December 21, 2023
As 2023 draws to a close it’s time for the Greatest Values of the Year, my seventh annual selection of a dozen wines from the year’s recommendations that cost $20 or less. These are among my favorites that I tasted throughout 2023, wines that offer excitement and quality without making a dent in our wallets.
You’ll notice I favor unusual wines, such as the two Italian reds included here, but there are also classics such as chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. I also champion small family companies, both producers and the importers who trek the world to find them and bring their wines to market. Many of these featured wineries demonstrate concern for the environment, either through regenerative, organic or sustainable certification or by using lighter bottles with a lower carbon footprint.
And they come from all over the world. Spain and Portugal appear again in this list, as do Chile and Argentina. But we also see the Rhone Valley and Burgundy — okay, a minor appellation within Burgundy, but still! Can quality U.S. wine be found under $20? Of course — and we have examples from California and New York as proof.
Finding pearls like these in the sea of wine is an adventure, and I have enjoyed the search this year. I hope you have enjoyed some of my discoveries and made others of your own. There are more for us to find in 2024.
In recommending these wines again, I am omitting my star ratings, as these are all top values worth revisiting. Some of the wines have already transitioned to the next vintage; I have noted those.
5. Arona Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Marlborough, New Zealand
This sauvignon blanc shows the raciness we’ve come to expect from New Zealand savvie, without the vegetal jalapeño notes we sometimes get. Look for mango and passion fruit flavors to join apricot and tart red currants in a virtual fruit salad on your palate. Each time I came back to my glass, the mélange of flavors shifted to something new and delicious. Pair this with any seafood dish. Certified sustainable. ABV: 12.5 percent. BW: 540 grams (Average).
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