Wine is one of those little things that bring me pleasure. I enjoy discovering new wines, but I’m not a wine snob. As I’ve mentioned before, my favorite wines are those that taste great but don’t break the bank.
I recently asked Gary Vaynerchuk — host of Wine Library TV — if he could suggest some good inexpensive wines for spring and summer. Gary put together a special episode of his program just for GRS readers:
“You want to talk about ‘ get rich slowly‘? Look for value plays in wines,” Gary says. “If you don’t overspend on wine, you’ve got more money in the bank!”
He makes a great point. As with anything, the key is to find value. Find wines that you like that don’t cost an arm-and-a-leg. I used to buy $40 and $50 bottles of wine. Sure, they were great — but you know what? I’ve found that it’s actually more fun — and certainly better for my budget — to find wines under $10 that I enjoy. One of the best parts of frugality is the sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing you’ve found something worthwhile without spending a lot of money.
Here are the bottles that Gary mentions in his video:
- Domaine De Laure Rose 2007 (~$7) — Gary says that a rosé is a perfect wine for spring or summer, served chilled while sitting on your porch.
- El Hada Verdejo Viura 2008 (~$8-$9) —
- Dolianova Vermentino Di Sardegna Prendas 2007 (~$12) — “Great with shellfish.”
- Beau Joubert Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (~$8-$9)
- Chateau Pesquie Les Terrasses 2006 (~$10-$15)
- JT Cellars Petite Sirah 2006 (~$9) — “Bigger and more complex than sirah.”
- Correaux Beaujolais Villages 2007 (~$7-$11) — Gary says that “beaujolais is an amazing play with fish.”
- La Sera Barbera D’alba Il Cielo 2006 (~$12) — A great alternative to chianti. Goes well with veal and pasta.
- Fiorano Montepulciano D’abruzzo 2007 (~$8-$9) — “A pizza wine for a Wednesday.”
- Quiteria Loma Gorda 2006 (~$10-$12)
- Seidelberg Pinotage 2006 (~$9-$10) — Gary says that pinotage is “a very controversial grape.” (Ha! I love it. “Controversial grape.”)
- Barrandica Mendoza 2005 (~$12) — “Tastes much better than most $25 California cab-merlot wines.”
You may not be able to find these exact bottles in your supermarket or wine store. That’s okay. If that’s true, then try to find the same varietal. If you can’t find the Dolianova Vermentino Di Sardegna Prendas 2007, for example, then simply look for a vermentino. (Even that might be a challenge.) The key is to be adventurous. Don’t just drink pinot noir and chardonnay. Try new things.
“Go out and explore and expand your palate,” Gary says. “Try different wines, wines from Argentina and South Africa and the south of France. So much great stuff out there…Get out there and try new things. The only way you’re going to know if you like a wine is if you taste it.”
When you do find a wine you love, write it down. If you discover that it’s within your budget, stock up. Consider buying a case. That’s what I’ve begun to do when I find a wine I like. Over the past year, I’ve purchased two cases of wine, and I want to purchase one more. The one-time expense can seem huge, but in the long run, buying in bulk will save me money.
Luxuries like wine (and chocolate and good cheese and…) can be difficult to justify for a frugal shopper. But if you budget well and shop carefully, you can enjoy drinking wine without spending a fortune.
Previously at Get Rich Slowly, Gary Vaynerchuk has offered advice on how to find good wines at great prices and inexpensive wines for a romantic dinner. You can catch more of Gary at WIne Library TV.
GRS is committed to helping our readers save and achieve your financial goals.Savings interest rates may be low, but that’s all the more reason to shop for the best rate.Find the highest savings interest rate from Ally Bank, Capital One 360, Everbank, and more.
This article is about Food
Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.
Discover is a paid advertiser of this site. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. See the Discover online credit card application for full terms and conditions on offers and rewards.
SEARCH FOR RECENT ARTICLES
Love it.
“It’s all about the marathon…”
loading....
I have been making my own wine. I buy the grapes in bulk when they are .98 per pound and freeze them. Cost is about $15.00 for 3 gallons of wine and making it is super easy. Our guest are always surprised when I tell them its homemade and not store bought.
loading....
Two Buck Chuck @ Trader Joes.
loading....
I am from the wine region of New York, which for some reason is not all that well-known. The wines in the area are so great, full of fruity smell but still dry on the tongue!
I don’t know if they have them out your way JD, but you should check out some of the whites from Atwater Estate, Dr Frank’s, Billsoro Winery, and more. They all have shipping from their sites (although I think state laws prevent them shipping to some areas). The Rieslings and Chardonnay’s are especially good. Although, 2007 was a great year for their reds, very warm and dry.
My fiance and I just went on a wine tour (we do several times a year) of the area and the ’07′s are glorious! We bought 8 bottles for $84. Now just to resist opening them too often!
loading....
Excellent! I’ll be bookmarking this so that I can refer to it later when I go grocery shopping- Thanks Gary and JD.
loading....
wine.woot.com might be helpful, although sometimes their prices tend to the higher end, and shipment is limited to certain states only.
loading....
I go to BJs liquor store (no discount card needed) and they have Wine Spectator and similar ratings on the wines. I try lots of new things because I only buy rated wines under 10$ — I’ve found some lovely wines!
loading....
If you find a wine that you really like, you should ask if there is a discount on purchasing by the case. I can’t speak for everywhere, but I know around here you can often get a 10% or better discount that way.
loading....
Good post JD.. I need to expand my horizons past Pinot Noir and Cab Sav..
But I’m NOT DRINKING F!CKING MERLOT!!!
loading....
I think I’m the only one that cannot tell the difference btwn a $500 bottle of wine and a $5 bottle. Its all the same to me.
loading....
I really enjoy Chenin Blanc wine from South Africa – various vineyards, and I’ve liked them all. Almost always under $12.
loading....
@Aman (#10)
Actually, Aman, you’re not the only one for whom this is true. Studies have shown that even the experts cannot tell the difference in blind studies. That’s why I think it’s so important to just find and drink stuff you like. Price doesn’t matter a whit. Find the stuff you like, and then if it’s cheap enough, buy it in bulk. That way you’re finding inexpensive wines that taste good to you.
loading....
Alright! It’s “Get Drunk Quickly” on Get Rich Slowly
I look forward to sampling some of these
loading....
Haidee that’s what we do
1) try inexpensive wines that have a high rating (wine spectator?). If you can do it systematically (by grape) you can get a better feel whether a) you like that type of varietal, and what kind in that varetal you like. Everyone’s taste is a little different, when you find a wine that you love AND is inexpensive it is even more satisfying to enjoy.
2) write down the names that you like, next year you might like it still
3) buy in bulk. The 2 main grocery stores we use have a 10% off by the case. We have not done this yet but plan to in the future.
Regarding expensive versus inexpensive I know what I like; I’m generally easy to please but there have been times certain wines I haven’t cared for and it doesn’t necessarily correspond to price.
The pleasures of a glass of wine with a delicious cheese, and fresh/dried fruit are truly worth the value.
loading....
Now I can clearly see why Gary is the wine guy for wine library tv – he’s got passion in his eyes.
Great guest post J.D.
loading....
Corbett Canyon Cab. for 5.85 in neck of the woods.
hmm…tasty!
Like the video blog…just not the NYJets spittoon!
loading....
I love Trader Joe’s. I’ve bought tons of bottles of wine under $10. I make a list of my favorites, but to be honest, I love trying different ones. We buy pricey bottles rarely. We enjoy many under $10 bottles. There are some under $5 bottles that I haven’t enjoyed, but there was one $50 bottle we bought once that I didn’t like also. With the under $5 bottle, I just chalked it up to be something to avoid. I felt like I wasted my money on the $50 bottle.
Price is certainly no indicator of quality. We drink what we like.
loading....
Anyone know if there is anything like this for small cask local liquors? I’m not a big wine drinker but I’d be into trying new local bourbons and the like.
loading....
Well, let me be the first.
1. Wine is a want, not a need.
2. Want to save the most money? Don’t buy any.
loading....
This is awesome! Gary rocks, he’s so passionate and knowledgeable, and I like that this segment is focused not just on inexpensive wines, but on trying new things. Yes, it is cheaper to buy that two buck chuck, but it gets old. Not everyone is gonna be interested in learning about wine, but for foodies like myself who are trying to deal with a budget, this is great. I’m totally inspired to go find some of these wines and pair them with delicious food. And I agree that rose, for the spring and summer, is so where it’s at.
loading....
I recommend Winking Owl. It’s a good tasting cheap red wine that can be picked up at Aldi for $3.29. They also have some other beers and wines that are significantly less than what you would find at other grocery stores.
loading....
Very helpful article. I love finding delicious and inexpensive wines, but don’t have the patience for a wine book. I did find a sweet wine-lovers social networking site that makes it easy to rate and review wines and makes recommendations based on your prefs. It’s called snooth.com and it’s free.
loading....
Absolutely terrific post J.D.! Thank you Gary! I know not much about wine, except what I do and don’t like. T Joes is a terrific place to sample wines from around the world. Just yesterday I picked up some fantastic wines from South Africa, Chile (who could resist ‘Diablo’ on the label!?), Argenta, and France. All $10 or under.
I’ve often wished I’d kept a database about wines I have enjoyed, it’s sage advice. A friend spent 6 weeks in South Africa and brought me one of the most delicious wines I’ve ever tasted, and I failed to make a note of the label. Haunts me to this day!
Incidentally, my doctor told me to enjoy a small glass of red wine every evening. Just one glass, not too much. Good for your heart, your brain, and for lowering your cholesterol. Best prescription I ever received!
)
loading....
I have bought wine by the case when traveling (by car) and the price was right, but I was already in shock at how much cheaper liquor is in other states. Stinking Puritans, making this a liquor control state. Woe is me!
loading....
I’m not in the States, so I can’t get these wines.
What we do is go to the local hypermarche when they have the big sales and see which wines are almost gone.
One time we got lucky enough to be shopping when a gourmand restaurateur was shopping..they had notes. We followed at a discrete distance and picked up some good stuff.
loading....
Kentucky has some great wineries (35 of them) and the prices are great. Pick up a case or two when you pass through.
http://www.Kentuckywine.com
I can personally recommend Stonebrook, Smith Berry, Equus Run and Acres of Land Wineries.
loading....
My husband and I also seek out wines under $10, and lately we have been loving Raw Power, a shiraz that is as oaky and dry as a tempranillo. Highly recommend it, and looking forward to trying these others!
loading....
Thanks for sharing– I will have to try these.
loading....
May I add my two cents?
I enjoy wines of all prices, and have kept labels/written down ones that I’ve loved. However, take it one step further – write down *why* you liked it! This helps in several areas –
1) If you talk wine with friends, it will help you give better recommendations. If you know they like sweeter wines, you’ll recall ones you had that you liked AND that were sweet.
2) If you recall Bogle Petit Syrah (one of my faves) tasted really good with that chocolate cake you had the other night, you’ll know precisely what you want the next time you have chocolate on the menu.
3) My favorite reason…You’ll start to notice different tastes in wine and be able to better compare and contrast them.
Good luck!
loading....
In Ann Arbor (and maybe other locations), grocery stores gave discounts on “bulk” wine purchases even if they were different brands. If you bought six wines, you’d get 10% off your purchase. I always bought wines by the 6-pack there.
I also checked out wine contest lists (luckily, the local grocery store posted them) to find ones that scored high but were still under $15.
For me, I find that wine is one of my great splurges. I don’t wear makeup, and I bike to work every day that the weather is nice. Frugality in some areas allows me to be more lavish in my wine purchases.
loading....
My husband and I started drinking wine when we went to a vineyard in Thousand Islands, NY. This was the first time we found wine we could even stomach. We ended up buying a case of 12 bottles at a 15% discount (less than $10/bottle).
Now, we make wine out of the box kits (WineExpert) for $1.75/bottle (kit cost=$49.99 : makes 30 bottles of wine). Some argue that this really isnt wine, but we like it just the same. We have made over 4 kits in the last two years. We make Ice Wines for $3.00/bottle. They make great gifts for Christmas and Birthdays. Not to mention every time we go someplace for dinner, they ask, “Can you bring a bottle of your wine?”
The equipment needed to make wine was a gift from my mother ($200). Even if we would have purchased the equipment ourself, we have already paid it off with the amount we’ve saved on making our own.
~M
loading....
We like Road Kill Red from the western slope of Colorado. Each year we have a winefest here as a fundraiser for a disabled resources outfit. Great way to taste lots of different wine. I shop with my wallet. I find that box wine (3 ltr.) is pretty good for about 12-19 bucks.
loading....