I like most all wines, but my wife is a bit more picky. Her favs are:
Red: Zinfandel (not to be confused with White Zin, aka cotton candy)
White: Pinot Gregio
Extra: Dry Rose.... Pleasant Hill Winery makes a great one, but hard to find.
As for certain brands.... start off with the basics, Yellowtail, Echo, KJ, etc and then just experiment. Go with a label that looks interesting. Coppola makes some good stuff actually. Also find local vineyards in your area. Free wine tours, or all you can drink tastings (usually ~20 bucks includes aps) are a awesome way to kill a spring or summer afternoon. Or a really cheap date as most have music as well. And you can try all different kinds of varieties, and what you like buy at a discount straight from the winery.