food

Our 10 best budget wine recommendations for under $20.

 

If there’s one thing most humans have in common, it’s the desire to drink lots and lots of wine for as little money as possible.

There are perhaps no two words that go together quite as sweetly as cheap and wine. Mmmmm… yes.

The issue, however, is taking a bloody risk. If you walk into a bottle shop with $20 to spend, it’s like playing Russian roulette. We can’t just go taking chances on something as important as wine.

Monique Bowley, Holly Wainwright and Mia Freedman discuss what to read with your wine this summer. Post continues below. 

So we crowdsourced the best wine recommendations from our office – and from the, ahem, experts – all for under $20.

Tudor Yarra Valley Pinot Noir $12.99

This is the Aldi red wine everyone is talking about.

Fragrant and perfumed with raspberries, silvan berries and forest fruits, this delicious Yarra Valley Pinot Noir is complex and fruit-driven, with a touch of spice.

With a rating of 4.7/5 on the Dan Murphy’s website, Mr Frog is described as having sweet cherry and strawberry aromas, with earthy undertones. It’s rich, juicy and well balanced.

Friend clinking glasses above dinner table
Cheap AND delicious. Image via iStock.
ADVERTISEMENT

Two Churches Barossa Shiraz $10

Emerging from one of the oldest wine regions in Australia, Two Churches is guaranteed not to disappoint. It's full of plum and spice, leaving a warm finish.

This multi-award winning wine has a chocolately character with hints of rich berry fruit.

It's rated 4.7/5 on the Dan Murphy's website, and is described as smooth and hearty.

Pepperjack Cabernet Sauvignon. Image via Dan Murphy's.
ADVERTISEMENT

Pikes Traditionale Riesling $19.90

Gary Walsh, reviewer for The Wine Front, describes the Pikes Riesling as spicy, lime leaf, vanilla perfume with a sweet juicy taste. He adds it offers "such bounciness and joy" and makes for great drinking.

 Little Helper Prosecco $9.90

Vino Mofo, an online wine supplier, describe Little Helper as "fizzing with good, clean fun" and a "pure joy in a glass... on a hot day, the closest thing to heaven you'll find in the fridge." It offers pear, citrus fruits and apple flavours, and is overwhelmingly refreshing.

La Gioiosa Prosecco $19.99

It even sounds fancy.

La Gioiosa is refreshing, fruity and flowery. It leaves a semi-dry mouth feel, and includes hints of ripe golden apple.

Image via iStock.

Katlenburger Strawberry Sparkling $9.99

For anyone who has a sweet tooth, this sparkling is for you.

Made from the juice of fresh strawberries, it's great on a warm day, served well chilled.

Extremely popular, Fifth Leg is crisp, clean and refreshing, with snow pea and passionfruit characters.

Reviewer Campbell Mattinson adds that it "tastes of tropical fruit" and far exceeds expectation.

Rated favourably by wine reviewers, this dry white balances sweetness and acidity. It offers tropical fruit aromas, and wine critic Tyson Stelzer describes it as a "benchmark gris" with brilliant texture and a long-lingering finish.

Trust us; with these recommendations you can't go wrong. Next time you won't be choosing wine based on which brand has the best looking label (we've all been there).