We are excited to share that The Wine Pair Podcast has been featured again, this time in a brand new article on Real Simple!
The article, entitled "We Asked 3 Sommeliers to Name the Best Wine Under $20—They All Picked the Same Surprising One," tackles a question we get all the time: Where can I find high-quality wine that doesn't cost a lot?
When Real Simple asked Joe (along with two other sommeliers) for his top recommendation, they all independently landed on the exact same answer. It wasn't a single bottle, but a specific strategy for buying wine on a budget: Shop the Kirkland Signature brand at Costco.
We have always been huge fans of Costco’s wine section because they work with top-tier winemakers to produce wines that punch way above their price point. In the article, Joe highlighted five specific Kirkland Signature bottles that we think are absolute winners:
2023 Kirkland Signature Côtes du Rhône Villages It’s a classic French red blend that delivers incredible value for the price.
2022 Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva A fantastic choice if you love Italian reds with some depth and structure. Avoid the earlier versions, though, as this vintage brought in a new producer that is very good.
2022 Kirkland Signature Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Finding a decent Pinot Noir under $20 is tough, but this bottle from Oregon is reliable.
Kirkland Signature Ti Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Joe noted that this is an "excellent choice" that we keep well-stocked for a crisp, refreshing white.
Kirkland Signature Champagne Real Champagne (from France!) for under $20? It’s almost unheard of, which is why this bottle is such a "hidden gem" for celebrations.
It was so fun to see that other wine experts agree with what we’ve been saying on the podcast: You don't have to spend a lot to drink well, especially if you know where to look!