20 Good Value Wines under $10 and $20

Life here in Northern California is getting more expensive all the time. This became especially clear to me after our recent trip to Italy and Portugal where food and wine were much, much cheaper than here in Sacramento.

For wine lovers like me, part of the fun is trying new wines, but it quickly gets pricey. Fortunately, there are plenty of good wines for $10 or less. If you shop carefully, no one will know that you’re pouring a “cheap wine”! Here are my picks for good value wines under $10, plus a few for under $15, but I’d love to hear your suggestions, too!

Brands to look for: Some of my favorite low-price wines come from McManis, Matchbook, Josh Cellars and Chateau Ste. Michelle. These cost around $12 here in California but are even less when on sale. All their wines tend to be good for the price, and they get good reviews, so they’re my four favorite wineries that balance quality and price.

10 good value wines under $10:

Gnarly Head Zinfandel:

This zinfandel from old vines in the Lodi appellation is a bold bold wine with nice berry flavors and a smooth finish. It’s an easy drinking wine but with enough old vine character to make the wine a good choice for the price. It received 88 points and the “Best Buy” label on Wine Enthusiast. Available for $10-13 in stores.

Starmont Carneros Chardonnay 2015:

Looking for a good white wine for the holidays? Try this classic Napa chardonnay available in stores for about $10-14.

Rosa dell’Olmo Barbera d’Asti:

Available at Trader Joe’s for about $6, this Italian red is one of my favorite everyday red wines.

Michel-Schlumberger Chardonnay 2015:

Available at Grocery Outlet for about $5, this Sonoma chardonnay is an excellent value!

NV Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut Cava:

Looking for a dry sparkling wine for the holidays? Try this Spanish brut cava available for $10 at Cost Plus World Market. This wine was named a value brand by Wine & Spirits Magazine.

Badet Clement Pontificis GSM Blend 2014:

I try to always have a bottle of this stashed away–it’s a good French red blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (30%) and Mourvedre (20%) and available at Trader Joe’s for just $7!

Fetzer Merlot:

An easy-drinking Merlot that won’t knock anyone’s socks off but will provide a good value for its $8 price tag. Check out more about this sustainable winery.

Montes Classic Cabernet Sauvignon 2014:

A soft yet vibrant 90-point Cab (in Wine Spectator magazine) for only $7 at Costco!

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2016:

This is one of my go-to Cabernets and is always priced at less than $10. Recently, it was awarded a gold medal at the San Francisco Chronicle’s wine competition. It’s a tasty, chewy wine that doesn’t veer into the too-fruity zone that many cheaper wines do.

McManis Cabernet Sauvignon:

A good Cab for the price, plus the winery is committed to sustainability and follows the Lodi Rules for green winemaking.

Read more: My list of Best Value Cabernet Sauvignon from the U.S.

Cycles Gladiator Petite Syrah:

Cycles Gladiator has been experiencing a rebirth of sorts over the last few years, and this Petite Syrah shows why Cycles is now a reliable value brand. It’s is a rich, jammy wine with a smoky nose that earned 88 points (and a “Best Buy”) from Wine Enthusiast. If Petite Syrah is not your thing, they also make a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, and the Cab just won an award at the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition.

And because an additional $5 can make a difference…

Good value wines for $10-20:

If you can afford to spend a little more, check out these favorites:

Seghesio 2018 Zinfandel Sonoma County

In my book, there’s almost nothing better than a good Zinfandel from Sonoma County, and this bright, fruity yet structured one doesn’t disappoint. Wine.com calls their Zin “one of the industry’s most reliable wines.” This wine is a great value available at Costco for less than $20. See three 90-point reviews here.

J. Lohr 2018 Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon

An excellent Cabernet for a fraction of the price of comparable wines from Napa Valley. It pairs well with food but is smooth enough to drink on its own. This is one of my go-to wines and buy it at Costco for about $12. See more in my list of 10 best value Cabernets.

Substance 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon

Another amazing deal at Costco (about $13!), this Cab was named one of the top 100 wines by Wine Spectator and received several 90+ point reviews. It’s a steal for the price considering the structure and depth of flavor.

Silk & Spice 2018 Red Blend

This was a random find that I noticed in the well-curated wine section at my local grocery store, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite everyday wines. I love a good red blend because the blend of grapes often creates a balanced wine that shows off the best features of each grape variety. This Portuguese blend is an easy-drinking, fruit-forward wine without the sweetness that often shows up in red blends.

It’s also received the “Best Buy” award from Wine Enthusiast and this glowing 90-point review: “This celebration of Portugal’s intrepid explorations in the Far East is a ripe, smooth, lightly toasty wine. Its texture is soft, open with black-currant fruits, spice and fine finishing acidity. ” Approx. $10.

Noble Vines Pinot Noir or Merlot:

Noble Vines makes several reliable wines with some receiving 89-90 point scores and the “best buy” designation on Wine Mag. I’ve been enjoying their Merlot lately (around $12), but the Cabernet, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are also worth a try.

It’s not easy to find a good, inexpensive Pinot Noir, but Noble Vines has managed to make an approachable pinot with the lightness and floral characteristics you’d expect from a Pinot Noir.

Mumm Napa Brut Rose:

I love Mumm Napa’s sparkling wines for special occasions. Available a Trader Joe’s for about $19, this dry sparkling rosé of Pinot Noir has a beautiful coral color and is a nice addition to a holiday party or festive meal. (And Wine Enthusiast gave this wine a 91.)

Matchbook Wines Tempranillo or Cabernet Sauvignon:

Consistently one of my favorite labels for good value reds, Matchbook Wines makes a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon and a really good Tempranillo if you like a deep, dark red.

See all my wine posts here. And if you’d like to learn more about wine, check out this handy guide to wine: