Value Wine Picks: $20 and Under for 2020

Happy new year, and hope the holidays found you opening some great bottles of vino! As I look at our depleted cellar, I realize that January means doing a bit of restocking, particularly since we aren’t keen on going dry in January. Maybe we should, but life’s too short! Instead, I have set a goal to add more value wines to the cellar. If you find yourself in the same predicament, I thought I’d share some that are on my list. You can find these at your local Total Wine, Costco, or other local wine retailer.

Borrasca Cava

Both the Brut and Rose versions of this Cava are super versatile sparklers, and the glittery labels make these a go-to for entertaining. Perfect for brunch, the Brut version is a great option for mixing into a mimosa, refreshing Aperol spritz or other sparkling cocktail. If you prefer your bubbles with a slight hint of sweetness, then your preference will be the Rose version. For about $10, you can’t go wrong with either version of this Spanish sparkler.

 

Hugues Beauvignac Picpoul

This is a light, dry white from the southwest of France with clean minerality and a green apple finish. The acidity of the wine almost makes the tongue tingle, which is not surprising since I heard somewhere that Picpoul can be translated to stinging of the lips. It’s a refreshing cocktail sipper or would be nice paired with oysters and other seafood. Retails for about $12 at Total Wine.

 

 

San Gregorio Single Vineyard Loma Gorda Old Vine Garnacha

A fruit forward Grenache from Spain, we paired this with BBQ ribs and it was a winning combination. Aromatic and full of flavor, this is both food friendly or could be fine on its own. It’s a bargain for the price, at about $11.

 

 

Clos de los Siete Malbec

This classic Argentinian Malbec features lots of juicy dark fruit and a spicy finish. It is medium bodied overall and nicely balanced. I have been drinking this for several years now and it has remained consistently good from vintage to vintage. Pair with red meat or even roasted pork. Available for about $20 at Total Wine.

 

 

Carpineto Chianti Classico

Hands down, this is my absolute favorite pizza wine. I found it’s best to open it up about an hour before you serve it. It drinks like a champ, with a blend of dark cherry and herbal notes. It would also go great with a pasta and marinara sauce. I found this one at Costco for about $20.

 

 

Novelty Hill Merlot

Born and bred in the Columbia Valley in Washington State, the Novelty Hill Merlot is bold, complex and full bodied. It has a lingering finish and could almost be mistaken for a Cab. This is by far one of my favorite Merlots and I love even more that it is budget friendly! I found this one at my local Costco for about $20.

 

Oh, and One More!

One other value wine worth picking up is the Chateau Los Boldos Carménère from Chile. Read more about it on my previous post.

Wishing you a year that is full of many reasons to open a great bottle of wine, even if it is just a Tuesday night pizza delivery! Cheers!