Step Away from the 2-Buck Chuck: Wines Under $10

About a week ago, one of my girlfriends approached me and asked, "So really, what do you think of Two-Buck Chuck?"

I suggested that she branch out. It’s okay if you don’t want to spend a lot on your wine. You can still try some new things and not break the bank. In fact, head to your favorite wine retailer and spend some time in the Spanish aisle. You’ll be surprised at what you find!

Prices vary depending on where you buy the wine. Vintages may have changed the wine and prices may have gone up since I last tried the wine as well – after all, prices on EVERYTHING seem to be going up. The wines I’m going to suggest are all everyday table wines.

Red Guitar, $5.99-$7.99: We love our Red Guitar. This one has been our default gift wine in the past. Red Guitar is a grenache/tempranillo blend from the Navarro region of Spain. It’s a bright and happy table wine that’s easy to drink. (red wine)

Bodegas Borsao Campo de Borja, $6.99-$7.99: This is another grenache/tempranillo blend. Actually, you’ll see a couple of those here. It’s a favorite of mine. Although not overly complex, this is a fun wine with cherry, strawberry and other red fruits up front and some white pepper mixed in for good measure. (red wine)

Garnacha del Fuego, $7.99-$8.99: We just tried the new vintage – 2006 I believe – of this grenache. We found it to be more supple than the last few vintages. I actually liked it better, and we loved the previous iterations.(red wine)

Las Brisas Blanca, $8.99-$9.99: From the Spanish region of Rueda, this is a summery, breezy white. This is a Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viura blend, but a lot of that Sauvignon Blanc comes through. This is a great relaxing wine, perfect for a hot day or just a day when you wish you could be on the beach. (white wine)

You can even venture into the French aisle.
Vin de Pays du Vaucluse, Cuvée Sélectionnée par Kermit Lynch, 2006: We picked this up at CorknBottle last week for $7.99. We were so excited about it, we’re thinking of picking up a case. It might be our gift wine this holiday season. It’s a bright and fruity red, with just enough earth in it to remind you it’s French.

For a more local flavor, Henke Wines, on Harrison near Cheviot, offers a great table red called Vin de Rouge for only $9.50. It’s a blend of several different locally grown French-American hybrids and it’s fun and easy to drink.

I’d love to hear your favorite under $10 wines in the comments. In this economy, we all need wine, but wine on a budget. What are your favorites?

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7 Responses to “Step Away from the 2-Buck Chuck: Wines Under $10”

1. Dale Cruse says:

   October 27, 2008 at 9:43 am

   Two-buck Chuck isn’t even two bucks anymore! It’s now three bucks around here!
2. Gary O'Brien says:

   October 27, 2008 at 10:49 am

   Hey Michelle, I think that you are dead on with your Spanish choices… these are some of the ones that Allison and I drink on a regular basis as well.
   You can also find quite a few great deals on domestic as well as Australian wines. Some examples include:
   Rancho Zabacco Dancing Bull Zinfandel (US, $7.97) – massive red zinfandel, with blackberry, blueberry and black cherry fruit balanced with solid black peppercorn. Pairs wonderfully with grilled foods.
   Two Tone Farm Cabernet Sauvignon (US, $9.99) – inky-purple color, with blackberry, leather and touches of bell pepper. Also good with grilled foods, or as a sipper wine.
   Blackstone Sauvignon Blanc (US, $8.99) – more full-bodied than you’d expect in a SB and especially one at this price. Notes of citrus and peach with a firm acidity. Excellent with seafood.
   Paringa “David Hickinbotham Individual Vineyard” Shiraz (Australia, $9.99) – very full-bodied with blackberry, cherry, licorice and pepper. I’m always amazed at the quality of Australian wines at the price points.
   Cheers,
   Gary
3. Deliciasdedioses.com says:

   October 27, 2008 at 7:38 pm

   Spanish wine in http://www.deliciasdedioses.com
4. DeBlancoaTinto says:

   October 28, 2008 at 12:12 pm

   Hello to everyone. I would like to recommend one of the best wines under 7 euros i have ever tried.
   Marqués del la Concordia is a spanish wine from Rioja. I have tried many wines in my life and i can say it is difficult to have such a good one for such an atractive price.
   For more info: http://www.deblancoatinto.com
5. Neal says:

   October 29, 2008 at 6:49 am

   Red Truck California Red
   Cline Syrah (with the blue label)
6. Frank says:

   October 29, 2008 at 9:38 am

   Good list Michelle because the Spanish wines do provide great value. On the downside, some of us don’t care for the taste young grenache provides.
   To those looking for values, I suggest a “step into the arena” approach. Grab whatever off the shelf and try it! I’ve never bought a bottle I could finish.
   As for 2-Buck Chuck (Charles Shaw). It’s a $3 wine tasting like a $5. Yes a value, but to me, still not worth the effort.
7. Tia Butts says:

   October 31, 2008 at 7:29 pm

   Hi Michelle,
   Glad to see you’re a friend of Red Guitar from Spain. That’s one of my clients. I’m sorry we missed each other at the Blogger Conference last weekend, but let’s stay in touch.
   Tia