The 20 Best Wines Under $20: Our Top Picks After 200+ Episodes
These are the 20 best wines under $20 we have found across 200+ episodes: every one rated 8/10 or higher by both of us, organized by style, with tasting notes, prices, and episode links to back it up. Out of close to 500 wines tasted on The Wine Pair Podcast, these are the ones that cleared the bar at this price.
A note on how we work: We taste each wine together, rate independently on a 10-point scale, and compare notes live on air. We buy all our own wine, and do not rate wines sent as samples, free or paid, or sponsorships, ever. This is an independent wine podcast and these are really honest ratings and reviews, no prestige chasing, and no incentives to inflate a score.
The $20 price point is about where wine quality actually plateaus. Often once you get above that, you are mostly paying for reputation and scarcity (until you get into the really pricey wines). Below $20, the range is wide, but the bottles we have listed are the ones we think really outpunch their weight.
Want to browse every wine we have reviewed and rated as 7/10 or above (which is our buy rating, on the show? Visit our Shop Wine page. It includes all of our recommendations organized by rating, with episode links and where to buy.
Key Questions We Answer
What is the best sparkling wine under $20?
What are the best cheap red wines that actually taste good?
Are Costco Kirkland wines worth buying?
What white wines under $20 have gotten 8/10 or higher?
What is the best cheap rosé and dessert wine?
Best Sparkling Wines Under $20
2021 Vins el Cep Kila Cava Brut Organic, $13.99
Joe: 10/10 | Carmela: 9/10 | Episode 121
Traditional-method Spanish Cava from Penedès, made from Xarel·lo, Macabeo, and Parellada which means it is made exactly like Champagne. Organic. Joe has given out three 10s across 200+ episodes. This is one of them.
Nose: toast, pear, dried apricot, raw almond, citrus, apple, cinnamon, baking spice, white flower. Palate: super dry, fresh, stone fruit, citrus, lime zest, and a clean bitter finish that keeps pulling you back.
Pairs with: spicy foods, ramen, Thai, teriyaki, fried chicken, fish and chips, fried calamari. An extremely versatile food wine.
Available on wine.com. Also found at specialty wine shops.*
Paula Kornell California Brut, $19.99
Joe: 9/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 127
California traditional-method (Champagne style) sparkling at under $20. Joe gave it a 9, one of the highest sparkling scores outside the Kila Cava. An excellent domestic sparkling wine.
Nose: earthy, peach skin, pear, baking spice, clove, basil. Palate: clove, cinnamon, spiced apple cider, lime, grapefruit, citrusy tartness, refreshing and crisp with good sophistication.
Pairs with: spicy foods, fried foods, garlic fries, Asian food, focaccia, charcuterie. Joe said it could go throughout the whole meal.
Available on wine.com.
Venturini Baldini Montelocco Lambrusco, $17.97
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 196
Lambrusco is red sparkling wine from Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy. This one is dry and gastronomic, not the sweet Lambrusco your grandma used to drink.
Nose: cherry, raspberry candy, raspberry cake filling, grape skins, light spice. Palate: soda-like bubbles, good tannic grip and acidity, blood orange pith, cherry. Joe chose it as his finish bottle.
Episode verdict: "Very pleased. A great change-up in the style of wine. Not stuffy, fun, and delicious."
Pairs with: turkey, ham, charcuterie, salty foods, dark chocolate. A standout holiday meal wine.
Available on wine.com.
The Chook Sparkling Shiraz, $19.99
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 149
Australian red sparkling wine, a category we describe as "super fun and festive." Full red wine flavors with bubbles, and more food-friendly than it sounds. This is a wine that will stop people in their tracks.
Nose: earthy, plum, cherry, menthol, black licorice, anise. Palate: earthy, a hint of sweetness, Campari-like orange rind and cherry, cinnamon stick, fresh rosemary. Feels like a fall wine. Joe chose it as his finish bottle.
Pairs with: chicken, turkey, Thanksgiving, spicy Chinese or Thai food, fried chicken, orange chicken, french fries.
Available on wine.com.
Trader Joe's Platinum Reserve Sonoma County Brut, $14.99
Joe: 7/10 | Carmela: 9/10 | Episode 112
Carmela loved this wine, and it is the most widely available sparkling wine on this list. The San Francisco Chronicle called it "crushable," which is exactly right. Carmela's 9/10 is the number to focus on here.
Nose: honey, sweet bread, pear, a touch of vanilla. Palate: pear, pineapple, smooth and easy-drinking, with foamy bubbles and a crowd-pleasing finish.
Pairs with: fried foods, potato chips, onion rings, Thai food, fried shrimp, baked clams.
Available at Trader Joe's. Obvi.
Best Red Wines Under $20
Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva 2019, $7.99
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 119
Eight dollars. One hundred percent Tempranillo. Oak-aged Reserva. This is one of the best value reds wine we have ever reviewed on the show. It won the episode challenge decisively. Buy it by the case.
Nose: spicy, black cherry, black pepper, cinnamon, clove, anise, licorice, smoke, wood, roses. Palate: full-bodied, jammy, black currant jam, fig jam, dark bramble fruit, smoke on the finish.
Joe called it "a killer deal for the price." Also makes a great Sangria base.
Pairs with: crusty bread with stinky cheese and fig jam, salumi, steak, grilled meats, cookout food.
Available at Costco.
Kirkland Signature Côtes du Rhône Villages 2023, $7.49
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 177
Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre (GSM blend) from the southern Rhône by winemaker Patrick Lesec. The cheapest 8/10 red wine we have reviewed. Another wine you should buy by the case, and you should be serving at your next big party. Episode verdict: "Kirkland wins, hands down. Not even a contest."
Nose: rose, black pepper, strawberry pie, red fruit, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cherry. Palate: cherry cordial, chocolate rum ball, mocha, plum, spicy and juicy with good balance.
Pairs with: beef roast, beef stew, barbecue ribs, rich dishes, red meat.
Available at Costco.
Domaine Bousquet Premium Organic Malbec 2022, $9.99
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 124
Organic Argentine Malbec at under $10. That's right. $10. And it's not Costco wine. Another case buy for your next party. Or Tuesday night. Episode description: "A definite crowd-pleaser, a great party wine."
Nose: rose, dark berry, blackberry, plum, dark cherry, earthy, herbal. Palate: fruity, lush, rich plum and cherry, medium-bodied and easy-drinking.
Pairs with: burgers, grilled foods, charcuterie, nachos, appetizers.
Available on wine.com.
La Valentina Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2020, $14.99
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 113
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is one of the most consistent value categories in Italian wine. La Valentina won the episode head-to-head against two other bottles.
Nose: floral, violets, cherry, raspberry. Palate: tart, smooth, medium-bodied, juicy, strawberry Twizzler character, strong tea finish that pulls you back.
Pairs with: cheeseburger, Middle Eastern food, lamb, Easter dinner.
Available at QFC (Kroger) and wine.com.
Gaia Monograph Agiorgitiko 2022, $15.99
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 129
Agiorgitiko is the most widely planted red grape in Greece, and this is the bottle that put it on our radar. Charming and underrated as a wine. Light and fruit-forward enough to serve slightly chilled in summer.
Nose: cherry, fruity, baking spice, dried currant, smoke, leather, incense when swirled. Palate: stewed cherry, cherry jam, red plum, dry, tannic, tart entry with a slightly bitter finish.
Pairs with: Greek food, falafel, gyros, souvlaki, pizza, lasagna, grilled chicken. Joe called it a good summer party wine.
Available on wine.com.
Best White Wines Under $20
Murgo Etna Bianco 2023, $19.97
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 9/10 | Episode 200
White wine from the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. Carmela gave it a 9. A great wine find! Professional scores: WS 91, Vinous 90, JS 90. One of the most exciting white wines we have reviewed.
Nose: pineapple candy, tropical fruit, apple, pear, saltwater, seashell, Lemonhead candy, floral. Palate: zippy, very lemony, lemonade, margarita, seashell and saltiness on the finish. Electric and refreshing.
Episode verdict: "We are sold. We will have lots of this and it is definitely going on the wine list. A new go-to."
Pairs with: mahi mahi, poke bowl, sushi, clams, seafood al fresco, fish and chips, chicken.
Available on wine.com.
Château La Freynelle Bordeaux Blanc 2024, $18.97
Joe: 9/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 205
White Bordeaux from Entre-Deux-Mers: 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sémillon, 10% Muscadelle. Joe gave it a 9 and both really liked it. Don't sleep on White Bordeaux. Available on wine.com, originally priced at $35.
Nose: nectarine, peach, honey, satsuma, mandarin orange, tropical fruit, pineapple, a touch of ripe banana, creaminess. Palate: juicy on the front, pineapple, orange, steely bitterness on the finish.
Pairs with: linguine and clams, baked clams, saucy chicken, chicken Kiev, charcuterie, appetizers.
Available at wine.com
Weingut Dautel Estate Riesling Trocken 2022, $15.99
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 214
German dry Riesling from Baden-Württemberg (trocken means dry). A great entry point into the Riesling category without the sweetness people sometimes fear.
Nose: apple, pear, white peach, creamy, alpine flowers, with the classic Riesling petrol character underneath. Palate: almost effervescent, crisp, lemon, Granny Smith apple, tangy and zippy with strong minerality and a saline, steely finish.
Pairs with: fish and chips, seafood, spicy Indian food, Pad Thai, grilled salmon, sushi.
Available on wine.com.
Château Graville-Lacoste Graves Blanc 2024, $19.97
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 205
Sauvignon Blanc-dominant white Bordeaux from Graves, a style most wine drinkers have never tried. Both hosts gave it an 8. Episode verdict: "So nice, we are in. A great white wine."
Nose: pear, apple, peach, dried apricot, seashell, saline, grass, complex. Palate: peach, lime pith, pear, apricot, grapefruit, lemon water, medium-light mouthfeel with seashell minerality.
Pairs with: white flaky fish, halibut, snapper, sushi, shellfish, fried foods, Indian food, hummus.
Available on wine.com.
Claudio Quarta Cantina SanPaolo Fiano di Avellino 2020, $19.99
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 105
Fiano di Avellino is a white wine from Campania in southern Italy that more people need to discover. Rich, complex, and a little unusual for a white under $20.
Nose: citrus, grapefruit, nectarine, Fig Newton, tropical fruit, nutty, slightly syrupy. Palate: flavourful with good body, cocktail-like complexity, grapefruit, pineapple, tangy orange rind, Sour Patch Kid character, lemony.
Pairs with: pizza, eggplant parmigiana, cheesy foods, white pizza with mushrooms, creamy pasta, carbonara.
Available on wine.com.
Best Rosé Wines Under $20
2023 Scaia Rosato, $14.99
Joe: 9/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 145
Italian rosé from the Veneto, made from Rondinella, a grape you almost never see on its own. Joe gave it a 9. Drier, more acidic, and more food-friendly than most French rosé at this price.
Nose: grapefruit, bitterness, yeast, lemon, peach, watermelon, orange zest. Palate: very dry, tart, medium body, nectarine, apricot, almost orange-wine quality. Tastes more interesting than the $14.99 price suggests.
Joe: "A fun different wine to bring for Thanksgiving. A good gift wine."
Pairs with: turkey, appetizers, mac and cheese, broccoli salad, green beans.
Available on wine.com.
Chateau Trinquevedel Tavel Rosé 2022, $19.97
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 167
Tavel is the only AOC in France dedicated entirely to rosé. This wine is darker, bolder, and more tannic than Provence rosé, a different experience entirely and quite stunning on the table. Episode verdict: "Cool, beautiful, fun, and worth seeking out."
Nose: Dr. Pepper, root beer, cherry cola, cherry, spice, raspberry licorice, rose perfume. Palate: cherry, pomegranate, cranberry tea, maraschino cherry, tannic, refreshing.
Pairs with: wood-fired pizza, kabobs, yakitori, grilled shrimp, chicken, ham, Thanksgiving, holiday meals.
Available on wine.com.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Rosé 2023, $8.99
Joe: 7/10 | Carmela: 9/10 | Episode 145
Washington state rosé at nine dollars. Carmela gave it a 9, and we find that Chateau Ste. Michille is consistently good. Split reviews, but the average is 8/10 and Carmela called it "beautiful on the table and a crowd pleaser."
Nose: raspberry, pomegranate, lime, grapefruit, apple, pear, watermelon, complex. Palate: starts slightly sweet, dries out beautifully, tangy raspberry, zippy lemon acidity.
Pairs with: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing. Widely available at grocery stores and Total Wine.
Best Dessert and Sweet Wines Under $20
Williams & Humbert Dry Sack Medium Sherry, $18.40
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 203
Medium Sherry from Jerez, Spain. Both rated it 9/10 when paired with vanilla ice cream. Episode quote: "Love it. Why don't we have it more often? We should be doing it more often."
Nose: molasses, fig, leather, bananas foster, caramel, vanilla bean, creme brulee, old wood. Palate: not as sweet as expected, candied peanuts, caramel corn, creme brulee with burnt sugar, dulce de leche, tiramisu, cocoa.
Pairs with: vanilla ice cream (outstanding), dessert, cheese, nuts.
Available at Pete's Supermarket in Seattle and specialty wine shops.
Quady Essensia Orange Muscat 2021, $15.99
Joe: 8/10 | Carmela: 8/10 | Episode 108
California dessert wine from the Central Valley, made from Orange Muscat grapes. Fragrant, orange-forward, and one of the most accessible dessert wines we have reviewed.
Nose: dried apricot, stone fruit, orange blossom, orange soda, fresh orange. Palate: orange soda, juicy, orange liqueur, clementine, orange candy. A good summer sweet wine.
Pairs with: dried fruits, nuts, cookies, orange biscotti, shortbread, fruit cake, sfogliatelle, Panettone.
Available on wine.com.
Where Bargains Actually Come From: The Regions Worth Knowing
After close to 500 wines across 200+ episodes, the value is not random. It clusters by region. Here is where we keep finding 8/10 wines under $20.
Spain — Rioja (La Rioja region): Tempranillo grown in one of the world's most structured red wine regions, aged in oak, sold at Costco for $7.99. The Kirkland Rioja Reserva on this list is the best $8 you can spend on a red wine. The reason it works: Rioja has centuries of winemaking infrastructure and oversupply relative to its reputation in the US market. That gap is your advantage.
Spain — Penedès/Cava: Spanish Cava uses the exact same second-fermentation-in-bottle method as Champagne, grown in Catalonia at a fraction of the cost. The Kila Cava on this list earned a 10/10 from Joe at $13.99. The category is structurally underpriced because Cava does not carry the Champagne name, but is made the same way. That will not change. Buy accordingly.
Spain — Jerez (Sherry): Sherry is one of the most underpriced category in the wine world. Williams & Humbert Dry Sack at $18.40 earned 8/10 standalone and 9/10 over vanilla ice cream. The entire category is overlooked because American wine culture never recovered from the 1970s sweet Sherry era. The modern dry and medium styles are completely different wines.
France — Southern Rhône (Côtes du Rhône Villages): Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre (GSM) blends from the southern Rhône Valley represent some of the best $8-15 red wine in the world. The Kirkland Côtes du Rhône Villages at $7.49 earned 8/8. The appellation produces millions of bottles; quality producers have to stay competitive on price. The lesson: if you see a Côtes du Rhône Villages from a named winemaker at under $15, buy it.
France — Bordeaux Blanc (Graves and Entre-Deux-Mers): White Bordeaux is one of the most underrated wine categories in the world. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon blends with more body, minerality, and complexity than most New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at the same price. Two bottles from Episode 205 made this list: La Freynelle at $18.97 (Joe 9/10) and Graville-Lacoste at $19.97 (both 8/10). Most wine drinkers have never tried white Bordeaux. That is a mistake worth fixing.
France — Tavel (Southern Rhône): The only AOC in France dedicated entirely to rosé. Tavel is darker, bolder, more serious, and more food-friendly than Provence rosé. The Trinquevedel on this list earned 8/8 and works with a full meal. If you are bored with light pink Provence rosé, Tavel is the upgrade.
Italy — Abruzzo (Montepulciano d'Abruzzo): One of the most consistent value red wine categories in Italian wine. Full-bodied, dark fruit, earthy, almost always under $15. La Valentina at $14.99 won a three-bottle head-to-head challenge. The grape is easy to pronounce, easy to find, and easy to drink. It is also not Montepulciano the Tuscan town. That is a different wine. The Abruzzo version is the value one.
Italy — Etna Bianco (Sicily): Volcanic whites from the slopes of Mount Etna. Minerality and citrus character that are genuinely hard to find elsewhere under $20. The Murgo on this list earned 8/9 at $19.97 with a Wine Spectator score of 91. The Etna region is still gaining recognition in the US; prices will rise as it does.
Italy — Emilia-Romagna (Lambrusco): Not the sweet red Lambrusco of the 1970s. Modern dry Lambrusco is red sparkling wine with real tannic structure and food-friendliness. The Venturini Baldini on this list earned 8/8 at $17.97. If you have never tried a dry Lambrusco, this is the category to discover.
Argentina — Mendoza (Malbec): The most reliable under-$10 red wine region we have found anywhere. Mendoza Malbec grows at high altitude in dry conditions that concentrate flavor naturally. The Bousquet Organic at $9.99 earned 8/8 from both of us. When producers can grow organically and sell at $10, the math is in your favor.
Germany — Baden-Württemberg and Rhine regions (Riesling Trocken): Dry German Riesling gives minerality, citrus complexity, and food-pairing versatility at prices that Burgundy or Chablis cannot match. The petrol and apple character of a good Riesling Trocken is not reproducible anywhere else. The Dautel Estate at $15.99 earned 8/8. Start with German Riesling before branching into Austrian or Alsatian versions.
Greece — Nemea (Peloponnese): The Nemea region produces Agiorgitiko, the most widely planted red grape in Greece. It is almost unknown outside Greek restaurants in the US, which is why it is still $15.99. The Gaia Monograph on this list earned 8/8 and is a genuine food wine. Greek reds are a category to watch. They have the quality, they just lack the marketing.
So Is Cheap Wine Worth Drinking?
Yes. The quality curve in wine flattens out past $20-25. Above that, you are mostly paying for reputation, classification, and scarcity. Not flavor.
Every wine on this list was tasted and debated on the show. Out of close to 500 wines across 200+ episodes, these are the ones that cleared 8/10. The ones that earned a 9 or 10: there are not many of those at any price, let alone under $20.
Want the full list? Every wine we have ever reviewed and rated is on our Shop Wine page.
Hear the Tastings
The Wine Pair Podcast is an independent wine podcast focused on everyday wines, but not the typical wines you find in every grocery store. We look for great wines at affordable prices that are off the beaten path so you can expand your wine knowledge and wine horizons. Every bottle on this list has a full episode with ratings, pairings, and honest disagreement. Episode links are in each section above.
Find all of our episodes here, or search for a wine you are curious about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the best wine under $20?
A. For sparkling, the Vins el Cep Kila Cava Brut Organic at $13.99 is one of only three wines Joe has ever rated 10/10 across 200+ episodes. For red, the Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva at $7.99 won a head-to-head challenge against wines twice the price. Both are worth seeking out.
Q. What is the best cheap sparkling wine that is not Prosecco?
A. Spanish Cava. It uses the same traditional method as Champagne, with second fermentation in the bottle, at a fraction of the price. The Vins el Cep Kila Cava at $13.99 is the best sparkling wine we have reviewed at any price under $40. If you want something widely available at Trader Joe's, the Platinum Reserve Sonoma County Brut at $14.99 is a reliable pick.
Q. Are Costco Kirkland wines actually good?
A. The Rioja Reserva and the Côtes du Rhône Villages are two of the best value wines on this list, and both are $8 or under. The hit rate is not 100%, but in the French and Spanish categories, Kirkland is our first stop for everyday wine.
Q. What wine regions deliver the best value under $20?
A. Spain's Rioja and Cava region, France's Côtes du Rhône, Italy's Abruzzo (Montepulciano d'Abruzzo), and Sicily's Etna region are the most consistent overdeliverers we have found. For white wine, southern Italian whites like Fiano di Avellino and white Bordeaux are underrated. Washington state rosé and Greek reds are sleeper categories.
Q. Is there a good dessert wine under $20?
A. Two of them. The Williams & Humbert Dry Sack Medium Sherry at $18.40 is outstanding over vanilla ice cream: both Joe and Carmela upgraded their ratings to 9/10 when they tried it that way. The Quady Essensia Orange Muscat at $15.99 is an easy, fragrant orange-forward dessert wine that works with a cheese plate or a box of cookies.
Q. Where can I find all the wines you have reviewed on the show?
A. Every wine we have tasted and rated across close to 500 wines and 200+ episodes is on our Shop Wine page. It is organized by rating, includes episode links, and notes where to buy each wine. The list on this page covers only the 8/10-and-higher wines under $20.
*Note that our wine.com links are affiliate links. We may be compensated if you buy. However, this does not impact our ratings at all.
