A good bottle of wine doesn’t have to break the bank. There are more wineries selling good cheap wine to the public through wine clubs than ever before. You simply need to knofw how to choose the best quality wine in your price range.
In this guide, we’ll take you through the step-by-step process of choosing delicious, affordable wines and showcase some of the best affordable wine clubs that ship to the US. Let’s begin with the basics.
The First Steps to Finding a Good, Cheap Bottle of Wine
It's All About The Grapes
Every time you mention your favorite wine, be it Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, or Riesling, you’re really just naming the type of grape that it’s made from. The grapes used to make wine play an enormous role in each distinctive flavor, alcohol content and tannin level. Sometimes, the best cheap red wine can taste almost identical to expensive wines of the same grape.
PLEASE Read The label
Wine labels contain a huge amount of information, from the type of grapes used to produce the wine to its harvest year, how long you should wait before drinking it, and even what foods it may pair well with.
Know Your Favorite Wine Location
Earlier we mentioned the role that grape varieties play in the flavor and body of a good inexpensive wine, but the growing region is also important. Wines grown in temperate European climates like France and Germany are going to be more delicate in flavor than those grown in Spain and the New World countries. By tasting wines from different regions and deciding which you prefer, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices even more.
Avoid Expensive Wine Regions
Wine regions like the Loire Valley or Bordeaux are famous for their wines and their high prices too. If you’re a fan of easy-drinking cheap wines, skip the fancy regions and choose a winery from elsewhere. As we mentioned above, it’s best to let the grape variety guide you in your search for the best cheap wine bottles.
Try to Find Less Expensive Labels From Notable Producers
There’s an exception to the rule about wine regions: sometimes a famous producer in a prestigious region will have several labels in their wine offering. As with many brands, you’ll often find that there’s a premium label alongside one that offers good cheap champagne and other wines. It’s also worth looking out for sales and special prices on premium wine. A little bargain hunting can really pay off.
Top 5 Best Red Wines for $15 or Less
2015 M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Rouge
This elegant French red is crafted from a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. The palate is bursting with berry and black cherry flavors while the sugar levels are not too high. This is some of the best cheap red wine on the market today.
2014 Bogle Petite Sirah
If you’re a fan of California reds, this is a fantastic value wine to consider. Allspice, dark chocolate and decadent fruit await your palate. Paired with a robust meaty meal, this Sirah makes an excellent addition to the dinner table.
2014 The Pinot Project California Pinot Noir
The Pinot Project is committed to providing customers with the best cheap Pinot Noir, and their 2014 Pinot Noir doesn’t disappoint. It’s easy drinking with plenty of fruit on the nose and palate and with limited tannins, you may need to order more than one bottle.
2014 Cline Lodi Zinfandel
Next up on our list of great Californian wines is the Cline Lodi Zinfandel, a delicious velvety wine bursting with deep fruit and spiced vanilla. The fruity palate and nose may deceive you into thinking you’re drinking a semi-sweet wine, but the sugar content is moderate and refreshing. This wine pairs extremely well with spicy food.
2014 Bibi Graetz Casamatta Rosso
Sangiovese isn’t always considered to be a wine with great depth, but this offering from Bibi Graetz is an exception. The rich flavor, with hints of mineral and black cherry can be enjoyed to the fullest thanks to low tannins. Excellent pairing choices include roasted meats, grilled mushrooms and chicken salad.
Top 5 Best White Wines for $15 or Less
2017 Hogue Cellars Columbia Valley Riesling
This easy-drinking Riesling from the Columbia Valley in Washington State is light, crisp and full of peachy aroma. Enjoy this wine with seafood, light pasta dishes and delicate herby flavors.
2017 Elsa Bianchi Mendoza Torrontés
Here we have the first Argentinian wine on our list, and it’s definitely a winner aside from easily being one of the best affordable white wines. The light citrusy flavors of this wine are like sunshine on the palate. You’ll want to enjoy this easy drinker with South and East Asian food, especially spicier dishes.
2017 Marqués de Cáceres Ruedo Verdejo
Green flavors and aromas dominate this wine from Rueda in the north of Spain. Grassy, peppery undertones and a drier finish make it ideal to enjoy with salads, even those with rich dressings.
2017 Anselmo Mendes Pássaros Vinho Verde Loureiro
Crisp, almost tart acidity defines this Portuguese wine in the best possible way. You can enjoy this cheap dry white wine with fish, garlic-rich dishes and seafood, making it the perfect partner for Portuguese dining.
2017 Condes de Albarei Rias Baixas Albariño
The final white wine on our list hails from Galicia, Spain and is bursting with tropical flavors like mango and apricot. This wine is ideal for salads, seafood, summer pasta, and other outdoor dining favorites.
Top 5 Best Rosé Wines for $15 or Less
2017 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Rosé
The delicate pink color of this Spanish Rosé is echoed by its subtle flavors of strawberry and white peach. This is an ideal wine to enjoy with creamy cheeses, light salads and almost any food with delicate flavors.
2017 Goats do Roam Western Cape Rosé
This robust South African Rosé brings a variety of berries along with a smooth finish to the palate that is ideal for pairing with a variety of foods. Light seafood dishes, barbeque, or even stews and curries pair well with this balanced wine.
2017 La Vieille Ferme Rosé
As one of the best inexpensive wine offerings from Europe, this Vin de France wine is a mix of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah. Berry and melon flavors dominate the palate, which makes it an excellent pairing wine for soft cheeses and fruit preserves.
2017 Villa des Anges Old Vines Rose
If you’re a fan of Old-World vines, this delicate French blush may be just what you’re looking for and is easily some of the best inexpensive wine from France. The palate of strawberry and citrus produced by its Cinsault blend goes perfectly with pasta, Mediterranean platters, and whitefish.
2017 Capçanes Mas Donís Montsant Rosat de Garnacha
The final wine on our list is a Spanish Grenache Rose, bursting with rich fruit flavors and low sugar content. The quality of this wine makes it ideal for pairing with meaty dishes.
Top 5 Cheap Wines Club
The California Wine Club
California wines offer some of the best value out there, and what better way to enjoy them than through the California Wine Club? Starting at $39 for three bottles, this wine club is a great way to sample some of the best bottles from the Golden State.
Plonk
Plonk is one of the few clubs that places a focus on affordability. While wine clubs might sound exclusively for the rich or for those with big budgets, getting a subscription that won’t break the bank is pretty easy with Plonk. Whether it’s through free delivery or the $10 off when you sign up to the company newsletter, there are various ways you can save money by choosing Plonk as your wine club provider.
You have the choice between four or 12 bottles per shipment, with the latter option providing the most savings if you’re prepared to spend that money anyway. Customers can choose between four different payment schemes: you can opt for a rolling monthly charge that can be canceled at any time, or for the maximum savings, you could go for the 12-month upfront payment, ensuring you never need to worry about where your wine’s coming from again. All 12-bottle shipments contain a mix of red and white or can be just the one type if you’d prefer that.
Winc.com
Winc.com features a fantastic range of white, red and rose wines at excellent prices. You can order a wide variety of reds by the bottle, box or case, making this one of the best red wines clubs out there.
Naked Wines
This British wine club offers wholesale prices on delicious wines from independent wineries. The sheer number of wines they offer makes Naked Wines a great wine club for anyone with an adventurous palate.
Naked Wine offers a no-frills take on wine clubs. Rather than dress up its service, the company offers a simple and direct link to the world’s best independent winemakers. Naked Wine provides a much-needed middle man service between winemakers and their customers, meaning they’re able to focus on creating the best award-winning produce that they can.
Customers of Naked Wine enjoy 60% off the typical price of buying premium wines and have the opportunity to discover more about the painstaking process behind creating such delicate flavors. Rather than make individual club purchases, your account deposits act as investments into independent wineries and give them the chance to flourish. With these contributions, you can purchase bottles of wine and also make profits from your investments. Plus, you only need to spend $40 a month to make it happen, compared to the usually much higher price of a typical wine club subscription.
Vinebox
If you’d like to sample some of the world’s finest wines on a budget, Vinebox may be a great option. Every quarter, the company ships nine glasses of top wines from around the world to its subscribers - starting at $35 a month.
WSJ wine
The Wall Street Journal’s WSJwine club brings luxury to all Americans with some of the most affordable tailored wine plans available. The company regularly runs promotions to give wine lovers the flavors they enjoy but at a fraction of the price they’d find elsewhere. Plus, if you sign up for the newsletter, you’ll be the first to receive news on promotions and any exclusive discounts on the various clubs on offer.
WSJwine club offers bottles for close to $10 at a minimum which is generally lower than most wine clubs anyway. Taking advantage of certain promotions will mean you get free crystal wine glasses, free seasonal add-ons, and the chance to choose between free gifts or discounts on your regular plan. Plus, if you ever go for a bottle that ends up not being to your liking, WSJwine club will give you your money back no questions asked. All this and more is why it has an A+ rating with the BBB.
The Wall Street Journal wine club has a premium feel and may even be the best champagne club for value-conscious customers. WSJwine offers a variety of wine boxes, with red, white, and mixed options catering to different palates.
My Conclusion
Great tasting wine doesn’t need to cost you a fortune. In fact, some of the budget friendly wines in our review are hard to beat when it comes to flavor and drinking experience. Now that you know what’s out there and where to get it at the best price, it’s time to place that order and look forward to your first shipment of delicious, good cheap wine.