Five More Wines For Under $15

As always, I can’t guarantee the exact retail price on the wines featured below as alcohol taxation and prices vary greatly by state. I can guarantee that the below wines are readily available in most areas and offer a good value proposition – they may not be the elite of the wine world, but they come at a great price and won’t disappoint.

Red #1: Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington)

The best part about Chateau Ste. Michelle is that I could’ve readily selected a vast number of their varieties and posted them on this site. Chateau Ste. Michelle has consistently produced high quality white and red wines that exemplify how good wines from Washington can be. I’m selecting the Cabernet Sauvignon for this post as it’s given me many fine memories. A ripe, luscious Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a more refined quality than a lot of the other Cabernets in its price range. Perfect with classic Americana fare, it also does really well with grilled meats and hearty stews.

Red #2: Taurino Salice Salentino Riserva (Italy)

This wine has a personality all its own and is a definite favorite of the Booze Whisperer. Salice Salentino is a great wine region in Puglia (the heel of Italy) and is made with a grape many Americans have never heard of or tried – the Negroamaro. The Negroamaro has been planted in Puglia since the 6^th century B.C. and Taurino does a great job portraying the beauty of this wonder of the ancient world. Those of you familiar with romance languages can probably discern that this “black” and “bitter” grape offers a flavor that is truly unique. While it is indeed very dark and bitter, it’s not overwhelmingly so and is an ideal accompaniment for salamis, olives, pizza and hearty pasta dishes.

Red #3: Alamos Malbec (Argentina)

Alamos offer a classic and affordable example of an Argentinean Malbec. It wasn’t that long ago when Argentina transformed this under-utilized French grape variety into an international celebrity and Alamos offers a great entry level version of what a Malbec should be. This version goes down smoothly with soft tannins and a slight leathery taste that denotes a true Malbec. This is an enjoyable “anytime” glass of red as it’s inexpensive and goes well with a lot of different dishes.

White #1: Feudo Arancio Grillo (Italy)

I love Feudo Arancio on numerous levels. To begin with, it offers very affordable versions of traditional Sicilian wine varieties. On top of this, they’re one of the “greenest” wineries in Italy and was actually the first Italian winery to receive the EMAS 2 certification for its environmentally friendly production chain. Finally, they’re Sicilian which means that even if I didn’t like their wines, I would keep it to myself and still pay some respect. In all seriousness, Sicily is a phenomenal wine region with a long history of great wines dating back to the Greeks. Grillo is the grape variety that is used in the making of the island’s famous fortified wine – Marsala, but it is also a very tasty dry white variety on its own. Feudo Arancio’s version offers hints of papaya and even mango with a dry background. It is a great accompaniment to seafood (awesome with calamari) and also does well with light pasta dishes and fresh strawberries. Yum.

White #2: Brancott Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)

While I have had better New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs than Brancott and I have had cheaper New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs than Brancott, it would be hard to say that I have found a better combination of the two. This wine is a straw colored beauty with notes of gooseberries and ripe bell pepper all tied together with a tropical fruit undertone. It is crisp, lively and acidic and perfectly represents the style that made the Marlborough region of New Zealand one of the premier places in the world for great white wines. This one is a great drink on its own or with salads or fish. I personally love this one with sushi.

May your life be full of wine adventures! Cheers! from the Booze Whisperer

First Five Great Wines for Under $15 post.