Although the holiday feasting season is upon us now through the end of the year, it is important to remember not every gathering of friends and family is a formal occasion. ‘Tis also the season of spontaneous conviviality. The good host always wants to serve tasty wine but is ever mindful there are budget considerations when a crowd gathers for a holiday happy hour.
When the need arises for some very good budget wine, the following five brands are tried and true, consistently producing delicious wines at modest prices.
Banfi Centine — This is the entry-level brand produced by the notable Tuscan winery Castello Banfi. Best known for its exceptional Brunello di Montalcino, Banfi also makes the inexpensive Centine wines that come in three flavors: rosso, bianco and rose. You have probably figured out the rosso is sangiovese-based, the bianco pinot grigio-based and the rose is primarily juice from sangiovese. These wines are reliably delicious and priced around $10 a bottle, a little more or less depending upon where you live.
Barefoot Cellars — These are probably the finest $7 wines in the world. What’s remarkable about Barefoot is the consistency despite high production levels (in the millions of cases a year). All of the wines are multi-vintage blends, which allows winemaker Jen Wall and her team to tweak the wines to hit a predictable taste and level of quality. The straight-up cabernet sauvignon and merlot are quite good, the riesling is always aces and they even make a quaffable prosecco.
Cupcake — This brand is from The Wine Group portfolio and specializes in wines from around the globe: a delicious sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, excellent prosecco and pinot grigio from Italy and so on. The wines are all priced well below $20 a bottle and they always deliver. Perfect for a thirsty crowd.
Jacob’s Creek — This Australian winery has a long history of exceptional shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and riesling in the $12-$15 range. The wines are well-balanced and flavorful, with nary a dud in the brand’s broad portfolio. What really sets them up nicely as a party wine, though, is their easy drinkability. No rough edges to be found here!
Sterling Vintner’s Collection — Sterling is a powerhouse Napa Valley winery with plenty of expensive offerings, but its Vintner’s Collection value line is hardly a black mark on the brand and may include some of the finest $15 wines on the planet, including a delicious pinot noir that beats all comers at the price. The chardonnay and sauvignon blanc are winners, too.
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