5 Great Wines Under $15

I’ve had more than a few requests to provide some wine insight for some quick solutions at a decent price. As such, I have decided to post a recurring thread featuring five new wines that from my perspective offer a great drink at a decent price. Today’s list will feature three reds and two whites which are generally easy to find regardless of where you live. For full disclosure – I cannot guarantee that they will be under $15 where you live as alcohol taxes vary from state to state as do average retails. I will say that I have lived in low tax states and high tax states and can comfortably say that I have mostly seen the following five wines live somewhere between $8 and $15. For my international followers, I really cannot make any guarantees but appreciate your patronage of my site!

Red #1: Goats Do Roam (South Africa)

Although I normally despise wines that have animals on the front label, this nice red wine from South Africa is actually a pun on the famous “Côtes-du-Rhône” wine from Southern France. True to its name, this wine uses a nice mix of southern French grape varieties which give it an earthy spiciness that goes great with grilled meats or winter stews. This is one of my all-time favorite wines to give as a gift as it doesn’t break the bank, is tasty, and has an eye-catching bottle with a cute story on it!

Red #2: Gabbiano Chianti (Italy)

Chianti is probably Italy’s most famous wine and will be studied in copious details in blogs to follow. Gabbiano makes today’s list because it is widely distributed, has a modest price and offers a true chianti flavor that is a wonderful accompaniment to tomato based Italian dishes. What makes Gabbiano even more special is the really cool picture of a knight on the bottle (very typical of Tuscan wines) along with the pink band denoting quality around the top. There are three levels of Gabbiano: Chianti (good), Chianti Classico (better), Chianti Classico Riserva (best). Try the basic before doing the upgrades!

Red #3: Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages (France)

This wine is a fantastic standby that is consumed often in my family. Beaujolais comes from the Burgundy region of France and is made from the Gamay grape. This style of wine, like the more famous (and expensive) Pinot Noir based wines from the same region is unique in that it goes well with just about any food you can imagine. It even goes well with some fish (especially salmon!). Perhaps it is at its best when served with roasted poultry, braised meat dishes, or simple summer faire like quiche and salad. In addition, this wine is one of my favorite cooking wines. The “Villages” denotes higher quality than the base Beaujolais and is generally not much more expensive.

White #1: Casillero Del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc (Chile)

I frankly wasn’t expecting much from this lower priced Chilean white, but was very pleasantly surprised with how good this saucy little white tasted. For those who have never had a Sauvignon Blanc, it is a very different experience than a Chardonnay or a Riesling – it is dry and possesses a tart acidity that hints of ripe citrus fruits. While this style is best exemplified by New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blancs and those hailing from the grape’s homeland in France, this Chilean beauty comes at a great price and is easy to find.

White #2: Marques De Caceres Blanco (Spain)

This Spanish white is an excellent choice for many occasions. It is simply divine on a warm summer’s day when all you need is a seat outside and a glass of wine. It also is a great companion to traditional Spanish tapas and other light plates such as salads or cheeses. Everybody has different tastes, but I have yet to find a white wine drinker who has not enjoyed this one.

I hope that this helps provide some quick choices for the busy wine searcher. They should all be easy to find and are ones that I will grab when in a pinch!

Cheers!