I always wanted to be a connoisseur of wine, but never acquired a taste for it. There was something about drinking out of those dainty stemmed glasses that I found appealing. There are millions of wine drinkers all over the world from the rich and famous to the blue collar workers.
In today’s economy, does the working class wine drinker have to settle for less? Is it possible to stretch their meager paychecks and buy good wine for under $10? Absolutely!
When people go to the store and purchase wine, a lot of times they pass by the bargain brands and don’t realize they could be passing up some great tasting wine. I went searching to find different wine enthusiasts with a few picks from each of the best wines for under $10.
Nowadays, the technology makes it easier for the winemakers to have more control over the wine production. Still the bottom line is the quality of the grapes. Here are some of the best wines for under $10. This list is not in any specific order.
- Forest Glen 202 Cabernet Sauvignon from California for $10. This is a great table wine with a berry flavor.
- Carmenet Cabernet Sauvignon from California for $6. This has a jam flavor to it.
- Montes Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 from Chile for $10. Has a touch of ripe cherry flavor.
- Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 from Washington for $9. This is a light bodied wine, strong strawberry and cherry flavor with a hint of mocha.
- Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris 2007 from Washington for $9.99. A little spritzy, pear tartness with an added sweetness.
- Pinot Grigio Bianco 2007 not sure where this one is from. It sells for $8.99. It’s a white wine lacking in zip and acidity. This is more for someone who likes simple tasting wine.
- Firestone Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2005 from California for $10. This makes a good white house wine. This is not a blend; it is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.
- Veramonte Casablanca Valley Chile Sauvignon Blanc 2004 from California for $7.00. This is very dry wine, but refreshing and tart.
- J. Vidal-Fleury Cotes-du-Rhone 2001 from Rhone Valley for $8.00. This is a balanced and fruity wine at a great value.
- Steenberg South Africa Sauvignon Blanc 2004 for $8. This is a zesty, but balanced wine.
This is a short list of the best wines for under $10. I took a few picks from each list at wine.about.com (Stacy Slinkard), nytimes.com (Eric Asimov), chicagotribune.com (Bill Daley), and fineliving.com (Karin Beuerlein). I also found by being around some of my wine drinking friends, that the White Zinfandels from California had a large following and in the $10 price range.
There are literally hundreds of wines that can be classified as the best wines for under $10. Try out one of those bargain wines, because you never know, you may find one that suits your palate just fine, and that is all that matters
