This was an exceptionally popular item last year, our first attempt at a combo pack that traveled well.

We don't need to remind you that the further you travel, the more costly it will be for everything - wine included (unless you're traveling to Napa).

We have put together 12 popular wines that, like last year's version, should meet any of your summer requirements- including wallet-friendly.

If bought separately, the price of the 12 wines equals $177, but packed together, you pay $134.99 - that's more than 20% off.

Take a look at the Getaway Case, give us a call before you travel, we'll put aside a Case for you. Because of the significant savings on these selections, there are no further discounts.

• La Poule Blanche Cuvee, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc blend, a fruity concoction with green apple, mineral and citrus flavors; seafood, salads, brie, triple-crème.
• Domaine de Pouy, Robert Parker calls this Ugni Blanc/Colombard blend one of the world's greatest value whites; shellfish, chevre.
• Tangley Oaks Chardonnay, Big buttery and Californian. Rich texture, toast and tropical fruits; lobster, chowder; hard, nutty cheese.
• Hammond Estates Riesling, Unctuous peach, apricot, viscous, off-dry: Asian, spicy cuisine, blue cheese.
• Clos St. Thomas Rose, Vibrant strawberry, watermelon aromas, zippy and aromatic. Perfect with garlic-based cuisine; chevre with herbs.
• Martini & Rossi Prosecco. Light, spritzy summer sparkler, ideal for Bellinis, aperitif, realistically - an anytime, anywhere wine.

The Reds:

• Petite Petit, So much fun in a bottle. Inky purple, but refined, balanced wine, not overly juicy, not overly tannic - a nice 'tweener; Gouda, BBQ.
• Big Papi Red, This Red Sox wine is like Big Papi himself - friendly and robust, a soft Cab/Merlot blend; for cuisine, all things charred, Piave.
• San Felice Perolla, A Super Tuscan-style of medium body, berry and leather aromas, yet summer weight; Pizza to baby-back ribs, pecorino, Reggiano.
• La Piece Sous Rouge, A Rhone blend of mingling complexity; Lamb on the grill or Reblochon and crusty bread on a picnic.
• Les Ramieres, Merlot based Bordeaux- style blend from the South of France. Share a glass while sitting around an evening fire; Comte, Roquefort.
• Tomas Cusine El Vilosell, Spanish blend of Tempranillo/Cabernet/Garnacha/Merlot, black cherry, smoke and earth. A bold red for T-bones, Manchego, Campo de Montalban.

To order the Getaway Case, email us at orders@thevinbin.com and let us know how many cases you want, or call us at 508-480-9463. Please have your credit card information available.

Back to our World Wide Assortment approach, a couple of sparkling Italians, a fruity and robust Spanish red, a delicate and aromatic California Pinot Noir and a white Burgundy that will restore your faith in Chardonnay.

Just south of Chassagne-Montrachet sits the appellation of Marange, mostly an area of value-priced red Burgundy. But also, powerful whites.

The 2006 Contat-Grange Hautes Cotes de Beaune Bourgogne will give you hope that bargains abound from Burgundy. A Chardonnay of exotic fruits, almond aromas and a well-balanced finish, it should be worth more, especially with the Euro and general cost of Burgundian wines.

But it doesn't - under $20 a bottle before discount.

Prosecco sales have outpaced any other sparklers we've sold this year. There are obviously reasons for full-throttle Champagne events, but when you need an everyday sparkling wine that will go great with food and not compete with gas prices, I always steer customers to the less expensive Prosecco. We've had a full-assortment this year, and even feature one in our Getaway Case.

Friday, we'll taste the Perlage Riva Moretta, an organic Prosecco from the Valdobbiadene, one of Italy's best Prosecco regions. The Perlage has soft fruit flavors of lemon, pear, and green apple, a bit off dry, a real pleasure this time of year.

From the family that brought us Gran Familia Rioja, we have the Tres Barcos Tinta del Toro, a fruity, lush red that tells me this is the wine you need while sipping around the campfire.

Soft and supple, all stainless steel fermentation produces a plummy, blackberry-like aroma and spicy finish.

For something a bit lighter, the Girasole Pinot Noir from Mendocino County.

Another organic offering, this is true to its varietal nature of beautiful aromas, flavors of berries and dark cherries coupled with a pleasant mouthfeel.

You'll want to take this wine to dinner.

Finally, for those of us waiting for the adult Kool- Aid - the Villa di Corlo Lambrusco Grasparssa Dolce.

This is going to taste wonderful on a hot summer night - a ruby red, slightly sweet, cold sipper to serve along cold cuts, bread and fruit.

You'll be surprised how well it will pair with food, and we'll have some Parma Prosciutto to sample along side.

The wines will be open at 5 p.m., please join us. The sale for the evening is 15% off any three tasting wines.

You'll see a new face among the cracker legions at The Vin Bin.

Star Ridge Crackers have morphed into Urban Ovens. These crackers have the same heft, crunchy, sturdy personality, just in a new box.

Like our favorite Star Ridge crackers, Urban Oven comes in five flavors, Asiago, Olive Oil, Rosemary, Lemon Black Pepper and Classic White.

All pair nicely with cheese and dips and are in stock.

While we don't subscribe to the notion that good wine and real cheeses are luxury items, we concede that to some, it has become that way.

We prefer to think of those items as necessities, like groceries.

But we understand that if faced with filling your gas tank to get to work or splurging for classified Bordeaux, you'll reluctantly go with the Chateau Exxon.

So to make life a bit easier for you, we have placed a selection of value-priced wines in the rack in the center of the store.

Wines on the rack will range from $7.99 to $12.99, and as you would expect, all meet our highest quality to price ratio.

Because of space limits, we couldn't put all of our value wines on the rack, so we'll rotate the selections weekly, check back often.

No need to go without a good bottle of wine and hunk of cheese.

You may order anything you see in this newsletter.

Reply to orders@thevinbin.com with the exact number of bottles/cases/quantity of wine, brew, cheese, foods or accessories you want. Include your name, address and phone number where we can call you to obtain payment information.

Orders will only be held with a valid credit card.

Of course, you may visit us in person to purchase the items at the email price, just let the cashier know that you are responding to an email offer.