Once you’ve read these notes, go out and pick up a few bottles.  Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Earn your explorers’ badge. Then, stop by the newstand and grab one of these publications, and take your education to a whole new level. Trust me, these few dollars will be the best education money you’ve ever spent. Enjoy!

$8 2010 Columbia Crest Two Vines Chardonnay (Washington; abv 13.0%) “Fresh and silky, with a hint of peach to the flavor profile. Drink now. 160,000 cases made.” (WS)

$8 2011 Columbia Crest Two Vines Riesling (Washington; abv 11.5%) “Soft and refreshing, with pretty pear and floral flavors that linger gently on the lightly sweet finish. Drink now. 14,700 cases made.” (WS)

$8 2011 Snoqualamie Winemaker’s Select Riesling (Columbia Valley; abv 10.8%) “Frankly sweet, with honeyed pineapple and spice flavors, lingering gently. Drink now. 20, 081 cases made.” (WS)

$9 2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurztraminer (Columbia Valley; abv 12% (2010)) “Fresh and soft, this brims with spicy pineapple and floral flavors, finishing with a mild sweetness. Drink now. 65,000 cases made.” (WS)

$10 2011 Sagelands Riesling (Columbia Valley; n/a) “Light, sweet and expressive, layering the peach and floral flavors in a delicate array, finishing with polish. Drink now through 2015. 3075 cases made.” (WS)

$11 2011 Hogue Gewurztraminer (Columbia Valley; abv 13%) “Fresh, tangy and off-dry, with a peppery edge corralling the apple and lime flavors toward a zippy finish. Drink now. 17,000 cases made.” (WS)

$11 2011 Pacific Rim Gewurztraminer (Columbia Valley; abv 12.4%) “Light and spicy, redolent of rose petal, cinnamon and lychee, with the flavors balanced against a soft, off-dry structure. Drink now. 5000 cases made.” (WS)

$13 2011 Eola Hills Chardonnay (Oregon; abv 13.7%) “Fresh and vibrant, layered with pear and apple flavors shaded with grace notes of spicy oak and cashew. Drink now through 2016. 2000 cases made.” (WS)

$14 2011 Erath Pinot Gris (Oregon; n/a) “Scents of baked biscuits and golden delicious apples give way to a brisk, lively palate marked by juicy citrus accents of Meyer lemon. This gris is a simple pleasure, a vibrant, energetic aperitif or a white to serve with petrale sole. “ (W&S)

$15 2011 Boomtown Chardonnay (Washington; abv 13.7%) “This is a straightforward, crisp and refreshing, with no fancy frills. The fruit and acid complement each other, lifting the pleasant apple and melon flavors. Made entirely in stainless steel, it carries no oak influences.” (WE)

$15 2011 Barons V Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley; abv 13.6%) “This a succulent yet delicate, with dried hay and sweet grass flavors. Textural, vivid and racy, it has a Loire-like mix of fruit, flower and herb, with the possibility of improving still further over the next 4-5 years.” (WE)

$15 2011 Three Rivers Riesling (Columbia Valley; abv 12%) “Softly sweet, this white presents its peach, floral and gentle spice flavors with panache. Drink now. 784 cases made.” (WS)

$16 2011 Wilridge Rosebud Vineyard Viognier (Yakima Valley; abv 13.5%). “Viognier is a clear success story for Wilridge. This is not a flashy wine, and it goes down easily. It’s deeply concentrated, with a rich core of peach, apricot and lemon drop flavors.” (WE)

$18 2011 Carabella Pinot Gris Chehalem Mountains (Oregon; n/a) “A vibrant version, with a lovely balance of fruit and savory flavors that touch on cantaloupe, lime, rosemary and wet stone, lingering easily on the expressive finish. Drink now through 2015. 900 cases made.” (WS)

$18 2011 Three Rivers Chardonnay (Columbia Valley; 13.5%) “This marks a change in style from Three Rivers’s 2010, with noticeably less new oak influence and a much smaller production. The green apple and pineapple flavors have some sharpness, and the barrel fermentation (just 15% new oak) adds a biscuit-like note of vanilla wafer. “ (WE)

$18 2011 Woodinville Wine Cellars Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley; abv 14%) “Deep, ripe fruit is the focus, brimming with lemon-lime flavor. There’s a touch of vanilla cookie also – thoroughly delicious, if a bit blocky. The finish has just a hint of alcohol warmth.” (WE)

$20 2011 Solena Willamette Valley Pinot Gris (Oregon; abv 13.1%) “Salty and savory with a floral scent, this has a freshness that keeps the wine on point. With its lemony, high-toned flavors and drive, it feels cool and poised, and elegant gris for boudin blanc and roasted potatoes.” (W&S)

Key: WS — Wine Spectator; W&S — Wine & Spirits; F&W — Food & Wine; WE — Wine Enthusiast; D — Decanter

(Photo credit: Wines and Vines Magazine, via Google search)