Best Red Wines Under $20
When it comes to finding the best red wines under $20, there is fortunately a great variety of wines that fit the bill. Compared to white wines and champagnes, reds are more popular and generally easier to make, which has caused many winemakers around the world to focus on providing good products at cheap prices. But of course, along with all the good cheap wines there are many that are not so good, and in your hunt for the best cheap red wines you will probably encounter a few duds. If so, don’t let it discourage you. With persistence you will find your favorites.
Best Red Wines Under $20
Some of the best red wines under $20 are made by major winemakers with international distribution. Of course, it’s safe to say that many of these big winemakers’ offerings aren’t going to top many critics’ pick lists, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad. If you go with a major-label bottle, just don’t expect it to have the carefully crafted flavor that many boutique wines have. It will be a solid product, but nothing to get excited about.
Cheap reds from smaller winemakers are harder to find. Carefully crafted varieties are obviously going to cost a bit more than wines that are mass produced, so it’s not uncommon for even middling wines by small winemakers to get well over $20 in price. But since the demand for cheap reds is so great, many of the small to midsized winemakers have made a greater effort to produce wines that are affordable to everyone.
It’s harder to find recommendations for the best red wines under $20 by smaller winemakers since small-label wine distribution tends to be more local and regional. But if you live near a wine-producing region, make sure to try some local cheap wines, even if you can’t find reviews for them anywhere. You might find an undiscovered gem that the major reviewers and wine websites don’t know about.
Finding cheap wines
In shopping for the best red wines under $20, it’s always best to start with the major varieties that are made on a more widespread basis. For instance, if you like a good merlot or cabernet sauvignon, you will be able to find them in endless bounty. Other good bets are malbec, zinfindel, shiraz, and pinot noir. Since such wines are made virtually everywhere, you can usually find a good one. And don’t be afraid to try wines from other countries. Certain types of wine that are expensive to make in the U.S. are cheaper to make in France, so don’t be startled if you see a huge contrast in prices.
Meanwhile, outside of these major types of red wine, you’re going to have trouble finding some good cheap ones. Smaller, specialized varietals are characteristic of quality and usually cost a bit more than the more popular varieties. So if you are interested in finding the best red wines under $20, forget those exotic and barely known varieties and go with the types of wine that everyone knows about.
Comments are closed.