I’m hosting a party this fall for my son’s Bar Mitzvah. I’m trying to figure out some wines (white, red, rose, sparkling) to serve in the $20-$25 range. I’ve been tasked with finding “not crappy” wine to serve. I tend to veer towards the west coast and have some ideas in mind (e.g., Lieu Dit Sauvignon Blanc, Red Car/Liquid Farm rose, and Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs), but I thought I’d pose this to berserker-world. Definitely struggling with coming up with a red. Thoughts?
Bedrock old vine Zinfandel can be had for $25 and is a consistent crowd pleaser in a big group setting … full fruit, no rough edges, easy and juicy but enough winemaking skill to keep it savory and with some lift.
2015 Mondavi Napa Valley is readily available if you’re needing a lot of bottles? Bedrock is a great choice just not sure if it is easy to source if you need say 1-2 cases?
Argiano NC is a pretty good red wine year in and year out for a mid weight blend that is good with a cross section of food. Before you decide I would buy a representative bottle of several recs and sample them and then make a decision. Good luck.
Chappallet mountain cuvée. It sells for 26 by me and is a fantastic red and amazing value.
White: I can’t help you with a selection from CA, but if you’re willing to make this your one Euro wine, the 2017 Pepiere Muscadet Clos des Briords is a knock out. You won’t regret it.
Sparkling: I can’t improve on your own idea of Schramsberg. I do quite like the Signal Ridge “Little Pink Bubbles,” but it’s probably more effort to source than Schramsberg.
Rose: Briceland Rose of Sangiovese if you can find it (or are willing to order from the winery). Otherwise Matthiason (or go with the throngs screaming for Tercero – I just haven’t tried it myself).
Red: Another vote for Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel for something that’s widely available. If you are ordering from Briceland, you could do a lot worse than their Syrah or Zin.
2010 Ardal Tradicion Ribera del Duero Reserva Selección Especial (Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero) On WTSO a lot at around $22. Big crowd favorite at an event I did recently. At some Total Wine locations
I agree with MK. Also, if you’re near the west coast, stuff like med bodied, fruity and juicy domestic grenache ( Santa Barbara county) dominant wines are big crowd pleasers for fair weather wine peeps. Give them a quality notch up from the $7-12 bottle they might normally drink and you’ll be fine.
Turley Juvenille. Daou Pesimist is usually a crowd pleaser too, it’s fruit forward.
Hi Lee,
Thanks for the mention here. It is nice to know that we are being thought of!
Beringer Knights Valley. Should be around $20-$22.
Scherrer OMV or Shale Terrace on Futures. Carlisle appellation Zins. Certainly the Turley Juvie (OV is $25 I believe) and Bedrock OV. Many wines from Ian Brand.
For sparkling, Roederer Anderson Valley Brut is under $20 at Costco. Hard to beat for the money.
For reds, as a zin aficionado, I agree with Bedrock Old Vine and Turley Juvenile. You may have to order the Turley from the winery but the Bedrock is available at good bottle shops, at least here in the Bay Area.
Personally, I’d go with a chardonnay like Ferrari-Carano, Neyers or Landmark Overlook (all available at Costco) and forget the sauv blanc and rose, but that’s my and our friend’s tastes.
Speaking of whites, one of the best under $25 wines I’ve enjoyed in awhile is Ian’s La Marea Albariño Kristy Vineyard (Monterey).
Another vote for Roederer Estate for the sparkler. Very tasty, easy to find, and available in quantity.
Thanks for all of the replies.
I generally agree (Chardonnay over SB), but I’m a big fan of Lieu Dit, and should be a crowd pleaser.
I’m leaning towards Chappellet Mountain Cuvée. Hard to argue with anything from Chappellet, although hard to argue with the other suggestions. Never had Briceland - will have to check them out.