Best Wines: $20 and under

[SageFemme]

DH and I are new wine drinkers and want to get into trying different ones. Is there a way to do taste testings besides going to the expensive events that we can't do right now? Also, what are your favorite wines, red and white, that are $20 and under for a bottle?

Thanks!

 

[jfoofj]

If you like Cabernet Savignon, try Hess Select it is usually around $16ish, and Gnarly Head is good too, usually around $9ish. I'm usually a red wine girl, but when I do drink white it is typically a Pinot Grigio... I like Cavit, which is $9ish and there is one my mom gets that is good too... I think it is Kendall-Jackson?

I have a friend who had a Box-o-Wine at her house the last time I was there and I teased her mercilessly over it, then I tried it... for boxed wine it wasn't half bad! It was in a brown recycled cardboard box... I think it was called Bota-Box. I was impressed.


ETA- there is a local liquor store that does tastings on Friday nights... maybe look into the higher end liquor stores near you where the people working there really know the product.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

If you have a friend that is knowledgeable about wines, how about asking their help with a wine tasting party? You can have your guests each bring a bottle of their favorite under $20 wine and your friend could assist in the tasting and describing and whatever else goes on at those expensive parties. I think that would be a lot of fun! All you would have to supply is maybe some wine crackers, cheese, and a light dessert.

My favorite "cheap" wine is Rancho Zabacho Zinfandel (red). It's great in the colder months as Zin is a heavier wine. (with a higher alcohol content.) I used to be able to get this for about $6/bottle, but I think it's closer to $15 now.

I also laughed at boxed wine. And they only recently started to put red wine in a box-which is what I prefer. I found some at Target-small boxes of Cab and one of Merlot. I took them to WDW because they seemed easier to transport, and they were pretty good! They were on sale for $9.99 and they each contained the equivalent of two bottles of wine.

 

[okeydokey]

For red, I like Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir. It is about $9 I think. Greg Norman makes a terrific red blend (Cab and Merlot maybe?) for about $15.

 

[java]

Bringing one of my oldies back to the top- plenty of cheap wines here on this thread that are YUMMY!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=963922&highlight=wine

 

[Ohiodislover]

Kendall Jackson Chardonnay
Yellow Tail Shiraz-Grenache

 

[Magic Mom]

Here's a second vote for Yellow Tail Shiraz.

 

[CathrynRose]

About $15 - one of my fav's. Francis Ford Coppola's Claret:

 

[pixiewings71]

I like Barefoot wines. I'm not a big red drinker but I shared a bottle of Shiraz with DBF's Dad and it was good. I also love their white zin and they have a pretty good Chardonney as well. Barefoot is about $5 a bottle around here.

 

[ShesAPirate]

I only like reds. I could give you a list of good, inexpensive wines, but I'll keep it to one -- Villa Puccini Toscana (Italy). This is our favorite inexpensive wine, around 9 bucks a bottle! It's our stand-by wine. Delicious, especially when you consider the price!

 

[Easyrider]

Host a wine tasting party at your home. look on the internet for ideas also check the internet for local winnerys and go check out a few.
My wife and i also started like this a few years ago and have grown to like many differant wines. you'll find that a wine tastes differant as the food changes and the mood changes ........so relaxe and enjoy!!!!!

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

I like the wine tasting party idea. That is a fun way to get together with friends and taste some different wines.

Do you have any specialty wine stores in your area? Some places have free tastings of different types of wine you go in to shop. The one near us always has a variety of wines to taste when we stop by.

Also another vote for the Yellow Tail wines, they are pretty good and inexpensive.

I know so many people do not like box wine but Black Box Wine is really pretty good. It recieved great reviews in a Consumer Reports issue about wine. It runs about $20 for the box and equals 4 bottles of wine.

 

[minnie56]

Santa Margarita-Pinot Grigio-White
Crisp-slightly fruity
Excellent!

 

[sneadae]

Baroncini Chianti and it's $7.99 a bottle. One of the best Chianti bottles out there, IMO.

 

[suejai]

We really like wines from Rosemount Estates especially the merlot and the cabernet shiraz.

 

[PatsGirl]

I prefer chardonnay and my three favorites are:

Woodbridge $9
Robert Mondavi $13
Chateau St. Michelle $15

I love the idea of a wine tasting, think I'll throw one myself ~

 

[tuckerkeys]

ANY wine from Lindemans ( our fav is the chardonnay ) on sale @$9

Coppola chardonnay $11-$14

If you have a Whole Foods by you, some sell wine & beer. you HAVE to try the Store brand-- 365 Chardonnay and also the 365 Pinot Grigio!! AWESOME! They are $5.99 and $6.99 each! we picked up a mixed case just this past weekend! Many of our friends comment how good it is and when we tell them it's a $6 bottle of wine they can't believe how it compares to the more exp. ones

Anything by Robert Mondavi is also a safe choice

If you have a Costco near you find out if they sell alcohol or find one that does. Costco carries usually the most popular wines of the day and their prices can't be beat. I have found Lindemans chardonnay at one for $6.99

 

[KandD]

Do you have any wineries in your area? The wineries near us do tastings for about $5 to $8 from anywhere between 3 and 8 wines.
Also, a liquor store near us does free wine tastings on Saturday nights. I'm not sure how prevalent this is though.

I used to always buy either Woodbridge or Sutter Home Pinot Grigio but over the past few months I have really gotten into some local wines and they all sell for about $11 to $15.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I'm a relatively new wine drinker and really enjoy pinot noir. My favorites right now are Mirassou and Les Jamelles, which are both under $20.

 

[dawson5]

I am not sure if it is a cheap wine or not. I can't find it, maybe someone can help. We had friends over for pizza before we went out to the movies, her hubby brought a bottle of wine. I am sure it was italian, it came in a green bottle with a silver label. On the label was a red sheet hanging on a clothes line. I think it was something "bella" ? I don't know. I've searched all of our local package stores, wine shops, grocery stores. I cannot find it, he cannot remember where he got it. Darn good wine though, it was a red, I think merlot. I am kicking myself for not saving the bottle. I did try google searching it without luck, tried the wine shops online without luck.

I like woodbridge. rosemount is alright, just tried fat b@stard which wasn't bad. funky llama meh.