Value Wines: $20 and Under

Who doesn’t love coming across a great find, am I right? If you are looking for value wines to stock your cellar, consider taking your palate across the Atlantic. There are some amazing deals to be had. All of these are ideal for weeknight sipping, weekend porch pounding or easy entertaining!

Borrasca Cava

Both the Brut and Rosè versions of this Cava are super versatile sparklers, and the glittery labels make these a go-to for entertaining. The Brut version pairs beautifully with fried food or mix it into a mimosa or refreshing Aperol spritz. 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 an unbelievably great 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.

Juan Gil Silver Label

This has been a long-time favorite in my cellar. It is a Spanish Monastrell (Mourvèdre). I appreciate the soft tannins in this wine, which features luscious fruit, both on the nose and palate. It’s great alone or with food. Add a charcuterie plate or some tapas, and you’re ready to entertain! Your local Total Wine likely has this bottle for around $12.

Quinta Das Carvalhas Tinto Douro

One other value wine to add to your list originates from Portugal. Coming from the same region as Port, this is a juicy wine with bold fruit flavors and a fleck of spice. For around $16 at Total Wine, it is a great weeknight wine, and pairs well with just about any meat dish. As an added bonus, this producer also makes a solid 10-year Tawny Port.