Because nothing stops me from being a lush: The Cheap Wine Thread

[Harlean Carpenter {★}]

Okay, I'm not actually that much of a lush, but I do like wine with dinner at least a few times a week. When times are good, I still try to keep to the $10-$15 bottles, just because I can't see the point of spending more than that when there are so many perfectly good bottles within that range. When times are not as good, like now, and I need to divert some of my wine budget to my shoe and lingerie budgets to keep myself afloat, finding good bottles in the $5 and under range is the highlight of my day.

And in case you're harboring a belief that I must admit I held for a very long time, let me tell you this; finding a bottle of wine for $3 at an outlet store does not mean it's bad wine.

I'm lucky enough to live close to Wine Country. So a lot of good bottles find their way to places like Grocery Outlet and Big Lots, just because the smaller wineries don't have storage space, and the old bottles have to go to make way for the new. And some of them are pretty darn good. Not all. Some of them are in the outlets because they suck and the wineries couldn't give them away. When that happens, I use them for canning or tinting lace or some other use where I don't actually have to taste them. You never know until you try.

There is one label in particular that we found at Big Lots that is fantastic. It's by Earth Wise, they're selling it for $3 a bottle, and it is easily as good as any $15 bottle we've ever had. And as you feel that pesky sobriety falling slowly away, you can take comfort in the fact that you're saving the planet with every sip.

Not an outlet bottle, but also a good one within the $5/under range, is anything by Barefoot. I'm particularly fond of their Merlot. You can get it at Target.

If you're a wine drinker on a budget with any good finds to share, I'd love to hear about them

[ambitious_lemon]

There is one that I stumble across cause I needed a wine in a hurry for a party I was attending, Villa M Rosso, it's a sweet, lightly carbonated red wine for about $12-$15. Needless to say it was a huge hit! You can find it usually at the local wine or liquor store. Another one that is cheap and delicious is Hakutsuru Plum Wine. It's a sweet white wine, it's different, but good. I know they have it at some of the larger wine and liquor stores for around $10-$12. I hear Trader Joe's has a '2 Buck Chuck' wine that is suppose to be really good.

[Lil_Bit {★}]

I like this thread...I'd like to suggest Charles Shaws Two Buck Chuck from Trader Joes...I'm all for having my glass of wine at least 4 times a week so when I discovered Two Buck Chuck I almost cried. It taste pretty darn good. This is wine is in a glass bottle, with real corks, no boxed wine here, screw caps, or giant jugs involved. So if you find yourself near a Trader Joes Go in you be pleasantly surprised not only buy the wine selection but the yummy food too. There is also a $3.00 wine(Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio) at fresh and easy that's not so bad too....although it's a screw cap. I really don't discriminate wine is wine as long as it taste good and at the right price. I gotta Say that my FAVORITE wine is Stella Rosa *drool* found at San Antonio Winery and if your lucky your cost plus world market, for $10.


http://hubpages.com/hub/Two_Buck_Chuck_Wine

[catclaw]

Polka Dot is amazing. It's a Riesling and you can find it at Target or Albertson's for $8. My friend recommended it to me and you can taste all the citrus in it in every sip.

His quote says it best, "Drinking the whole bottle won't get you wasted but you'll feel damn good after."

[Harlean Carpenter {★}]

I love plum wine! I usually get Kikkoman (yes, the same people that make the soy sauce), but I'll look for the Hakutsuru. If you don't like it quite as sweet, it's great with a twist of lemon, too.

I've been hearing good things about Two Buck Chuck for a while now, I really need to try it. And I'll look for the Polka Dot as well, it's not like I'm never at Target...

A note about screw caps; they're not as scary as they once were. I still shy away from reds with screw caps, but for whites that aren't meant to age much, a screw cap is sometimes actually a better choice than a cork. We found a Sauvignon Blanc from... I believe it was Huntington (winery, not Beach) that had a screw cap and was actually really good. And I have to say I love the new plastic "corks" that are being used more and more often nowadays. Technology at its finest, no more losing good wine to a bad cork!

[Harlean Carpenter {★}]

Found another good label at Big Lots, Gnarled Vine. Merlot and Pinot Grigio, $4 a bottle, pretty good stuff.

[The Trousseau]

My sister has lived in Napa for about 20 years. Her daughters grew up in a cul de sac filled with police, fire fighters and teachers. When the girls were young, the cul de sac was, as well. The parties that they had were the kind where each family tried to live up to the Napa name more than the neighbors. Fancy wines and fancy glasses were the norm.

Now? There is a set of glasses that goes around the neighborhood, no one really knowing who "owns" them. Whomever is having the party has possession, and large bottles of red and white are poured freely.

Wine is a good thing.

[The Trousseau]

Oh, and I like Chianti. Ruffino has an $8 version I love. Other than that, favorites are Creme from the Santa Rosa area, and Chandon bubble wine. Blanc de Noir.

[Harlean Carpenter {★}]

Funny you should mention the Ruffino, I once splurged on one of their $25+ bottles, and really couldn't taste the difference between it and the under $10 version. Never bothered spending that kind of money on them again

Oh, and with the holidays right around the corner, I don't know how I forgot to mention Barefoot Bubbly Sparkling Chardonnay. You can usually find it for around $8 a bottle at Target, it's got a really nice flavor and it's great for parties when you want a decent sparkling wine for a group, that isn't going to bankrupt you.

The Trousseau said:

Oh, and I like Chianti. Ruffino has an $8 version I love. Other than that, favorites are Creme from the Santa Rosa area, and Chandon bubble wine. Blanc de Noir.