In last week’s beer newsletter, Krog GM Kendell Worden offered sagely advice on stretching dollars in the beer aisles. For this week’s wine news, we thought a roundup of some underappreciated affordable gems in the wine sets would make a great post-holiday topic.
If you’re a regular shopper at any Atlanta wine store, you’re probably well-versed in the budget-friendly staples popular throughout the market, like the Ercole and Gulp liters and the Mary Taylor lineup. There are plenty of other players, however, that need to be on your radar!
First up, new addition to shelves Lyma Vinho Verde ($9.99) punches way above its price point. Crisp, floral, and refreshing, with a lil’ residual sugar for a tiny bit of sweetness, this wine is perfect for pairing with shellfish or pounding on the porch.
Next, we mentioned Mary Taylor’s imports above and would be remiss if we didn’t give her wines a proper shoutout. Her Sofia Brescia Veneto Frizzante ($13.99) sparkles with cushiony soft bubbles and lovely notes of citrus, Asian pear, acacia honey, jasmine, and a touch of sea salt. Like Lyma, it’s interesting enough to pair with summer fare, but it’s casual enough to simply quaff and enjoy.
Onto the reds: Uva Non Grata Gamay ($11.99) is a chillable fruit bomb that checks all the bougie Beaujolais boxes at an unbeatable price point. Good farming practices? Check. Handpicked grapes? Check. Traditional carbonic maceration? Check. Chill down and glug glug!
For a wine with a little more structure, check out Cora Montepulciano ($11.99). With notes of cherry and raspberry, and just enough grippy tannins, it begs to be paired with pizza and pasta of any variety. Glancing at the tech sheet, bonus points abound: sustainably and organically farmed, carbon neutral estate, no herbicides or pesticides, certified vegan. BAM.
Those are four of our current favorites, but there are plenty of other options that strike the perfect balance between affordability and quality at all Hop Cities. When in doubt, ask for a rec from one of our expert associates, and we’ll make sure you always home with delicious, responsibly made wines that don’t break the bank!
