Searching for a new drop? A wine merchant's top picks under $20
By Jules LeFevre | Presented by Dan Murphy's|
If there's one thing we universally love, it's a deal. And with the cost-of-living crisis at an alarming and all-time high, a good bargain can truly make or break your weekly budget.???
Thankfully, being frugal doesn't mean compromising quality, especially in the wine department. There are plenty of picks that won't break the bank, whether you're a white, red, or bubbly drinker.??
To prove it, we chatted with Dan Murphy's Wine Merchant Antony Tatangelo for his selects to fill your cup without hurting your wallet.?
White Wine?
$10?
Don't be skeptical, there are some great wines that you can grab for a tenner. One of the key things to look for are bottles that come from regions, which produce a huge volume of wine จC like Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand.?
"The infrastructure's so strong there, the sunlight's so stable, the climate's so stable, and they're producing so much and it's so competitive that you'll get something that will really stand up," says Tatangelo.?
He recommends the Sauvignon Blanc from Amiri, and Silver Moki. If you're not a fan of Sauv, the Jacob's Creek Riesling is also a great option.?
$15
There's a bit more to play with at $15 จC you'll have your Sauv Blancs, but you'll also have more Rieslings and plenty of Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris. Again, New Zealand is a great option for all these, but also you can look for Italian growers.?
Yealand's Pinot Gris is a great option, Tatangelo says, as well as Torresella Pinot Grigio from Italy.?
$20?
If you've been hanging out for a Chardonnay, not to worry จC you can pick up a decent bottle for around $20, as well as some brilliant Rieslings and Pinot Grigios.?
The Evans & Tate Butterball Chardonnay is an excellent option. ?Dan Murphy's Wine Panel thinks so too: "Not many Chardonnays at this price point have this creamy, buttery, mouth-filling goodness," they say.
Red Wine?
$10?
When it comes to a good value bottle of red, Tatangelo says to look at what's competitive. "Shiraz is grown all over the country," he explains. "Every Australian grower in some way, shape or form is related to a bottle of Shiraz. And when things are really competitive, that's when those good prices start coming through."
Tatangelo's top pick: Grant Burge. This South Australian Shiraz is luscious, yet delicately sweet fruited with trademark flavours of red currant, ripe cherry and strawberry notes.?
$15
Regions through Italy and Spain produce enormous amounts of red wine that's accessible and will give you great bang for your buck.?
Tatangelo points to the Marquจฆs De Riscal Tempranillo as being one of the best value wines available right now, from one of the best producers in the world.??
$20?
Pinot Noir lovers, never fear. "We've got some absolutely beautiful Pinots from New Zealand and Australia," Tatangelo says.?
Noble Fellows' Colonel Kiwi Marlborough Pinot Noir is a bonafide crowd-pleaser, he suggests. Grenache is also a seriously good option จC one of the dark horses of Australian wine and as Tatangelo says, probably the best value of any wine in Australia.?
There are plenty of great Grenaches around the $20 mark also, like Pepperjack
Sparkling?
$10?
When it comes to bubbles for a tenner or less, you can't pass up Maschio's Prosecco. Produced in the area of Treviso north of Venice, this flavourful drop is a crowd favourite, touted for its crisp, dry finish?
Fans of dry and light-bodied bubbles can't pass up Jacob's Creek Sparkling Rosจฆ. Made from carefully selected Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes with a pretty pink colour, it's the perfect sparkling wine for all occasions.
$15
Like Grenache, there's a dark horse when it comes to good sparkling wine, and that's Spanish Cava.?
"Cava is that beautiful middle ground between super savory, dry, lean champagne and sweet, zesty Prosecco," Tatangelo explains. "Cava tends to sit in the middle and the price is exceptional."?
Get your hands on the Freixenet Cordon Negro, one of the best-selling wines on the planet.?
Or, for a delicious bubbly drop made here at home, Yarra Burn is a great choice.
$20?
Investing the full $20 for a bottle of bubbles is well worth it. The Santa Margherita Prosecco is one of the most popular wines in Dan Murphy's, for a good reason: it's a solid, crowd-pleasing drop.?
Brown Brothers has some good bottles in this range, but Tatangelo recommends Villa Conchi as a top pick. With a five-star rating on Dan Murphy's website, praised for its versatility and flavour, this wine is a sure-fire winner.?
