[blatz]

Find the best local wine store near your house and become friendly with the owner/workers. Tell them what you like, and trust their opinion. They want to help. Usually they are exploding with suggestions, they've tasted everything and in classic specialized nerd fashion, they want their knowledege to be useful.
Except for 2 particular bottles that I love, and buy when I'm making someone a dinner or otherwise trying to get into their pants, and can't take chances, I hardly keep track of brands. You will find types that you like and just experiment with whatever strikes your fancy.
I'm an under $15 a bottle spender like you, and never have a problem with finding good new stuff. I'm sure there are plenty of advantages to being a wine connosseiur, but it's way too complicated to me. I like just being a wine liker/drinker.
I love the idea of the wine tasting party, and may even attempt to clean my house in order to have one.