Where my winos at? (I mean that in the nicest way possible, of course!)
I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to write a post about one of my favorite subjects – wine! Sometimes I get so caught up brainstorming new content for the blog that I miss what’s sitting right in front of my face. Perfectly chilled, and served in a big, tall glass.
(⬇️ excellent holiday gift idea alert!)
Before I got Celiac Disease, Ben and I were very much into the craft beer scene. We had so much fun trying different varieties and flavors (RIP Hell or High Watermelon,) going to craft brew festivals, trying local beer when we traveled – Ben even brewed and bottled beer in our basement! Unfortunately that all went out the door when I got sick. Turns out it’s not as much fun brewing beer when you can’t enjoy it with your craft brew-loving spouse anymore.
All was not lost, however, because although beer is full of the devil gluten, guess what isn’t? WINE! And guess what has a zillion varietals, vintages, and intricacies that make drinking interesting again? WINE!
So here we are. Wine drinkers. Who would’ve thought? That is to say, Ben and I have really gotten into wine over the past three years. The anticipation of trying a new wine – opening the bottle, pouring it into a glass, giving it a good sniff and finally a nice sip – is something we both really enjoy. Ben usually does the shopping because he loves finding new and interesting wines to try, which means all I have to do is uncork and enjoy. Speaking of uncorking, here’s the wine opening kit we use and swear by. No wine lover should be without it.
I’ve been to Napa a couple times, once with my girlfriends and again on a blogging trip, and have really enjoyed learning about wine-making from passionate winery owners and growers. Also learning the phrase “meth teeth“. And while I’ve loved learning even more about wine and wine making from documentaries like Somm (<< mind blowing) and Somm: Into the Bottle, I’m certainly no expert. That said, I know what I like and don’t like, so today I’m sharing 6 of my favorite wines under $20. Because I don’t think you need to spend an arm and a leg on wine to have a good experience, and also because any of these wines would make an excellent hostess gift for the holiday parties you’re attending this month. Slap a bow on that baby and get prepared for a big ol’ smile from the recipient!
I’m going to share three of my favorite white wines and three of my favorite reds, all of which can be found for under $20 around here. Prices can vary depending on where you live and buy wine – for example, we’ve found up to a $5 difference on some bottles depending on which HyVee we buy our wine at. Just something to be mindful of.
Ok so the only thing I like better than sharing my favorite wine picks is finding new and yummy wines to try, so let me know what YOUR favorite $20 and under wines are in the comments section below! In the meantime, CHEERS!
Favorite White Wines
Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc
When Ben and I are feeling fancy, we break out the Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc. And by fancy I mean I’ve showered sometime in the last 48 hours and Ben still has both socks on. Is anyone else’s husband constantly walking around with one sock missing? Just mine? Anyway, Whitehaven is my favorite mid-range New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. It’s very crisp, finishes super clean, is incredibly refreshing, and best enjoyed ice cold. Perfect to pair with sushi or serve at summer grill outs. Whitehaven is usually sold in the $16-$19 range around here, which is why we try and keep it for a clean hair/fully socked sort of occasion.
From the brand: full-flavored and medium-bodied with notes of peach, gooseberry and ripe tropical fruit. Showcasing a brilliant straw color, this elegant wine refreshes the palate with a long, clean finish.
Decoy Sauvignon Blanc
Decoy Sauvignon Blanc is my go-to “I’ve had an insane day, haven’t sat down since 7am, and need something to relax with while watching incredibly trashy television after the children are in bed” wine. I don’t cook with this wine (and hate sharing!) because it’s just so good by the glass. It has just the right amount of finish and is very balanced – not too tart nor too thin – just, perfect. We can usually find Decoy in the $14-16 range and it’s worth every penny. I’ve told all my white wine-loving friends to try it!
From the brand: this vivid and enticing wine offers bright, stone fruit flavors of nectarine and apricot, as well as lovely notes of honeydew, lemongrass and grapefruit. On the palate, refreshing acidity mingles with a subtle sweetness that carries through to a fresh, lively finish.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc was the gateway wine into the world of Sauvignon Blancs for me. Readily available and in the $13-$16 range, it’s a wonderful, all-purpose white that’s crisp and tart. It pairs well with just about any food but especially seafood, chicken, and anything off the grill, plus it’s great to cook with.
I jokingly call this a “poor man’s” good sauvignon blanc because the quality is better than a $5-7 bottle of wine, but if I had a choice I’d go with Whitehaven or Decoy, which happen to be a few bucks more. Still completely delicious though, and my friends and I tend to drink this wine the most when we get together. Kim Crawford has really pretty labels on their bottles right now which would make a great hostess gift tied simply with a ribbon!
(Honorary shoutout to Kim Crawford’s Unoaked Chardonnay, which I recently tried. Really good!)
From the brand: an exuberant wine brimming with juicy acidity and fruit sweetness, providing a balanced flavor profile. The finish is fresh, zesty, and lingering.
Favorite Red Wines
Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon
If I’m drinking red wine it’s almost always going to be cabernet sauvignon, which in my opinion is a white wine drinker’s red wine. That is to say, it’s easy to drink. Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon is the wine we tend to pour on Sundays in the season that shall not be named when Ben or I have a big pot of stew, Sunday sauce, or gumbo simmering on the stove. This cabernet is a great one to slowly sip because I find it to be a bit bold, and it goes well with the hearty food we eventually pair it with. We usually find this cabernet in the $13-$15 range, making it the most “affordable” of my three favorite reds. I like taking this wine as a hostess gift because I find both red and white wine drinkers like it.
From the brand: this vintage (2015) had a long, calm growing season, helping create elevated and concentrated flavors that include wild berries, plum, licorice and mocha. The full-bodied and mouth-coating feel on the palate leads to a long, graceful finish with tones of intense fruit, dried herbs and cedar inside firm structure.
Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon makes my list of 6 favorite wines under $20 because it’s very, very smooth and just totally yummy. It might be my favorite red wine under $20, actually! Just to paint you a picture – this cabernet is great to pair with cheese, crackers, and prosciutto, and enjoy by a warm fire. It’s usually just a dollar or two more than Louis Martini and I can find it pretty much everywhere.
From the brand: the Indian Wells Cabernet is our warm climate ripe, jammy “New World” style of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine typifies the Wahluke Slope region with dark fruit aromas and flavors. Syrah added an enhanced richness and concentration to the wine.
La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir
La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir is a great choice for when you want to switch your glass of red wine up. Pinot Noir grapes are notoriously hard to grow because they’re super sensitive to climate and soil changes, which means a GOOD pinot noir can be on the more expensive side. That said, we find La Crema to be really delicious and can usually find it in the $17-$19 range. Each sip is very light, easy to drink, and super juicy tasting.
From the brand: on the nose, red plum, tea leaves and coffee bean. On the palate, red cherry, orange zest and classic Monterey minerality. A lingering finish of sweet spice.
What are your go-to wines for enjoying at home and/or giving as a gift?
Lisa Newell 12.19.2016
Cannonball Cab Sav
Cigar Zin
Plungerhead Zin
Terri 12.19.2016
I drink wine only in the winter to warm me up, and my favorite is Cellar No. 8 cab sauv. My husband is very much into Black Box malbec, which is surprisingly good considering it’s boxed wine.
Ashley Lynn 12.19.2016
Longgggggg time reader (& fan!) here, but I am sad to say I almost never comment. BUT this post made me want to finally drop a line because Pinot Noir is my absolute favorite and you must must must try the Mark West variety. It is my go to!
Trudy Van Wyk 12.17.2016
Love trying new wines. Thanks for the red Suggestions. May also have to try a few of the whites you suggested. We always enjoy search for new wines. A few we have tried are Dreaming Tree Crush ( a nice softer red blend), Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet (a little heavier red, around $12-$-15) Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon ( a nicer bolder red priced at $16-$18). Thanks for the Wine article….Cheers!
Julie 12.17.2016
Where are the winos? Here I am! Here I am! Thank you for this post. One of my wino friends and I were talking about finding new red wines to try. I’ve added these to the list I keep on my phone of Wines to Try. I also have a Wines I Like list so I’ll remember if a particular wine was a thumbs up or thumbs down. Thanks for the post!
Kat 12.17.2016
Thank you for sharing the uncommon green map barware link – turned out to be the perfect place to find Christmas gifts for some family members!
Betsy 12.17.2016
I am a big fan of moscatos and recently I found Cascinetta Vietti’s Moscato D’Asti. It looks & sounds super fancy, but I get it at Costco for around $13! So yummy if you’re looking for something sweet.
brit 12.18.2016
thank you for posting a moscato lol. my GF and I both really love them, but are embarrassed to let it be known, as it doesn’t seam “real-winey” enough for the area we live in. (tons of wineries)
Anne 12.17.2016
Great post with some new ideas for me!
I lean towards big, jammy reds. 19 Crimes Red Blend and Lost Angel Red Blend are 2 of my current favorites, especially as the temperature drops here in Iowa! Both are $9.99 -$12.99 at Hy-Vee!
Tammy Hershberger 12.17.2016
I LOVE Primo Amore Moscato! I try to always have a bottle on hand. I like my wine to be very juicy and fruity, and this fits the bill.
Tara 12.16.2016
Thanks for the suggestions!! My go-to is Caricature Red Blend (which is heavy on cab sauv)- so smooth and great for a nightly glass. It’s around $13 at my local wine shop.
Erica 12.16.2016
I am surprised you still have stems on your stemware. I have a 2.5 yr old and we have switched to stemless stemware….The things we do for kids. Someday, I will get my stems back. ?
Mindy 12.16.2016
I enjoy a good glass of wine myself! All of your favorites are faves for me as well. I can add an additional Pinot Noir. “Meiomi” is a mix of the precious grapes of Monterey , Sonoma, and Santa Barbara Counties. It has a wonderful dark cherry and chocolate start and a rich “buttery” finish. It’s delicious with simple meat meals as well as any fish. I have seen it for $19.99 at my local Kroger as well as World Market. Try it! You might enjoy it as well.
Karla 12.16.2016
Have you been to Tassel ridge Winery in Iowa? I haven’t yet but definitely want to visit. I like Arden creeks Rosemary Rose. They are out of Letts, Iowa.
DONNA 12.20.2016
So glad to see someone mention Ardon Creek from smallville Iowa…they are located near Muscatine if you can’t find the town on the map. (www.ardoncreek.com) Our fave red wine from them is Red 52. We also look for alcohol content. Red 52 is usually in the 12% range. I like to get a bit of a mellow buzz when I drink wine. They also have several other excellent red and white wines. Another local fave white wine is Ackerman’s (Marengo, IA) American Niagra…also 12% alc. My local bucket list trip is to go on an Iowa Wine Trail in the Spring and/or Fall. For you Iowans in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City areas, check out the local farmers markets…many of the local wineries are there to sample/sell their wine. That’s how I discovered Ardon Creek.
April 02.09.2017
If you love Iowa wines check out John Earnst Vineyard located just outside of Tama, IA. Lincoln Highway Red is hands down my favorite. You can find it on local shelves in that area as well. Can’t wait for a trip back to Iowa to visit so I can go there.
Michelle 12.16.2016
Great post! We also love Chateau Ste Michelle! Give Greg Norman Estates Cabernet Merlot a try. It’s a fantastic blend. You’ll find it in the Australian Wine section at Hy-Vee. Happy Holidays to you and your family!
AbbieD 12.16.2016
We just had our annual wine party at my sister’s on Wednesday night…”bring a bottle to share!” Someone brought Meiomi Pinot Noir and it was DELICIOUS! I can’t seem to stop thinking about it! I think she said it’s just under $20…usually around $18.
Trish 12.16.2016
Hi Kristin. Thanks for the great tips! Just FYI, Chateau Ste. Michelle also makes a phenomenal Riesling, which is not overly sweet as some rieslings can be. Their dry riesling is also nice. I will admit that one of the toughest things about returning to the States will be the lack of yummy wine under $5 a bottle. One of our favorite local wines here sells for just $2.50. Wish I could send you some!
nomadreader (Carrie) 12.16.2016
We have the same taste in wine! I love all three of those whites. If those are your three favorite sauvignon blancs, you’re missing out on the best value in town–the Sauvignon Republic Sauvignon Blanc at Trader Joe’s. It’s only $7.99 and is my go to everyday wine.
Lauren 12.16.2016
If you like those cabernets, you’ve gotta try Josh cabernet – it’s my go-to red under $20!
Tara 12.16.2016
I second this rec! Forgot to mention it in my comment :)
Maureen 12.19.2016
Josh cab sav is my go to any night of the week! Occassionally Uppercut is on sale for under $20 and I always stock up.
As for whites, I love Kim Crawford Chardonnay, as well as Chateau Ste. Michelle!
Caitlin 12.16.2016
Currently loving Josh Cab Sav. It’s delicious and only $12 here in Chicago!
Sara @ Last Night's Feast 12.16.2016
I absolutely love Crema Pinot Noir. And how funny that all your whites are Sauv Blanc… I used to just always get chardonnay until I discovered Sauv Blanc, and now it’s pretty much the only white I buy! Merry Christmas!