You guys know how much I love my wine, and if you’ve been following along for a while you also know how much I make fun of my husband Andrew for being a wine snob. Particular doesn’t even begin to cut it… It all began during our first trip to Napa. This is also the trip that he let me fall off of a wine bus, but we can save that story for another time (or you can watch it here for some more details lol). Aside from that incident we had the best time wine tasting with friends and learned so much along the way. This sparked Andrew’s interest in wine and to this day he actually researches it for fun.

During our 2015 trip to Europe he purchased a pretty boujee bottle of wine and decided to store it for FIVE YEARS. Before we had a wine fridge, he actually paid to keep it stored in a cellar. But not one close to us because he had to find the lowest price possible, of course not taking into account the cost of time or gas (starting to get an idea of who my husband is yet?). Anyway… we popped it open a few months ago expecting it to be great and in all honesty it was pretty awful. Andrew was bummed, ALL of that time, patience, energy and gas wasted!

For me, this confirmed what I’ve always known to be true – good wine doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. In fact, some of my favorite bottles have been the least expensive. A couple weeks back someone asked us what our favorite affordable wines are and we decided to do some “hard hitting research” and compile this list. I hope you enjoy our Top 20 Wines Under $20 recommendations and get the chance to try some out. If you do, let us know what you think! Cheers xoxo

Red Wine

Catena Malbec ($14.97) – We’re big fans of Malbecs and this one is delicious. Bold, smooth and not bitter; we love having it with cheese and charcuterie.

DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.51) – If you’re in the market for something a bit peppery and bold look no further! We love this cab from DAOU.

Empathy Red ($20.00) – If you haven’t tried Empathy yet, you’re missing out! We tried their wines for the first time this year. The Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet and Zinfandel blend is phenomenal. They also have a really great, smooth white and a crisp rosé.

Ground Effect Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.99) – We happened to try this wine at a great restaurant in Pasadena called The Arbour when it first opened up and loved it. Dark fruity flavor but not overly sweet.

Juggernaut Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.99) – If you’re looking for a super bold red to have with a nice fillet, I’d recommend Juggernaut. It’s bold with flavors of dark fruit and oak.

Kings of Prohibition Cabernet – Shiraz ($8.99) – We stumbled upon this Australian wine at Trader Joe’s and have been obsessed ever since! Still can’t believe the bang you get for your buck, $8.99!? We’d have to say this is probably our favorite wine under $10 – it’s so unique and the perfect combination of bold yet refreshing. It’s even ranked in the top 3% of wines in the world on Vivino. Basically, run to TJ’s NOW and pick up a bottle!

Meiomi Pinot Noir ($17.97) – We love this Napa Valley pinot and have found that it tastes much more expensive than it is! I personally love the berry and spice flavors of this one.

Ruggero di Bardo Susumaniello ($9.99) – This one is sold exclusively at Trader Joe’s and it’s a steal of a deal! If you see it, I highly recommend you picking up a bottle or two! It’s an Italian wine from Puglia that’s bold, fruity, and rich in flavor.

Quinta Das Carvalhas Tinto Douro ($14.99) – This Portuguese wine is not only one of our favorites to drink, but also one to give as a gift because of how unique it is. It’s easy to drink and pairs great with a hearty meal.

White Wine

Bartenura Moscato ($11.99) – Sometimes moscatos can be WAY too sweet but Bartenura has a really nice balance with just the right amount of sweetness. This is allllmost too easy to drink – so good if you’re looking for something a little sparkly and a lot of fun!

Hans Grey Sauvignon Blanc ($15.99) – This white wine is from Marlborough, New Zealand and we can’t say enough about it. It’s the perfect fresh, fruity and acidic sauvignon blanc. We like pairing this with pasta salads and seafood.

McBride Sisters Black Girl Magic Riesling ($19.99) – We tried this wine a while back and absolutely loved it. It’s sweet and fruity with a hint of honey. We can’t wait to try some more wines from this Oregon-based winery!

Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Valdadige ($19.99) – This pinot from Italy is a great option if you’re in the mood for a crisp, dry white. We love that it’s fruity and refreshing with hints of apple and pear.

Stags’ Leap Chardonnay ($18.47) – Nothing better than a buttery smooth chardonnay and this one delivered exactly that. One of our favorite chardonnays is about $35 (Rombauer) but this one isn’t too far off and is also half the price!

Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc ($9.99) – Here’s another great deal, especially if you enjoy sauvignon blanc. This is also from the Marlborough region of New Zealand. When we tasted this for the first time we were shocked that it was under $10.

Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay ($13.47) – A couple of our friends worked at this winery when they were in high school and we actually had a chance to check it out back in 2018. Their chardonnay is great!

Rosé

Frog’s Leap Pink – La Grenouille Rouganté ($20.00) – One of our best friends works as a chef at a restaurant in Napa Valley. She has always told us that Frog’s Leap is one of her favorite wineries out there and that their rosé is particularly amazing. Her recommendation did NOT disappoint. Safe to say this has become my favorite rosé! Highly recommend ordering a bottle (or 5)!

Belle Glos Oeil de Perdrix Pinot Noir Blanc Rosé ($19.99) – This one is SO, SO good! We recently found it and it’s quickly become one of our favorite rosé wines. We love the bright berry and citrus flavors.

Chateau D’esclans Whispering Angel Rose ($18.97) – This is a very popular bottle and for good reason! It’s delicious with hints of strawberry and watermelon. Safe to say we could drink this one every day!

Summer Water Rosé ($17.99) – I first tried this rosé at an event early this year and really liked it. Not too sweet or floral and very refreshing.

Now it’s time to drink up! Let us know if you have any questions in the comments xo