12 Best Affordable Wines Under $10 (Bonus: They're Easy to Find)
If you're looking for a reliable wine to pull out at any time of night, these crowd-pleasing bottles over-deliver.
As far as delicious and cheap wines go, there are a host of good options under, say, $20 or so, but get down closer to $10 and the list of reliable wine that I myself would enjoy drinking on a regular basis narrows considerably. The wines that make the cut — like Napa-based winemaker Sean Larkin's first ever wine in a can — really stand out. (At exactly $12 per can, "Larkan" is my greatest find, and possibly the best wine in a can I've ever tried.)
So, if you're on a budget, or if you're looking to stash a case or two of a truly affordable bottle to pull out any time of day or night, this is a list of 20 very good wines that over-deliver in their price category.
2016 Larkin "Larkan" Napa Valley Red Wine ($5-$12)
This is quite possibly the world's best wine in a can — at least the best that I have ever tasted. And at $12 per 375ml (half a bottle) and $4.99 for 250ml, it's an unbelievable value. Winemaker Sean Larkin sourced high-quality Merlot grapes off a site along Dry Creek Road in Napa Valley to produce a deep and delicious red, bursting with ripe black fruit and sweet spices. A rich, creamy texture is balanced by chewy tannins, and the mid-palate floods with black and blue fruit giving way to a cocoa-dusted finish. Also look for his Larkan Napa Valley White Wine made with Sauvignon Blanc grapes from the famous Frediani Vineyard in Calistoga, California. It delivers a bright mineral nose, creamy tropical fruit notes, with lots of energy and verve. A mere 2,500 cans are produced of each — seek these out.
2016 Ruffino "Lumina" Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie Italy ($10)
Pretty yellow floral notes give way to fresh wild herbs, fresh pear, quince, and a flinty minerality. Serve this up with a fava bean and pecorino cheese salad, served on crusty bread.
2017 La Fiera Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie IGT Italy ($9)
Find delightful candied peach aromas, a creamy, soft, and round presence in the mouth, with a fresh-fruit finish.
2016 Famille Perrin Ventoux La Vielle Ferme Rouge Rhone France ($9)
A medium-bodied Rh?ne red, bursting with black and red berry fruit, earthy undertones, good acidity, and sturdy tannins. A little barbecue chicken off the grill will marry nicely with a glass of this.
2017 Ah-So Rose Navarra Spain ($10)
The color of an electric pink flamingo with candied white peaches and watermelon aromas. Tart red berry flavors upfront mingle with a lush core of tropical fruits. Refreshing and lively. Pop and enjoy all summer long.
2017 Gato Negro Chardonnay Chile ($5)
Simple and refreshing with tropical fruit, bright jasmine florals, zippy acid, and a round mouthfeel. Serve it good an chilled.
2016 CK Mondavi Family Sauvignon Blanc California ($6)
Tropical fruit notes mingle with lime zest and a salty minerality. A perfect wine to drink super-chilled by the pool. Also would be great for chilled white sangria or fancy wine-inspired cocktails.
2016 CK Mondavi Family California Cabernet Sauvignon ($9)
Bright and fresh aromas of red berries, wild herbs, and mocha. "Rich & Velvety" just as the label says, with ample red berry spice and nuanced pops of sweet oak.
2016 Fetzer Echo Ridge Sauvignon Blanc California ($10)
Guava and passion fruit nose. Bright and fresh hinting at citrus and Granny Smith apple tinged with white peach.
2016 Fetzer Valley Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon California ($6)
Raspberries, mint, and cocoa notes on the nose and palate giving way to creamy mouthfeel and spicy finish tinged with dried wild herbs.
2016 Edna Valley Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Central Coast California (starting at $10)
A terrific California Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc that showcases pale lemon with emerald hues in the glass and reveals fresh cut grass, tart lime-citrus notes, zippy acidity, and a fun, spicy jalape?o finish. Pair this with a salad of snap peas, fava, soft leafy greens, pea tendrils, and a nice mustard-vinaigrette.
2017 Amble + Chase Rose Provence France ($5 per 250ml can)
Another awesome canned wine you can buy in individual serving sizes. This blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault is a light salmon pink in color with tart cherry notes, raspberry, and bursts with more tropical fruit tinged with Mediterranean ocean breezes.
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