best value dry white wine
Everything I’ve Learned About Costco Wine in Seven Years of Running This SiteFood & DrinkDrinksWineChoosing a White Wine Choosing a White Wine Choosing the right white wine to enjoy with dinner or to serve guests doesn’t have to be hard. Try one of the white wines recommended here and save yourself some hassle. If You Want a . . . Try . . . Crisp, lighter-bodied, dry, unoaked white wine to go with fish, shellfish, game birds, pork, veal, Thai dishes, or Chinese Soave, Pinot Grigio, Frascati, or other Italian white wines Inexpensive white Bordeaux wines Fuller-bodied, dry, unoaked white wine to go with fish, shellfish, chicken, spicy sausage, or vegetarian dishes New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Fuller-bodied, dry white wine with oaky character to go with fish, shellfish, poultry, veal, pork, cream sauces, or egg White Burgundy wines from the Côte d’Or district Most Rhône Valley whites Some California Sauvignon Blancs
Better white Bordeaux wines Soft, fruity white wine that’s not fully dry to go with shellfish, chicken, pork, light cream dishes, Asian dishes, light curries, or smoked fishWe put together a list of 20 wines under $20 that will impress your boo, your friends, or just yourself. 1. Tribunal Red Wine – $9.99 This red blend is a Trader Joe’s gem — like their roasted plantain chips or goat gouda. For only $9.99, you get a bold, fruit-forward wine with plenty of spice to complement a Valentine’s Day home-cooked meal like steak, or pasta bolognese. The value here is real, and at 15% alcohol content, this bottle packs some serious punch. 2. Birichino Cinsault, Grenache, or Zinfandel – $19.99 Birichino makes excellent red wines from mostly old vines in the Santa Cruz mountain area. The winery name translates to “mischievous” in Italian, and many of its vineyards were purchased from reputed bootleggers! These wines are light, elegant, and bright, with a nice balance of fruit and acid.
is a project started by Morgan Twain-Peterson, who is the winemaker behind Bedrock Wine Co. and son of Ravenswood founder Joel Peterson. A Sonoma County native, Morgan also passed the Master of Wine exam and after completing his dissertation, will become one of less than 30 American Masters of Wine — impressive! While you may not be a Master of Wine quite yet, you can experience Morgan’s winemaking skills with this delicious old-vine red blend at a terrific price point. 5. Gamay from Beaujolais, France – $15.99 If your ideal Valentine’s Day date looks more like ordering pizza and getting comfy on the couch, a nice Gamay from Beaujolais is just what you need! The natural acidity of Gamay makes it a perfect complement to the tomato sauce and a nice change from the more classic pairings of Zinfandel or big, tannic Italian varietals. 6. Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel or Cline Ancient Vine Zinfandel – $15.99 Seghesio has been in Sonoma County for over 120 years and makes renowned Zinfandels at various price points.
Their entry-level Sonoma County Zinfandel is a great deal, with lots of black fruit, pepper, and spice. The Cline Ancient Vine Zinfandel is also ridiculous value for those lovers of classic California Zins. 7. Wines of Substance Cabernet Sauvignon – $14.99 To get a good Cabernet Sauvignon from places like Napa or Bordeaux, you usually have to shell out quite a bit of dough. This one from Charles Smith in Columbia Valley, Washington is full-bodied and killer value with up to 93 points from Wine Spectator. Expect layers of black cherry and tobacco with rich tannins that pair well with burgers, steak, or ribs. 8. Kings Ridge Pinot Noir – $17.99 It is hard to find good Pinot Noirs for under $20, but this one from Willamette Valley, Oregon, is pretty impressive for the price point. This region is known for Pinot Noir and has a climate similar to Burgundy. Fruit-forward with fresh acidity, this versatile wine will pair with a whole range of Valentine’s Day meals! 9. Andrew Murray “Tous les Jours” Santa Ynez Valley Syrah – $15.99
If you like full-bodied wine, try this Syrah from Santa Ynez Valley, an AVA located in Santa Barbara, California. Founder Andrew Murray strives to produce wines in the style of Rhône valley regions like Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, which are known for their extraordinary Syrahs. Rich and juicy with dark fruit, soft tannins, smoke and spice — this is a big wine without a big price tag. 10. Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier – $12.99 Affectionately known as CB + V, this unique blend of Chenin Blanc and Viognier was a Pine Ridge experiment from the early 1990s. The fresh acidity of the Chenin Blanc is balanced by the rich, round, weighty, floral Viognier, and the result is delicious. 11. Lioco Sonoma County Chardonnay or Wrath “Ex Anima” Chardonnay – $18.99-$19.99 Chardonnay can be a polarizing grape variety depending on your personal preference for wines aged in either oak or stainless steel. If you prefer a lean, zesty wine with more acid and minerality, try the Lioco Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, or the Wrath Ex Anima Chardonnay.
12. Luli Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay or MacRostie Sonoma Coast Chardonnay – $18.99 For a Valentine’s Day that involves movies and buttery popcorn, you’ll want a more full-bodied Chardonnay. For a richer expression with more oak influence, try the Luli Chardonnay from the Santa Lucia Highlands or the MacRostie Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. 13. Muscadet Sevre Et Maine from the Loire, France – $13.99 If your Valentine’s Day meal includes mussels or oysters, then you’re already doing pretty well in the impress-your-date department. Take it up a notch with a bottle of Muscadet from the Loire Valley. This bone-dry citrusy wine has lots of acid and a salinity that perfectly complements briny seafood like oysters. 14. Aromatic White Wine from Alsace, France – $19.99 Some of us prefer to keep it casual for Valentine’s Day and order in some spicy deliciousness from our favorite Thai or Indian restaurant. Up the class by cracking open a bottle from Alsace, specifically one made of one of the four ‘noble grapes’ — Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, and Gewurztraminer.
These wines are all about the floral aromatics, and their high acidity tempered by rich texture makes them perfect for spicy cuisines. 15. Ribolla Gialla, Friulano, or Malvasia from Friuli, Italy – $17.99 While most people are familiar with the food-friendly, bold red wines of Italy, there are tons of indigenous white grape varietals to explore as well. The Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, which sits in the top-right corner of Italy near Austria and Slovenia, makes wine from local grapes like Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, and Malvasia. Ribolla Gialla in particular offers high acidity, rich structure, and flavors of apricot and tangerine. 16. Mulderbosch Rosé – $9.99 This South African rosé was first released in 1999 and is made from 100% cabernet sauvignon grapes. Unlike some rosés, the grapes for this wine are managed and picked specifically to make rosé. The result is a dry, aromatic wine with fresh acidity and lots of strawberry notes. Serve this with a plate of prosciutto and who wouldn’t feel loved?
17. Domaine de Triennes Rosé – $15.99 If you’ll be spending Valentine’s Day somewhere warm, especially if a beach is involved, you need a bottle of rosé. Bright and crisp with notes of strawberry, this is a great example of Provencal rosé that is super affordable and delicious. 18. Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare – $13.99 This vin gris is also made of mostly Grenache grapes harvested specifically for rosé production, during which they receive minimal skin contact. The result is a dry, full-bodied, creamy textured wine with crisp acidity and berry mineral notes. Pair this with a rack of ribs and get messy! 19. La Marca Prosecco – $13.99 If bubbles are your thing, or you find yourself in a time crunch, this prosecco from Veneto, Italy is widely distributed and very affordable. Light and refreshing, this sparkling wine will give you the perfect pre-dinner buzz without the next-day sugar hangover. 20. Lambrusco from Emilia-Romagna, Italy – $13.99