It’s happened to the best of us: You’re on your way to a housewarming party, or cooking a romantic dinner for your sweetheart, and somehow you’ve completely forgotten the most important part—the bottle of wine. What follows is the inevitable mad dash to the nearest store where you’re confronted with a wall of bottles. How do you sort the incredible from the incredibly average?
Good wine can be pricey, and great wine can be so mind-numbingly expensive you wonder why anyone would ever possibly want to pay that much for it. But price doesn’t always correlate to quality. Your mind can be blown by a $13 bottle just as easily as you can find a $75 bottle underwhelming. Those affordable, incredible-tasting bottles are out there—you just have to know where to look.
Wine Spectator’s annual Top 100 list is a smart place to start. Yes, you’ll find bottles on the list that are priced north of $200, but among them are more affordable gems—some of which rank even higher than their pricey counterparts. Here are five under-$20 bottles on Wine Spectator’s 2023 Top 100 list. (Prices may vary depending on your location.)
Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc, California 2022 $12
The wine: Aged in stainless steel tanks, Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc uses grapes from vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, Lake County, Mendocino, Lodi, Monterey, and Santa Barbara—all of which experienced a dry winter, mild spring and summer, and late-summer heatwave. That means smaller clusters of grapes with a concentrated flavor, and an incredible acidity in the final product. We’re looking at a white peach, grated ginger, and tropical fruits moment.
Pair with: For summery flavors like these, light and bright foods work best. This wine will pair well with many appetizers—something like a cheese plate would be great—but it will really shine alongside a zingy fish dish. Masa-Battered Swordfish Tacos would be a great complement to the wine’s acidity, and food editor Shilpa Uskokovic’s Black Bass With Preserved Lemon–Pistachio Sauce would allow the floral peachiness to unfurl.
Babich Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Black Label 2022 $15
The wine: Although they’re made from the same grape, Babich Sauvignon Blanc is very different from Joel Gott’s. According to the winemaker, a small portion of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation, which gives the wine a silky texture. Wine Spectator describes zippy flavors here as well—think mango, apricot, lemon blossoms—as well as a delicate jasmine during its long finish.
Pair with: seafood, seafood, seafood. The more robust flavors mean this wine can stand up to flavors with a bit more heft. Grilled Halibut With Basil-Shallot Butter would be happy to meet those invigorating citrus and herbal notes. Cilantro Roast Cod and Cabbage with Herb Salad or Easy Fish Tacos with Spicy Sauce would be great too.
Adega Cooperativa Regional de Monção Vinho Verde Muralhas de Monção 2022 $15
The wine: This Vinho Verdes is made from Alvarinho and Trajadura grapes, which bring flavors like apricot, blood orange, and lemon peel. Wine Spectator describes this one as “sleek and linear,” which sounds more like a very expensive railing to me, but a railing I’d like to drink nonetheless.
Pair with: Shellfish would soar here. This bottle would make associate food editor Kendra Vaculin’s lemony, cilantro-forward Gorgeous Green Shrimp sing, and associate food editor Rachel Gurjar’s Shrimp Pasta with Preserved Lemon would hit it out of the park as well. If you’re feeling adventurous, and I know you are, you can also pair this vinho verde with pork; Crispy Pork Cutlets with Kimchi Slaw is absolutely begging to be eaten with a wine that’s as sleek as it is linear.
Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico 2020 $19
The wine: The primary grape here is Sangiovese, as in all Chiantis, which means this wine has swirls of sultry, dark red fruits as well as an earthy, tannic finish. Think ripe cherries and blackberries, plus a bit of bitter chocolate. Aging this wine for a few years will soften out some of that tannic twang—according to Wine Spectator, you can age this bottle for up to five years.
Pair with: What grows together goes together, as they say. This is a chianti that will pair with most preparations of beef, but why not drink it with something Italian? The robust tomato in BA’s Best Bolognese would be a stellar match for this earthy, fruity red. Spinach Lasagna With Ricotta would be a winner as well.
Morgante Nero d'Avola Sicilia 2020 $19
The wine: This wine is made with 100% Nero d’Avola grapes, a varietal indigenous to Sicily, in the south of Italy. The Morgante winery ages the wine for four months in French oak and also introduces malolactic fermentation, giving the final product some velvety, vanilla characteristics. But that’s just the beginning. Wine Spectator notes flavors like ripe raspberry, wild strawberry, and some heady dried thyme.
Pair with: With a wine like this, it’s go big or go home. A peppery Côte de Boeuf au Poivre would be a solid move, and a Brisket Bourguignon could meet the rich, herbal notes in all the right ways.