I often host guests that aren’t really into wine. I’ve settled on Cloudline (a second label of Domaine Drouhin) as a really nice Pinot Noir to serve these guests. My guests think it’s great, and I still enjoy it at less than $15 per 750ml.
What’s your favorite wine to serve guests who wouldn’t know or care to know the difference between a $15 bottle and a $150 bottle? I’m interested especially in approachable reds.
De Negoce has been my life saver when I need wines like that.
Not to add price creep into this thread too soon… but the Berserker Day special Our Wines case worked out to $17/bottle and is the best, I repeat, best Pinot under $20 I’ve ever had. Rivals $50+ bottles.
“Our wine”? Forgive me, but I’m new here. What wine are you talking about? Are you a vintner?
Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet
No. I’m far from a vintner, just a home tomato and zucchini grower. Our Wines is the “second” wine from Franny Beck. See link below for more info.
Precision Cabernet 2019 or 2020 are available at Costco, at least in southern CA. When on sale, they are $12.99, which is a real deal. For a wine with body, complexity and balance, it’s a no brainer.
Vietti Barbera d’Asti
Several of candidates for whites, reds are harder.
For a red, probably La Tour St Bonnet Medoc.
If you can look beyond the somewhat obscure appellation, this has been my best value find in the last 5 years. Added bonus is that Taurino has been releasing this wine with 10 years of age so 2011 is actually the current release.
Widely available and about $20 inc tax in some areas:
Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico
In Portugal there are an abundance of excellent wines at this price point. It would be difficult to find a disappointing red from Dão, Bairrada or Beira Interior (though there are many other examples) even at this price.
Antonio Vallana e Figlio Campi Raudii
I have three wines I regularly buy under $15. These are less about guests and more about go-to weeknight or pizza night wines. The Vallana transcends that but I really like the other two as well. I don’t have a category of inexpensive wines for guests, but I’d gladly serve these to guests if the setting was right (i.e., pizza or pasta casual situation). Otherwise, I just serve guests whatever I want to drink and think they’ll like, regardless of their experience level with wine.
I used to think that but my opinion has now completely reversed, at least at the $15 threshold. There are a few whites I still like which hover around there and might be less with discounts, but none that I regularly buy. There are several I like under $20 though.
I think there is a lot of room under $15 to get wine that would please a lot of people whether they are ‘into’ wines or not. For whites, Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand or France are likely to go over well. I like the SBs from Chidaine and Henri Bourgeois from the Loire region in France, and there are plenty of New Zealand SBs in your price range. Costco carries a pretty decent one under their Kirkland Signature label for << $10. For reds you would get a lot of choices again in the Costco Kirkland Signature low end. For something for the label conscious, Substance CS Cabernet Sauvignon is usually good and right around $15.
I also agree with Michael’s point about serving something you yourself enjoy as a priority. When you are hosting a small group, going up a few to several dollars in your price range will open up all sorts of good wine.
Good luck. Enjoy.
I’ve been keeping 6 bottles each of Ramon Bilbao Crianza, Borsao Garnacha & Kono Sauv Blanc on hand the last year for impromptu get-togethers now that we’re getting together with neighbors more. I think they’re great appetizer/party wines most drinkers find both enjoyable & interesting. These reds are definitely approachable.
Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc is really good for only $10-12.
Pecina Joven for red
Jadot Bourgogne for white
For sparkling it’s hard to beat Gruet.