25 Best Cheap White Wines For Budget Conscious Drinkers
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You can find plenty of wines in the market that are priced low and still offer a fantastic profile. These are typically called "value" wines or just "cheap." It's difficult to choose which ones make an excellent value, so we're going to explore the best cheap white wine options for you.
Our Top Picks
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Best Overall - Cambria Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay 2019• Fantastic blend of fruit and flowers |
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Best Balance of Flavors - Raeburn Chardonnay 2019• Creamy and sweet flavors |
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Most Refreshing - Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Fume Blanc 2018• Vivid and pleasant acidity |
Best Cheap White Wines Under $10
1. La Marca Prosecco
La Marca is a sparkling white wine with an agrestic flavor. It has a light golden straw color and effervescent bubbles that dance when you pour it into the glass. It boasts fresh citrus flavors, honeysuckle blossoms, green apples, juicy peaches, or lemons - depending on your preference!
You could also get hints of minerality. This crisp, dry white wine will leave drinkers feeling refreshed without any lingering sweetness in their mouths after they consume this invigorating bottle of bubbly.
La Marca is an Italian sparkling wine that has both the charm to stand alone as an aperitif and enough body to pair well with various dishes, making it perfect for any occasion or meal you may have planned! And you can get all of these characteristics at a very low price!
2. Dark Horse Chardonnay 2019
You’ll want to make this wine your dinner partner on any occasion because Dark Horse will have you thinking it’s a steal. Bring an affordable luxury to your dinner table with this wine from an award-winning collection.
With its delectable pineapple aromas and hints of stone and tropical fruit, the light floral finish will leave you wishing for more. This is a perfect balance of sweet, fruity flavors and rich oakiness that will leave your mouth feeling warm.
The vanilla in this delicate drink enhances the toasty notes from its virgin oak barrel aging process. Get creative with food like vegetables or chicken salad to complement its hints of toasted oak.
3. Indaba Chenin Blanc 2018
This South African wine is as fresh as any Sauvignon Blanc you can find. But it has some lovely 'wet stone' minerality to accompany its ripe melon and peach flavors for something more unique than your average sauv!
The owners of this brand donate part of the proceeds towards funding scholarships for native South Africans who want to be winemakers- so this bottle will not only quench your thirst but help out future generations too!
As if all these benefits weren't enough, they pair wonderfully with zesty mussels or Mozambican prawns.
4. Broadbent Vinho Verde
Bartholomew Broadbent is determined to produce the most reliable and traditional of all Vinho Verdes. It became his goal to create his range of table wines that would be a worthy reproduction in taste and style from Portugal while also being able to ship them here with refrigerated containers so they don't spoil on the journey.
Partnering with an established winery allowed him more control over production quality, making or breaking any wine's reputation for consistency. Broadbent has gained a reputation as one of the finest wines in Portugal since its 2005 launch.
With refrigeration containers, this tastes just as fresh and spritzy when it arrives at your doorstep from across the ocean! This light and delightful white wine is a perfect accompaniment for any fish or poultry dish. Verde means "Green," and it refers to the hints of lime color with an excellent balance between its sweetness and acidity.
5. Château Souverain Chardonnay 2018
This full-bodied, aromatic wine offers a plush texture with balanced acidity on the palate. The flavor profile is delicate and well structured such that it goes down smooth without being overwhelming.
It has aromas that are sure to tempt anyone. It smells of roasted pears, lemon citrus, and subtle baking spice, which offer an elegant layer to this beautifully crafted vino. Delightful pineapple flavors are balanced by elegant hints of crème brûlée in every sip too.
6. Santa Julia Plus Torrontes 2020
Familia Zuccardi is one of Argentina's most highly regarded winemaking families, with their wines spanning sixty years.
Santa Julia offers a bouquet of orange blossoms, rose petals, and white peaches. It has an intense nose scenting your nostrils with each whiff you take in its fruity fragrance.
This is a crisp wine that will win you over the minute you pop it open. This bottle of wine is perfect for a hot summer day. It is light-bodied, refreshing, and features aromas and flavors reminiscent of lime zest, orange peel, lychee fruit with hints of melon and grapefruit. Serve this chilled for the full experience and to keep it from spoiling.
7. Firestone Riesling 2019
When Bill Foley took over Firestone Vineyard in 2008, the winery had been dormant for more than six years. What was once a thriving producer of California wine became nothing but memories and dusty bottles that lined shelves inside an aging cellar.
Now managed by this former CEO who stepped down to pursue his dream, it is now one of America’s most exciting producers thanks to its 400 acres nestled 26 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
Its vineyards produce vivid flavors reminiscent of honeysuckle citrus blossom and green tea on tasting notes and lemon tart characters accentuated by acidity found only at higher elevations vines grown in Santa Ynez Valley.
Best Cheap White Wines Under $15
8. Domaine de Bernier Chardonnay 2019
When it comes to Chardonnay, the Couillaud brothers are masters of their craft. The three siblings work together at one vineyard in France, producing a freshening wine perfect for any occasion.
A maritime climate makes this area ideal for growing whites with bright flavors. It adds weight and texture after aging on its lees until bottling without ever going overboard into heavy oak flavor territory.
It has an unexpected background for this Burgundy grape variety, but it’s flavorsome nonetheless. This wine tastes pears and apples on the nose before softening to faint hints of apple and pear in flavor—a satisfying contrast between fruit followed by mineral hints. This wine will go well with spicy dishes like curry or grilled lobster!
9. Apaltagua Reserva Chardonnay 2019
Chile's Casablanca Valley is home to various wine grapes that are perfect for making white wines. This region has an ideal climate and Pacific maritime influence, making it the optimal place to grow these grapevines.
The lack of oak barrels adds a fresh taste with hints of lime and vanilla on both its nose and palate. This uniquely crafted wine is a delightful mix of citrus and tropical fruits. To the nose, hints of passionfruit and pineapple are noticeable as well.
The taste reveals even more intrigue with tasting notes that include minerality for an elegant finish to go along with its persistent notes, from bright at first to lemon zest on inwards - it tastes just like summertime!
10. Zolo Torrontes 2020
After a tiring day, what better way to relax than with an iconic wine such as the Zolo Torrontes? So go ahead, give yourself some well-deserved R&R before tomorrow sets in by cracking open this bottle now.
Beyond Argentina, Torrontes is a grape that's often lost in the vintage shuffle. But this 2020 Zolo is a surprisingly vibrant dry white wine with lots of flowery and tropical aromatics from its growing region. It’s crisp without any off-dry character, making it almost thirst-quenching to drink on hot days.
11. Ziobaffa Organic Pinot Grigio 2020
This Pinot Grigio is the perfect blend of traditional and modern - a favorite hangover beater. This organic wine features low sulfite production, no GMO ingredients, and is made in an EU-certified organic vineyard right in Italy! Pair this drink to help you detox after a night out or when relaxing with friends.
Served chilled, this brings the perfect balance of fruitiness and crispness to your evening. The grapes are fermented at a low temperature in stainless steel tanks for an extended period to preserve their complexities, such as Meyer lemon, honey crisp apple, pickled ginger, and white stone.
This is a mouthwatering wine that is plump but not too heavy on your palate while still bringing all those refreshing qualities you want from a summer day!
12. Mohua Sauvignon Blanc 2019
The Mohua Wines are crafted from the finest grapes found in New Zealand and are made by a family's passion for great winemaking.
They focus on creating sustainable practices to capture their surroundings while expanding the vineyards of Marlborough and Central Otago region located on the South Island. They carefully select grapes that match these efforts.
This excellent vintage has wrapped up flavors of passion fruit, lemon-lime, and snow peas into a chalky texture with zippy acidity that leaves one's mouth tingling after each sip. Bright fruits blend well with a crispness to create an enticing combination perfect for any dish - from seafood and white meat pairing to salads or on its own as an appetizer before your next meal.
13. Castelfeder Mont Mes Pinot Grigio 2020
The world of Castelfeder is one that you have to visit to truly appreciate it. Stepping across an unspoken threshold, it opens up into a valley filled with the lush greenery and vines from where this wine draws its distinctive flavor. This wine's light green lusters are a gem.
The radiant straw-yellow color of the wine has an exceptional aroma that's bursting with fruits, most notably pears and apples. A perfect balance between strength and structure allows this Pinot Grigio to be dry on the palate yet still smooth enough for your enjoyment! This great taste pairs well with many foods such as lighter dishes or fried mushrooms.
14. Raats Original Chenin Blanc 2019
This Chenin Blanc is a delightful, refreshing wine with an exhilarating finish. The delicate flavors of peach skin, honeysuckle, and pineapple are immediately noticeable on the nose, followed by wet stone and lemon pith that leaves you wanting for more.
This easy-to-drink white is unoaked, which allows its purity to shine through. It's got just enough acidity to balance out those ripe honeydew melon hints, as well as banana peel tastes at the mid-palate while providing pear slices across your tongue at the end.
The mineral tension in its mid-palate adds an element that makes a drinker want to have another glass. It's also tasty with a lingering finish that delivers pleasure every time you taste it.
15. Raeburn Chardonnay 2019
Raeburn is a complex wine with an array of fruit tones ranging from pear to nectarine. It shows beautiful compliments with vanilla, which provides the perfect balance for this elegant finish.
Aromas reminiscent of honeysuckle mixed with baked yellow apple gave way to both electric flavors and lit up within by lemon sorbet. Toastier notes influence a profile accented by crème brûléé before giving way into rich grapefruit, grape skin, lychee or other Asian fruits on the palate followed by coconut milk’s signature savory spice.
16. Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes 2019
Susana Balbo became a Torrontes queen when she transformed this previously unknown grape into Argentina’s star white varietal. The Crios de Susana Balbo is an elegant blend with mouthwatering hints of citrus, passion fruit, lychee, and floral notes that all come together in one satisfying sip for the perfect wine pairing to delight both your palate and senses!
Its lively acidity adds depth while its hint of creaminess brings balance, leaving you wanting more after each sip, making it the best choice for any occasion. This wine can make any meal more elegant and provides an excellent accompaniment for grilled or smoked meats, cheeses with a bit of bite, as well as seafood dishes.
Moreover, this versatile drink is perfect when paired with light Japanese cuisines such as sushi, crab cakes, and prawns.
Best Cheap White Wines Under $20
17. Pierre-Luc Bouchaud Pont Caffino Muscadet Sevre et Maine 2018
This wine is a perfect balance of fruit and minerality. The grapevines are planted just above an unobstructed view of the river, making them exposed to more sun than any other terrain in distribution for this French wine region - which explains why they have such intense notes without being overly yeasty with time on lees.
Minerals from granite soil take precedence over schist soils when it comes to aroma because their aromas pop out even more and give their texture that much higher acidity level due to faster fermentation rates. All lead up towards what makes Pont Caffino different from most wines: leaner finish and full-bodied, developed by elegance rather than weightiness or heaviness.
18. Nortico Alvarinho 2019
Alvarinho is the grape to watch for age-worthy, world-class wines. Nortico from tiny vineyard plots on Portugal's border with Spain showcases this varietal beautifully without added CO2.
With a touch of salinity and hints of sea air in every sip, Albarino/Alvarinho delivers an elegant wine that will stand up over time as it matures into a well-balanced drinkability for any occasion.
The refreshing citrus flavors dominate this wine, and the lime zing balances with a tart apple undertone. Salty mineral notes make it an exciting addition to any table at dinner time!
19. Burgans Albarino 2019
Named after the hill on which it's made, this custom cuvée by Martin Codax is sure to be a hit. The Burgans Albariño has rich and complex notes of minerality with an acidic freshness that makes for great wine in any season. The color of this wine is light yellow, with an exotic perfume that smells of ripe melon and mango.
It's full-bodied yet airy on the palate, delivering juicy tropical fruit flavors alongside a hint of ginger for spice. The honeysuckle flowers come through and become more vibrant before becoming mineralized, thanks to hints of lemon pith and nectarine throughout.
This wine is created with grapes that have lower levels of malic acid and are therefore riper. With a flatter alcohol level than most wines at 13%, these bottles can be enjoyed by those who love sweeter fruit while still having enough tart to maintain balance in this fruity flavor profile.
20. J Vineyards California Pinot Gris 2020
The J California Pinot Gris is one of the most delicious wines you'll ever have. The bright color alone makes drinking this wine a delightful experience like no other. It bursts with fruit flavors that are sure to please you in more ways than one!
You can enjoy its zesty finish any time during your day as an accompaniment for food or anytime you need some extra refreshment. This wine surprises you with flavors of pear, white peach, lemon, lime, and pineapple.
You can also observe hints of minerality and jasmine. Pair this appealing Pinot Gris with grilled fish or chicken, or whitefish ceviche with jicama, mango, and avocado. For a cheese pairing, try creamy chèvre topped with citrus marmalade.
21. Cambria Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay 2019
Cambria Katherine's is an enticing wine that will be sure to please the palate. The nose of this wine has intense fruit and floral aroma, which opens up with scents of wet stone in it as well.
There are pink grapefruit flavors on the palette mixed nicely with tangerine and citrus blossom before finishing on apple notes, all while being balanced by acidity from oak barrel aging!
Some smoky artichokes pair perfectly for every sip you take because they provide savory accents without overwhelming your taste buds - so go ahead and indulge yourself today!
22. Hiedler Loss Gruner Veltliner 2019
To make great wine, you need suitable soil and climate. Gruner Veltliner Loss Hiedler had both of these in spades. It was sourced from vines growing on eponymous loess soils that have been formed over millennia by deposits of weathering alpine rock, crushed under the weight of ice-age glaciers for an elegant finish.
The soils in their area are so unique that they account for a distinct flavor profile. The wine is a fruity and flowery drink, perfect for any occasion. It has notes of green apples with white flowers, subtle hints at herbs too!
The acid in the wine provides it with bright fruit characteristics that make this versatile food companion an excellent choice no matter what you're eating or who you are sharing it with.
23. Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Fume Blanc 2018
The Mondavi Winery has always been at the helm of producing wines that are cutting edge and new, never playing it safe. Fumé Blanc was one such wine when they introduced their take on Sauvignon Blanc.
It's since become a staple for Napa Valley producers because, with its refreshing lime blossom notes and green apple undertones, there is nothing more quintessential to this region than what Mondavi puts out year after year.
Crisp citrus, succulent peach flavor, an intense melon finish, among other delicious flavors like tangerine zest or lemon juice, blend beautifully against ginger-infused tea leaves, all wrapped up by pure refreshment through every sip from start to finish!
24. Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2019
Inspired by the beauty of a sunset, this wine is refreshing and vibrant in color. The nose offers tantalizing aromas reminiscent of lemons, limes, cucumbers with hints of a pink peppercorn. All are hanging delicately on top notes like wisteria blossom to create an elegant fragrance you'll want after every sip.
The palate is full of character with a refreshing burst. With yellow peach, watermelon skin, nectarine, and creaminess to balance everything out, this medium-bodied wine leaves you feeling refreshed as if drinking a glassful of sorbet on vacation at the coast!
25. Hexamer Nahe Riesling Quarzit 2019
The Quarzit bottling of Hexamer’s terroir-defining, vintage wine has a lot to offer. Not only does it have the rare confluence of ripe fruit and juicy acidity, but also floral notes remind you just how good this is for your tastebuds. This will also make a fantastic white wine for beginners.
The style radiates lemon gold in the wine glass, followed by rich apple aromas complemented with pollen or honeycomb flavor on its minerally palate. This delicate and versatile wine will go with many dishes. It pairs nicely with salads, light fish preparations, fresh oysters on the half-shell, sushi rolls, or sashimi platters for a Japanese dish meal.
For an Asian-inspired menu pairing, this wine would go well with Thai curries like lamb Kao Soi curry soup noodles with papaya salad to make this delicious recipe even more flavorful!
Conclusion
White wines don't always have to be expensive. There are many wines at a budget-friendly price point, and they're still fantastic. So next time you want some of the best white wines, don't worry about having to break the bank!
Can you recommend other budget-friendly white wines? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Comments
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Hi Grace, White wines are usually less expensive than red wines because their production process is not as complicated as red wines. White wine takes less time to age because they don’t ferment with their skins. On the other hand, red wines take a longer time to age using special barrels that contribute to their more complex flavor profile. There are also many risks when aging red wine because the results may not be favorable, thus lowering the yield and costing money. With this, better quality ingredients and equipment are needed for red wines.
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Why is the Best Cheap White Wine Generally Less Expensive than Red Wine?
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