Not serious enough, they say. Undistinguished. Cheap. Wine columnist Lettie Teague says live a little. Here, 10 of her favorite budget-friendly gems.
CERTAIN WINES have reputations tarnished by the connotation of “cheap.” They’re usually the lowest-priced offerings on a restaurant wine list and shelved near the floor in a wine store. Often described by unpromising adjectives like “affordable,” “drinkable” or simply “fun,” they include wines such as Beaujolais, Chianti, Pinot Grigio, Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadet. And their reputation for cheapness knows no borders. Just last week, I served a French dinner guest Muscadet and was informed, “That’s a wine we drink in bistros for 3 euros.”
While plenty of Pinot Grigios and Chiantis deserve scorn, there are also exceptions that warrant praise. I set out to find these humble gems—the wines that are well made as well as drinkable and, yes, “affordable.” After tasting my way through a few disappointments, I found 10 budget-friendly bottles that were actually quite good.