When you’re picking a reasonably priced wine, the secret is to focus on the REGION and the GRAPE. It’s all a matter of personal taste of course, but certain varieties of wine grapes grow better in certain conditions.
All of these wines I’m recommending have something in common: they’re all made of grapes with French origins but are produced elsewhere, resulting in a high quality wine at a lower price point.
Malbec grows wonderfully in Argentina, specifically the region of Mendoza. While bottles can run up to $100, there are a plethora of high quality Argentinian Malbecs on the market.
Smith + Hook make several varietals in the Central Coast region of California but I’m partial to this particular under-$20 Cabernet Sauvignon; it’s excellent with steak, pasta and cheese.
Don’t sleep on the Columbia Valley in Washington, especially for Merlot. There are dozens of producers in the area but Chateau Ste. Michelle is the most widely available in the US by far; this is my go-to recommendation if you’re stuck having to get wine from the gas station.
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