Ten Affordable Wines That Taste Expensive

Get ready for another clickbait-esque article by yours truly. Lucky for you, I know what I'm talking about. How do you drink amazing wine on a budget? Keep reading.

Let’s discuss some options for wine lovers on a budget who don’t want the mass-produced options on the grocery store end-caps.

I am hyper aware of wine’s reputation as an inaccessible and expensive hobby for snobs: so much so that I’ve committed my career to educating people to the contrary. Additionally, as someone who has recently started a business and witnessed the digits of that bank account balance drop dangerously low, I now almost exclusively shop lower cost wines.

So, I’ll give you a promise for this list of my top ten affordable wines: they taste more expensive, but you can find them for under $30! In some cases, they’ll cost less than $20 or even $10! They aren’t cheap because they don’t taste cheap: these wines are simply a good deal for the quality.

Where can you shop for budget wines?

I have been able to find a lot of these at grocery store chains such as Kroger, Aldi, Lidl, Trader Joe’s, or Whole Foods. The latter two options typically have the most diverse and unique selection. Your local wine boutique or liquor store may have good examples from my recommended regions as well, although you run the chance of slightly higher pricing. Total Wine and Wine.com will have the most comprehensive selections, though you may have to price compare with other online retailers. I like to use the Google Shopping search to find the least expensive

You best trust that I did my research to make sure all the recommendations fit the following criteria: somewhat easy to find, well-made, and (based on my drinking experience) consistently delicious. That being said, I make zero guarantees that the certain bottles you choose will taste good to you or even be great examples from the areas on the list. That will come down to the individual growers and winemakers.

That being said, LET'S DO THIS!

10 Affordable Wines That Taste Expensive

1. Portuguese Everything

   
   

   Portugal is more than sweet Port! For white wines, small-production Alvarinho or Vinho Verde is very refreshing and often under $15. If you want a serious red, the Dão region is making high-quality yet affordable wines that are catching the eye of collectors. Wines from Dão made with the native grape Touriga Nacional can be full-bodied and super complex.

2. Bordeaux: No, I’m not kidding!

Most people think of this region as too expensive, and while this is true for its fancy cru classé wines, they also make a ton of really affordable reds, whites, roses, sweet, and sparkling styles! Let’s focus on the reds. Because I recently had a handful of disappointing Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur, which can be made from anywhere in the large region. let’s get more specific! If you like Left Bank (aka Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blends) go for Crus Bourgeois located in the Médoc. If you want a less tannic, Merlot-driven blend, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux is a solid bet, as all Côtes de Bordeaux subregions are located on the Right Bank east of the region’s two main rivers.

3. Austria: High Quality, Low Prices

A vast portion of the country’s wines are inexpensive for the quality, which is likely due to tightened regulations after a huge additive scandal in the 1980s (long story). Many Grüner Veltliners and rosé blends are so inexpensive they’re almost too good to be true. Zweigelt from Burgenland is great for anyone wanting a medium-bodied red with good acidity, cherry flavors, and herb or spice notes. If you’re lucky, you might find a fuller-bodied or aged bottle at a reasonable price stateside.

4. Argentina Pinot Noir: Harder to Find, But Delicious

Look for high-altitude regions like Uco Valley in Mendoza or Patagonia (although subregions here are starting to fetch steep prices). Proximity to the Andes Mountains lets the sun-drenched grapes cool off at night and better retain acidity and aromas. Typically you’ll hear that Argentine Pinot Noir echoes more of the New World, fruit-driven style, though there are a handful of winemakers rumored to produce fine Burgundy rivals at a fraction of the cost.

5. Oregon Chardonnay: Burgundy Dupes

These wines are typically affordable, and many subregions within the Willamette Valley offering a great value. While you can find some full and buttery expressions like you can in California, many Oregon producers pride themselves on using concentrated, higher-acid grapes to make light and elegant Chardonnay. It is also both fortunate and unfortunate that specific subregions within the Willamette or Columbia Valleys tend to produce high quality Chards that come with a matching high price tag. You may just need to shop around a little to find the deals.

Allie Towers Rice, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

6. Cremant d’Alsace instead of Champagne is always a good idea.

Made in the traditional method of Champagne, but in a unique region with its own blend of grape varieties. I find many of them more aromatic and light. Entry-level sparklers from producers like Pierre Spar or Lucien Albrecht are easy to find and pretty pleasant. Just check your local Whole Foods, and you might find one or two!

7. Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley is on the rise

Columbia Valley, Washington might turn out to be a sleeper hit! Look for Red Mountain and Walla Walla AVAs on the label for mid-tier prices and full bodied, tannic characters. While not as common, I have experienced pretty good examples at under $20 a bottle. I can't help but think we can expect these to rise in popularity and become more widely distributed in the near future.

8. Local Reds from Puglia are fantastic!

Primitivo and Negroamaro are awesomely expressive grape varieties grown in Puglia, Italy. I’ve had deliciously drinkable bottles of these for as low as $7 a bottle. Why are they so inexpensive? Puglia is more of an up-and-coming region on the international market and lesser-known than other Italian regions like Tuscany or Piedmont. There really is a wide range of styles, but for the most part Puglia Primitivo is medium to full in body and well-balanced in terms of fruit, tannin, and acidity.

9. Piedmont Nebbiolo can be a mixed bag.

Full disclosure: I’ve had my share of disappointing, flavorless acid bombs from the Langhe area of Piedmont, Italy. That is the risk of making wine from Nebbiolo grapes grown in less than optimal conditions. My experience with the star of Piedmont wines, Barolo, has been wonderful but limited due to the high price. Instead of Barolo, try the small Piedmont subregions called Ghemme, Roero, or Gattinara. While entry-level examples of these are likely to start in the mid-$20 to $30 range, they are far less expensive than your average Barolo or Barbaresco and do not need as long to age.

10. Rasteau: The Unsung Hero of the Rhône Valley

For those unfamiliar with the typical red of the Southern Rhône Valley in France, they have the reputation for being easy-drinking and fruity. However, the more specific the sub-region, the more complexity you're likely to experience. Instead of an expensive Châteauneuf-du-Pape, try Rasteau for a full and structured Grenache blend. Also from the Southern Rhône Valley, Rasteau appellation wines are going to be deeper and more nuanced than the regular Côtes du Rhône Villages that you see on shelves everywhere. What’s even more exciting is that Trader Joe’s has a fabulous Rasteau for under $20!

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If you need specific bottle recommendations, I offer personalized shopping lists based on your taste, nearby stores, and budgetary preferences through my consulting company. See an example HERE.

To book a FREE consultation with me, select Book from the Main Menu, or click HERE. As always, thank you so much for reading. Check back next week for a new post!

Love,

Elise