I learned a few things from this.

I will note that if you are traveling and you are in a wine region...take advantage.

One of the best reds I've ever had was house wine at a restaurant in Greece that came in a clay carafe with wine stains on the outside. i.e., it hadn't even been bottled. When we asked where it came from we got a shrug and "Down the road."

I also had excellent wine just ordering house wine in Geneva.

People keep the best wine for themselves and ship out the second best. That's just human nature.