I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling like I need a little break after the whirlwind that was last month. I also need to budget a bit after all that spending! Luckily, good wine doesn’t have to come at a high price. Here’s a list of some of my favorite budget-friendly wines you can find at Hop City right now. These wines span style and region, and at $15 or less are all serious bang for the buck!
- Katie Decantillon, general manager and wine buyer at Hop City Beer & Wine West End
Giocato Pinot Grigio - $12.99; available at all locations
Farmed organically in Slovenia just over the border from Italy’s famous Friuli region, this easy drinking white wine is unoaked, bright with fresh minerality, and full of juicy orchard fruit flavors.
Las Lilas Vinho Verde - $12.99; available at Krog and Fayetteville
Vinho Verde is a favorite no matter the time of year. This offering from Ponte da Barca, Portugal is a blend of sustainably farmed indigenous grapes including Loureiro and Arinto. You’ll enjoy a light effervescent texture, crisp citrus flavors, and white floral aromas.
Banyan Gewurztraminer - $13.99; available West End and Fayetteville
An organically farmed and thoughtfully made wine to pair with spicy, East Asian inspired foods. Grown in Monterey County, California this wine smells of honeysuckle and is full of juicy tropical fruit flavors like pineapple and lychee. What more could you ask for?
Scarpetta Frico Rosato - $11.99; available at Krog
Need a great companion for your next charcuterie plate? Look no further than this crowd-pleasing rose from Tuscany - a blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and Ciliegiolo. Crisp white grapefruit, cherry, and a hint of herbaceousness make this easy drinker anything but simple.
Adaras Aldea Tinto - $9.99; available at Fayetteville
Grenache and Syrah are a classic combination and this little Spanish bottle is no exception. You can expect a dry wine with gentle oak tannin and flavors of juicy red fruits and star anise. The wine is organic and vegan and would be a great dinner pairing with just about anything.
Prisma Pinot Noir - $14.99; available at West End
The Pinot Noir for this wine is all sustainably farmed at a single vineyard in the Casablanca Valley of Chile. Definitely give this bottle a try if you’ve only ever had Pinot Noir from France or the US West Coast. It’s velvety smooth and sings with rich cherry and strawberry flavors.
Vignerons Ardéchois Cabernet Sauvignon - $12.99; available at West End
The growers of the Ardeche co-op have been organically producing wine grapes (and other crops) since 1967 and the wines made are simple yet representative of a grape's true nature. This cabernet is a little lighter in body than you may be used to, but the rich black fruits and baking spices of the palate will not disappoint.
First Creek Harvest Shiraz - $13.99; available at West End
If you still think the only wines coming out of Australia are of the bulk grocery store variety, now is the time to change your mind! The wine industry of Australia is booming with lots of great offerings at every price point, like this Shiraz from New South Wales. Made with minimal intervention and aged in matured oak barrels, this wine is full of rich chocolate, black pepper, and ripe red berries.
Monthly wine 3-pack
Each month our Krog District location sells a select bundle of three different wines for $75, which also comes with two free tickets to our monthly wine tasting. Pictured left to right above, January's monthy 3-pack includes:
La Antigua Clasico Riojo Reserva - There’s an awful lot to love about Rioja. This is a big, burly wine that’s nevertheless lively and nimble, perfect for cold winter nights and hearty meals.
Terrazze dell’Etna Ciuri - Ciuri is a still Blanc de Noir made from Nerello Mascalese, one of Sicily’s classic native red grapes. This white wine boasts complex aromatics and flavors of apple, lemon verbena and hints of tropical fruit.
Brother From Another Mother - Consisting of 50% Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and 50% Columbia Valley Nebbiolo, this blend is fermented with native yeasts and bottled without filtration. Super fun, super crushable, super food-friendly!
