Admittedly, I drink a lot of wine. I love it. I love nothing more than going to a wine bar with friends, a winery, or perusing the shelves of a wine store to find a great bottle. But sometimes, (many times) you want a great tasting bottle of wine at a value price to keep your overall budget down. And good wine doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Here, I’ve listed a handful of good value wines that I’ve come to really enjoy.

To be clear, when I say value wines, I really mean value. I’m talking wines under $20 a bottle that taste good and hit the spot when you want a glass of vino but don’t want to shell out too much per glass. These wines are widely available, have a good flavor profile, and are sold at a great price point. Also, I lean heavily toward reds, so that’s what I’m more familiar with, although I do enjoy some white varieties. Sorry, Moscato lovers, that’s another website.

Value Wines Worth Stocking in Your Home:

Robert Mondavi Private Selection

I prefer the Cabernet Sauvignon, but this is a good label for a great value. I stumbled into this wine because of quarantine, and I’m so thankful I did. It’s very inexpensive – think less than $10 a bottle – and tastes great. I purchased this at our neighborhood Walgreens back when quarantine began and I was picking up a few convenience items. It was a lucky pick for me because I really enjoy it.

Josh Wines

This was a grocery store find way back when, but it’s half the price at Costco. Outside of Costco, this one may ring in at just about $20 or so. At Costco, though, it’s $10. It’s worth every penny either way, but the Costco price makes it a stock-up staple if you enjoy the flavor.  

Carnivor

I used to get this wine often, but I don’t enjoy the flavor profile now as much as I once did. Tastes change, but this is still a decent wine for the price, which usually ranges from $10-$15. It’s a solid go-to if you’re stuck and need a place to start or a wine to try.

Kendall-Jackson

I really enjoy this winery’s Grand Reserve Chardonnay. I think it’s about $15 and is solid. Kendall-Jackson is widely known for a reason, so don’t shy away from popular or longtime brands. They know what they’re doing! I feel like most any Kendall-Jackson white wine would be pretty good. I can’t speak to their reds because I’ve never tried them, but for white wine, I definitely enjoy this brand in my value rotation.

Tesoro

I like this winery’s Pinot Grigio. It’s full of flavor and is great for the price, which comes in around $15-$17. This is definitely a must-try if you like Pinot Grigio.

In addition to these readily available wines, here’s a trick I’ve learned over the years: If a local restaurant or store sells wine under their private label, it may come from a nearby winery or be wine that would otherwise be sold at a higher price point under another label. I’ve found some great, inexpensive wines this way while traveling through areas near wineries. Just ask about the house wines or look at the label. Linn’s, a restaurant and bakery in Cambria, is one example of this and their wines are great!

And a tip for those of you looking for wine at the store who get overwhelmed: Look at the wines in your price point, then narrow it down from there. Don’t be afraid to try something new. If you don’t like it, you can always use the wine in a sauce, make a jam, or create something new with the remainder in the bottle.

Wine photo by Road Trip with Raj on Unsplash