Modern society typically associates value with quality, in particular, the more expensive an item is the better it must be. In some cases yes premium products come with a price when you think of Apple or Sony products they aren’t cheap, but the brands come with a reputation for delivering reliable well-manufactured technology.
There are exceptions to every rule, in each market be it technology, cars, gaming, or even clothing exist items of high quality at a lower than expected price. I’m going to highlight some of the best wines from around the world which are affordable but don’t compromise on flavour.
Red Wine
Rioja Crianza 2014 CVNE
Average price $14.
Region of origin: Rioja, Spain.
Founded in 1879 by two brothers, Eusebio and Raimundo Real de Asúa, CVNE has stayed in family hands, now in their fifth generation.
A lively cherry-red appearance leading to a nose of light summer fruits. This wine has undergone a period of one year in oak giving beautiful hints of vanilla amongst fruity cherry notes.
Château Recougne 2015 Bordeaux Supérieur
Average price $15.
Region of origin: Bourdeaux, France.
Recougne castle has a nose of red fruit, liquorice attack, marked by roasted notes. Concentrated, it can boast a good ageing potential.The wine is racked every 3 months and therefore only needs a light filtration. Final blending and bottling take place 18 months after harvest.
Fleshy and robust, full of ripe black fruit accented with hints of mocha, smoke and toast. Plenty of fine-grained tannins providing prodigious grip and savoury texture.
White Wine
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay
Average Price $13.
Region of origin: South Australia.
Founder, Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold emigrated from England to Adelaide in 1844, bringing with him vine cuttings from the South of France. He established the Magill vineyard and winery, marking the beginning of one of the worlds great wine stories.
A wine of both quality and value full flavoured and creamy, with flavours of melon and peach and a hint of vanilla.The Koonunga Hill name has carried Penfolds to the four corners of the wine-loving world, offering an extraordinary combination of quality, value and consistency of style.
Chateau Laulerie Bergerac Blanc 2016
Average Price $12.
Region of origin: Bergerac, France.
Château Laulerie’s vineyards stretch out on the right bank of the River Dordogne in the Western part of the Bergerac wine appellation. This prized area, known as Montravel, is characterized by its clayish hills, facing in an ideal southerly direction.
On the nose, this white wine combines gooseberry, exotic fruit and peach. The palate is rich and generous, with a fresh, tasty finish and a fruity after-taste.
Rose Wine
Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare Rosé
Average price $14.
Region of origin: California, USA.
The Grenache for the Vin Gris comes from bespoke sections of the Alta Loma Vineyard, harvested at the appropriate maturity level for this elegant style of wine. About 24% of the wine is composed of traditional white Rhône varieties in substantial part from the Beeswax Vineyard in the Arroyo Seco district of Monterey, adding a surprising richness and foundation.
The wine does not overwhelm one with fruity flavours; its charms are seductively subtle. An extremely elegant and complex Vin Gris de Cigare.
Bila Haut Rose 2016
Average price $15.
Region of origin: Languedoc, France.
Bila-Haut was the first producer in France to print their labels in braille – not that you need to know that to love them because they are renowned for producing consistent quality wines.
Each of the varietals in the blend offers up their unique flavours to combine a refreshing and crisp wine with “high resolution” of flavours. The Grenache supplies the crisp mineral flavours with a hint of citrus in the lingering finish.
Sparkling Wine
Freixenet Cava Carta Nevada Semi Dry
Average Price $9.
Region of origin: Catalonia, Spain.
Freixenet Carta Nevada Semi Seco is a wine from Catalonia, region of Spain, The Catalan wine region is located along the Mediterranean coast in northeastern Spain and is strongly influenced by its Mediterranean climate.
It is toasty in aroma, yet fruity and flavourful on the palate. It tastes of creamy, sweet peaches with rich custard flavours. A nice zing of acidity keeps the wine balanced. This wine pairs well with spicy foods, brunch or as a dessert wine.
Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut
Average price $13.
Region of origin: Columbia Valley, Washington, USA.
Made in the traditional, Methode champenoise style, Michelle sparkling wines have delicate varietal aromas and flavours that are nicely balanced by the fruit’s natural acidity.
With delicate flavours of apples, citrus, and lively acidity, Michelle Brut is the perfect accompaniment for a wide array of foods. Enjoy with spicy fries, artichoke or cheese dips, calamari, even salty snacks.
Ruffino sparkling rose
Average price $15.
Region of origin: Northeastern Italy.
Ruffino Sparkling Rose is created in an extra-dry style and comprised of predominantly Prosecco (Glera) grapes from the vineyards within the Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions of Northeastern Italy.
This sparkling Rose is a pink hue with aromatic notes of strawberry and hints of rose petals. On the palate, this wine has crisp acidity and “elegant” bubbles, the company says, offering flavours of red berries and white fruits through the finish.
Whilst this is a fairly small sample of wines you can purchase without having to stretch your budget, the wine market is vast and as such, the sheer number of products you could put on this list is virtually endless. After doing some personal research you may find your own preferred selection of affordable wines using the ones listed above as a starting point.
