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Between the super-expensive wine tasting “salons” in Napa Valley and the endlessly soaring prices of expensive wines from Burgundy, you could easily get the idea that wine has to be expensive. But Wine Enthusiast reviewers and readers know that great wine can be for everyday occasions. That is, if you seek out great-value wines.
What makes wine a good value? In short, it scores high and is priced relatively low. Options are not limited to any one style or provenance. To the contrary, affordable wines that offer great value come from every corner of the globe: Argentina makes best-value wines, Australia makes best-value wines, Italy makes great-value wines, France makes plenty of value-priced wine and yes, even California (outside of Napa Valley) makes great-value wines worthy of an ordinary Tuesday-night dinner.
Where does one find such wines? Never fear, Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Best Buys 2022 issue pulls together the best wines at $15 and under, all of which our team of blind-tasting experts have reviewed in the past 12 months. Whether you’re looking for a high-quality California Chardonnay ($14) or a bottle of citrusy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc ($13), there’s a just-right white in there for you here. Looking for reds? Don’t miss the hearty Argentine Malbec ($12) or the cherry and berry-scented French Pinot Noir ($13).
Below, we’ve pulled 15 of those recommended $15-and-under wines from the Top 100 Best Buys list, which speak to the incredibly wide variety of affordable wines available to U.S. consumers.
Best Buy From Argentina
Alta Vista 2021 Vive Malbec (Mendoza)
89 Points Wine Enthusiast
Blackberry, blueberry, and peppercorn aromas on the nose. Light to medium in weight, the palate offers concentrated black fruit flavors and subtle notes of spices alongside nice acidity. It has a medium fresh finish. It’s a great value Malbec. Best Buy—Jesica Vargas
Best Buy From Australia
Frisk 2021 Prickly Riesling (Victoria)
88 Points Wine Enthusiast
This is a straightforward Riesling with a touch of sweetness and, as the name implies, a wee bit of fizz. Honey, petrol, lime leaf and lavender lead on the nose, followed by a palate that is fresh and fruity and falls away quickly. Drink cold with salty cheese. Best Buy—Christina Pickard
Best Buy From Chile
Veramonte 2021 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley)
89 Points Wine Enthusiast
Herbs and lime appear on the nose of this fresh and lively white. It’s medium bodied with vibrant acidity. Citrus and green flavors are intense leading to a lemony finish. It’s great value. Best Buy —J.V.
Best Buys From France
Château Roquefort 2021 Bordeaux Blanc (Bordeaux)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
Perfumed and with fine fruit, the wine is full of baked apple fruitiness. Its rounded, spicy aftertaste gives the wine complexity and a fine tangy aftertaste. Drink now. Best Buy —Roger Voss
Barton & Guestier 2021 Bistro Pinot Noir (Vin de France)
89 Points Wine Enthusiast
Juicy raspberries and cherries with a touch of spice are featured on the nose of this wine. Ripe cherry, raspberry and cassis bounce off the palate. There is crisp acidity and good structure. Enjoy now. Best Buy —Jacy Topps
Best Buy from Germany
Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler 2020 Riesling (Mosel)
89 Points Wine Enthusiast
Bold streaks of sun-drenched yellow peach and nectarine are accented by hints of saffron and cut stone in this delightfully honeyed white. Semidry in style yet balanced by a piercing spine of acidity, it’s a juicy, intensely fruity sip that’s immediately welcoming. Best Buy —Anna Lee C. Iijima
Best Buys From Italy
Mezzacorona 2021 Pinot Grigio (Delle Venezie)
88 Points Wine Enthusiast
This bright white opens with aromas of white spring flowers and white stone fruit. On the refreshing palate, crisp acidity accompanies Granny Smith apple, tangy saline and a hint of white almond. Best Buy —Kerin O’Keefe
Zenato 2021 Bardolino Chiaretto (Veneto)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
Red berry, baking spice and floral notes recalling violet waft out of the glass. On the dry, tangy palate, fresh acidity accompanies juicy red cherry, strawberry and white pepper notes. Best Buy —K.O.
Best Buy From New Zealand
Babich 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
Youthful and fruity, this perfumed wine opens with juicy lemon and lime, peach skins and chalky dust, underscored by green herbal notes. The palate is round and lightly creamy with crisp acidity and a lovely herbal and citrus skins quality. Best Buy —C.P.
Best Buy From Portugal
Sogrape 2020 Silk & Spice Red (Portuguese Table Wine)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
This blend from across regions of Portugal is smooth and ripe, rich in black fruits and made to drink young. It is a fine wine, with black fruit and juiciness. Celebrating the Portuguese explorers of the East Indies in the Age of Discovery, the wine is ready to drink. Best Buy —Roger Voss
Best Buy From Spain
CVNE 2021 Rosado (Rioja)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
This deep-hued rosé has a bouquet of green apple and strawberry with a dusting of dried hillside herbs. It is full in the mouth, with flavors of tangerine, lemon sorbet, butterscotch and sage. Best Buy —Mike DeSimone
Best Buys From California
OZV 2020 Old Vine Estate Grown Zinfandel (Lodi)
92 Points Wine Enthusiast
An earthy, doughy aroma shows how fresh this wine is, before revealing layered, indulgent flavors of raspberry syrup, blackberry jam and dark chocolate that coat the mouth. With a full body, smooth texture and lingering finish, it’s easy to love. Best Buy —Jim Gordon
McManis 2021 Certified Sustainable Estate Grown Pinot Noir (Lodi)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
This warm, generous and rounded wine has a relaxed, broad texture embracing mulled plums, cherries and subtle vanilla and cinnamon notes. Full in body and light in tannins, it’s easy to drink. Best Buy —J. G.
J.Lohr 2020 Riverstone Chardonnay (Arroyo Seco)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
This widely available wine is worth stocking for midweek enjoyment. Light aromas of lemon, honey, nectarine and crushed white rock lead into a palate of baked apple and lemon juice, all framed by a chalky structure. Best Buy —Matt Kettmann
Best Buy From Washington State
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2021 Dry Riesling (Columbia Valley (WA)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
This wine is consistently one of the best values in the world, and the latest vintage does not disappoint. The aromas enchant, with notes of Nestea Lemon Iced Tea, peach, citrus, lime leaf and honeysuckle. Dry, straight-down-the fairway lime and other citrus flavors follow. The balance is impressive. Best Buy —Sean P. Sullivan
Why You Should Trust Us
All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. All ratings and reviews are performed blind in a controlled setting and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment to conduct any product review, though we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
