Penny-pinching wine lovers may fend off French wine for fear of drinking down their grocery budget, but keep an eye on wines made in Southern France and you’ll land on a great deal now and then. Thanks to the rigorous restrictions on wine production in France and the EU, many of these wines are quite well made for the price. Finally, a special shout-out to Languedoc, where production quality improvements are continuously being made. Affordable (cheap) French wines tend to be light weight and are marked by their fruitiness and savory herb notes, making them the ideal match for your culinary creations.