I tag wines with a value designation based on their pricing relative to other wines in their category, and something I’m pleased to sip around the house as our vin ordinaire or with friends. This ranges from party wines of easy-drinking quality to those that can be paired with food on casual occasions. This helps with wine budgeting. We save the higher-priced, more refined, and older wines for weekends and special occasions.

The prices range from $12 to $30. The most expensive is a tasty Chardonnay from a less famous Burgundy area that scored well against wines costing twice as much. Most are widely available. If a vintage noted here isn’t available, go with a new vintage. The producers here provide consistent quality. My sources included Costco, local grocery stores, wine merchants, a big wine and spirits chain store, and online discount wine merchants. Enjoy, and please add comments with any values you’ve found and would like to share. Cheers!

WHITES

Ferrari-Carano Fume

  • 2023 Cuatro Rayas Verdejo Rueda ($12 at local tasting). Great value. Light green gold; light, herbal, floral, citrus nose; mid acids; mid body, semi-long, fruity, citrus finish. 16/90.
  • $13 value (Costco) Central Coast, Calif.. 2023 Justin Vineyards & Winery Sauvignon Blanc. Sharp light-mid green gold; grapefruit, boxwood, lemon zest nose; low-mid acids; mid body; rounder, easy-drinking style; semi-long citrus finish. 15/88.
  • Consistent Sonoma value in any vintage, 2023 Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc ($16 at blind tasting). Light-mid straw gold, viscous (13.9 alc.); boxwood, lime, stone fruit nose; low-mid acids; mid-depth; long, round, ripe, balanced finish. 17/92.
  • $16 value (Total Wine) California 2022 Wade Cellars Chenin Blanc Three by Wade (Dwayne Wade). Light straw gold, low viscosity (13.1 alc.); pear, citrus, green fruit nose; low-mid acids; mid depth; round, fat finish. 15.5/16-89/90.  
  • Always tasty Barossa, Aussie $17 value 2023 Pewsey Vale Vineyard Eden Valley Riesling. Pale straw; light citrus, petrol nose; mid acids; mid-depth; semi-long tight citrus finish. Good with appetizers and cheeses. 16/90.
  • Value Loire Chenin Blanc 2021 Lydie et Thierry Chancelle Saumur Blanc ($19 at local tasting). Mid gold. Floral, green fruit, mineral nose; low mid acids; soft fruity finish, slightly hot mineral finish (14.0 alc.). 16-16.5/90-91.
  • $19 South African value (tasted blind at wine event) 2023 Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc The Journal. Light straw-gree-gold, viscous (14.1 alc.); green fruit, citrus, phear nose; low-mid acids; round, ripe, citrus finish. 16/90.
  • Value $30 Burgundy 2022 Daniel & Julien Barraud Mâcon-Vergisson La Roche. Sharp mid-dark gold, viscous (13.5 alc.); tropical, stone fruit, honey and citrus nose; mid acids; mid+ depth; soft, fat, citrus stone fruit finish. 16/90.

REDS

Opolo Mountain Zinfandel

  • Consistent value ($17) Paso Robles producer, 2022 Opolo Zinfandel Mountain Zinfandel. Light-mid ruby, rim variation, low viscosity (13.0 alc.); berry, light wood, red fruit nose; low acids; soft tannins; mid-body; easy sipping appetizer and party wine. 16/90.
  • Value California blend ($17 in blind tasting) 2022 Joel Gott Zinfandel California. Mid-dark garnet, pink edges, viscous (14.4 alc.); ripe grape, mint, oak nose; low-mid acids; mid-full tannins; long, hot, red fruit finish. 16/90.
  • $18 (Von’s) value Sonoma, Alexander Valley, 2021 Frei Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon. Mid garnet, rim variation, viscous (14.5 alc); ripe grape, herbaceous, red fruit, cassis nose; mid acids; mid+ tannins; good depth; balanced Cabernet finish, good fruit. 16-16.5/90-91.
  • Value ($18 Total Wine) Sonoma 2021 Alexander Valley Vineyards Merlot. Mid garnet, rim variation, viscous (14.5 alc.); red fruit, plum, cocoa nose; low-mid acids; soft tannins; semi-long red fruit and berry finish. Picnic and BBQ wine. 15.5/89.
  • $20 value (grocery store) Sonoma red blend 2022 Roth Estate Heritage. Mid-ruby, rim variation, viscous (14.4 alc.); berries, ripe grape, prune, tart red fruit nose; mid acids; mid+ tannins; long, mid-deep, chewy, hot red fruit finish. BBQ and burger wine. 15-15.5/88-89.
  • $20 value (Wine Slash) High Valley, Lake County, Calif., 2021 Brassfield Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark purple, viscous (15.4 alc.); ripe grape, prune, mint, herbaceous, cassis nose; low-mid acids; mid-full tannins; full alc.; long, round, fat red fruit finish. w/meatloaf. 16/90.
  • Value Yakima Valley, Wash., 2022 Sheridan Vineyard Merlot Crossfork Creek ($22 local merchant). Mid-dark garnet, rim variation, viscous (14.0 alc.); herbaceous, cocoa, red fruit, wood nose; low-mid acids; mid+ tannins; some depth; semi-long hot red fruit finish. 15.5.89. w/pizza.
  • Value ($22 local grocery) 2022 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Rosso di Montalcino. Mid ruby, rim variation, viscous (14.0 alc.); earthy, strawberry, herbal, light spice nose; mid acids, mid+ tannins; long semi-deep red fruit finish, slightly hot. 16.6/91.
  • 2022 Bodegas Hermanos Peciña Rioja Señorío de P. Peciña Reserva ($25 at local tasting). Dark garnet; berries, ripe grapes, wood, floral, and anise nose; mid acids, mid-plus tannins, long balanced red fruit finish. 16.5/91.
  • Value French Cabernet Franc ($27 Garagiste) 2020 Domaine Guion Bourgueil Grand Mont. Sharp mid-garnet, viscous (13.5 alc.); red fruit, peppery, herbaceous, pomegranate nose; low-mid acids; mid tannins; mid depth; long, round, deep red and black fruit finish. w/barbecue. 16.5/91.

DESSERT WINE

  • Value ($18 at local tasting) French dessert wine. 2023 Domaine de Fenouillet Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise. Light-mid gold, viscous; floral, syrupy nose; soft, easy-sipping, semi-unctuous finish. 16/90.