One of the biggest mistakes novice wine drinkers make is equating cost with quality. Don’t assume the $20 bottle is better than the $10 one; besides, if you can remark on the subtle differences between a good $10 bottle and a good $20 bottle without choking on your own pretentiousness, you’re probably reaching for the $50 bottle.
For those of us who don’t have a wine budget, selecting a good bottle – and by “good” we mean something that tastes good to you and complements a meal – comes with a cost ceiling. So instead of blowing that Jackson on one bottle you know nothing about, use it to buy two bottles of under-$10 wines recommended by a friend.
Please note, the prices listed are what we paid. The wines selected can be found in many stores, some nationwide.
CA’ DEL SOLO BIG HOUSE RED, $8.97
Long before the screw cap got sexy, this Santa Cruz, Calif., wine came cork-free. If you’re still wary, read the bottle’s label, which makes a good case for the cap.
CHATEAU GRANDE CASSAGNE ROSE COSTIERES DE NIMES, $9.99
Don’t let the pink fool you. This refreshing wine from southern France is surprisingly not sweet.
CRANE LAKE MERLOT, $3.08
Don’t be afraid of the price tag – this red is a great table wine because it’s not too robust for the white zinfandel crowd or too weak for the dark red crowd.
DONA PAULA LOS CARDOS MALBEC, $7.49
“South American wines are hot,” said Boise Co-op wine buyer Christian Robertson. Plus, malbec, made from black grapes, is Argentina’s most popular red.
FAT BASTARD CHARDONNAY, $8.28
Three summers ago, some friends served this white wine at their afternoon outdoor wedding, and it worked well with everything from the buffet to the ice cream sundae bar.
GRAFF PIESPORTER MICHELSBERG RIESLING, $8.99
Noted as a good introductory white wine for newcomers (no white zinfandel for you!), this is a drier version of Germany’s top grape variety.
OXFORD LANDING SHIRAZ, $6.99
Australia is best known for its shiraz (syrah in France), and Oxford Landing’s take on this dry red is “a total crowd pleaser,” Robertson said.
MELINI CHIANTI BORGHI D’ELSA, $9.49
Chianti, Italy’s most famous red, is best enjoyed with a hearty meal of Italian food that brings out the wine’s cherry, pepper and acidic tones.
RAVENSWOOD VINTNERS BLEND ZINFANDEL, $8.28
This rich, full-bodied red goes great with anything, especially chocolate or nothing.
ROBERT MONDAVI PRIVATE SELECTION PINOT GRIGIO, $8.45
Fancy titles like “private selection” don’t always mean you’re getting something special, but Mondavi’s pinot is crisp, light and flavorful.
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