Skip to main content

The Best Cheap Wine Deals to Stock Up On

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Cheap wine has received a bad rap for being lower quality than its expensive counterparts. When it comes to wine these days, however, a low price doesn’t necessarily equal low quality. There is plenty of inexpensive wine out there that can satisfy even the most discerning palates. If you’re wondering where to find the best cheap wine deals, we have you covered. Whether you’re looking for red, white, or rosé, check out today’s best cheap wine deals below so you don’t overpay for your next bottle.

Today’s Best Cheap Wine Deals

How to Choose a Wine

You don’t need to be a world-class sommelier to select the right wine for your meal or occasion, but to make your overall experience more enjoyable it’s best to keep a few key criteria in mind:

  • Your Coffee Order:  Yes, how you take your coffee can point you toward a wine you’ll enjoy. If you fancy lattes, go for the light, smooth finish of a pinot grigio. Fans of Frappuccinos may like a sweet, aromatic Riesling. If a strong cup of black coffee is what gets you going, seek a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon. And if chai more your speed, try a bold Zinfandel.
  • Your Food Pairing: White wine with fish and red wine with meat — this oft-recited advice is not totally incorrect. Red wine is richer in astringent compounds called tannins, which soften the fat in red meat and thereby enhance the meat’s flavor. However, paying more attention to a meal’s dominant element (usually its flavor) can result in an exquisite pairing that will enhance both the food and wine. For example, an oily fish like salmon goes well with pinot noir, a lighter-bodied red wine. Meanwhile, a pale off-dry Riesling can bring out the tanginess of sweet and sour pork.
  • Your Budget: Obviously, it’s not necessary to spend a fortune on good wine, especially if it’ll be reserved for mundane events like quiet nights at home. However, if you have the financial bandwidth there’s nothing wrong with splurging on a pricier bottle of wine if it’s for a special occasion and — most importantly — something you like. Expensive wine may be of higher quality, but that doesn’t always mean it’ll suit your preferences. Your taste buds may vibe more with a $10 bottle of supermarket pinot grigio than a $100 bottle of award-winning pinot grigio, and that’s perfectly fine.
  • If You’re Totally New to the World of Wine: Stick to beginner-friendly varieties that are either sweet wine (Moscato) or fruit-forward (Chardonnay). As you develop your palate, you may find yourself curious about trying fuller-bodied or more earthy wines. A great way to experiment (and potentially find your new favorite wine) is to order a flight of sample-size glasses of various types. Wine flights are typically available at many restaurants and wineries. However, you can now order wine flights to enjoy in the comfort of your own home from alcohol subscription sites.

Editors' Recommendations

Alison Barretta
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alison is a freelance writer and editor from Philadelphia who specializes in skincare & beauty, lifestyle, and general…
The best red wine under $20: Our top picks
Interested in a red wine with more quality than its sub-$20 price tag would suggest? Read on
Red wine being poured into glass

Anybody who's been abroad knows you can drink great wine on the cheap. Can you do the same here in the U.S.? The answer is yes, if you know what to look for.

The American wine scene is as vibrant as ever, and with that comes a whole host of options, from bottom shelf to high-end collector's items. In the red wine category, there's an ocean of riches to enjoy, from food-friendly Chianti to winter-ready cabernet franc. They come from all over, from the countryside of Italy to California's Sonoma County and even Washington state.

Read more
Why you should stock up on this Costco fan-favorite beer
This beer will get you through the holiday season
Close-up of a glass of beer

This time of year, festive, glittering cocktails are prominent at every at-home celebration, office holiday party, and post-Nutcracker soiree. The more ornate, the better, garnished with everything from crushed candy canes to coconut shavings made to look like freshly fallen snow. They slosh prettily in their frosted glassware and look beautiful paired with sparkling cocktail dresses.

And the wine that flows this time of year is equally exquisite, with many hosts opting to spend a few more dollars on better bottles, blaming their extravagance on festivity. For these libations, we are grateful. And it's because of them we have the patience to make it through Aunt Susan's annual ornament exchange. They are our supportive friends at the party, convincing us with loving encouragement that we're better dancers than we are. And they certainly make it a lot easier to endure Angela in human resources, rambling on about her snow globe collection.

Read more
The best wine varietals for mulled wine
Try one these if you're having mulled wine
Glass of mulled wine with a cinnamon stick on top

Mulled wine completes a natural progression our collective taste seems to go through every year. Spring is for pink wine and summer for white, while fall and winter lead us to red. Come the holidays, we need an even heftier adaptation of wine -- one hit with generous amounts of citrus and spice and ladled into your favorite mug, piping hot.

We're not beholden to that progression, because we love a great sauvignon blanc in mid-winter just as we sometimes crave a quality pinot noir on the hottest day of the year. But it's tough to argue the many merits of mulled wine around the holidays, perhaps as an alternative to spiked eggnog or just a clever European way to repurpose a wine when snow is in the forecast.

Read more