of Armenia and Iran, and they'll also go well with Thai and Vietnamese food.

Most white wines are made by fermenting the juice, resulting in the pale hue we all recognize. Amber wines, also known as orange wines, are different because they achieve color through skin contact or maceration, like red wines.

Although they're made with white grapes, the result is various hues of amber with unique textures, tannins, and flavors.

This style of wine originated in Georgia, but it is now produced in winemaking regions around the world.

Amber wines are delicious, fun, and sometimes ethereal, so I always look for them on a wine menu at a restaurant or bar. It makes me think the curator there knows what's up.

I always call Chenin Blanc the greatest wine grape on earth — it never fails me. It grows worldwide, but its home is the Loire Valley in France, and there's a high concentration of vineyards in South Africa.

The grape is actually used to make various wines, from refreshing sparkling bottles to dry, sweet, and golden-hued varieties. I love them all, especially a dry, tart Vouvray.

Expect flavors of apples and pear, honey, light tea, and persimmon. These wines are perfect with goat cheese, fattier fish like sardines and tuna, and pasta.

If Chenin Blanc is the world's greatest wine grape, garganega is Italy's best white grape.

The Italian white wine is wonderful and young. As it ages, it evolves from stone fruit, melon, and citrus aromas to more citrus peel and nutty aromas.

The fresh wine has a medium body and is a great alternative to pinot grigio. Try garganega with shellfish and richer dishes seasoned with fresh herbs or butter.

I live near Rome and like to drink locally, so I often reach for wines from my Lazio region of Italy.

Roman cuisine is heavy, so I want a wine that can stand up to the sharp and salty flavors of pecorino Romano cheese. The most popular blends are made from malvasia and trebbiano grapes.

These wines are aromatic, with notes of citrus, tropical fruit, and white flowers, but they're also very acidic and thirst-quenching. I like to pair them with a plate of carbonara.

On my wine tours, I meet many different people with varying tastes — including those who are what we call "ABC" (anything but chardonnay) drinkers.

Many people don't like it, but I think it's a real shame. I love chardonnay so much that I named my dog after it.

The grapes grow worldwide, but their reputation can't seem to shake the overly oaked, buttery California chardonnays of the '80s and '90s.

Those styles still exist, but that's not all there is to the wine. When made well, it can be complex, with notes of lemon, apples, tropical fruits, stone fruits, cherry blossom, orange zest, flint, jasmine, and nuts. There's something for everyone.

Because chardonnay isn't particularly acidic, it can be enjoyed on its own without the need to be tamed by food. However, it also pairs well with soft cheeses, vegetarian cuisine, mushrooms, and fresh herbs.