Top 20 Values Under $25 of 2025!!

My most popular post is back, friends! What you've been waiting for all year - the annual roundup of the best value wines I have tasted over the past 365 days that cost $25 or less. Not every bottle will be available in every market, alas - but bring this to your local merchant and see what they can find for you! Without further ado and in no particular order...

BUBBLES:

2020 Alta Alella Mirgin Cava Reserva Brut Nature, Spain ~$22

Very high quality, lean and lightly toasty champers-alternative. Elegant and classy. Some consternation in the Cava category of late but this proves why it shouldn’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

NV Zanasi Lambrusco “La Grasparossa”, Italy ~$15

Everything you want in a dry Lambrusco, at a stupendous price. Dark bramble fruit, herbs and earthy minerality, pleasant fizz, low abv – this should be a house staple! Pair with charcuterie.

NV Folias de Baco 'Uivo' Pet Nat Rosé, Portugal ~$24

A super-approachable Pétillant Naturel, this is simply slurpable. Peachy fruit and just a hint of ginger, pleasant fizz, gulp gulp gulp.

NV Aganis 'Petec' Ribolla Gialla Spumante Brut, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy ~$20 [N/A]

I tried this at an industry tasting – my first Ribolla Gialla sparkling! It was delicious and fascinating. Not yet available in the U.S., sorry, but deserves mention. If you travel to northeast Italy, keep your eyes peeled for sure.

WHITE:

2023 La Petitie Lune, Bordeaux Blanc, France ~$15

Considering that white Bordeaux can often cost $60, $80, or more – this is an absolute steal. Minerally and yellow-fruited Sauvignon Blanc balanced by lightly waxy Semillon, quaffable and balanced. Yum.

2023 Red Tail Ridge, Estate Dry Riesling, Fingerlakes NY ~$20

I keep saying true Wineaux are born when they fall head over heels for Riesling. And a good gateway to test that theory is a high-quality, affordable, dry FLX option. Red Tail Ridge’s is consistent and scrumptious and always overdelivers value for the price.

2024 Radley & Finch, Chenin Blanc “Alley Pack”, South Africa ~$17

A killer South African Chenin, food-friendly and all-around delish. Signature green apple and citrus aromas, with complexity of tropical notes and some florals and spice. Love it.

2022 Ecker Grüner Veltliner Estate, Austria ~$18/1L

Liter-bottles of Grüner are typically solid picnic wines, but this one overdelivers with great grassy/peppery notes and well-rounded character. A very pleasant surprise!

2023 Fattoria La Rivolta I Vigneti di Bruma Falanghina IGP, Italy ~$14

Crisp, concentrated, and minerally, with charming fruit—tangy and versatile. Southern Italian whites often get overlooked, but it’s worth keeping Falanghina in mind.

2024 Domaine de Majas Cotes Catalanes Blanc, France ~$20

A great option if you like an oomphier white without overt oak. A blend of local varieties (Rolle [Vermentino,] Macabeu, Grenache Blanc,) giving white peach, florals, and a pleasant weight and toastiness from lees aging in concrete vats.

2021 La Vecchia Posta Vino Blanco (Cortese) “Saliceto”, Italy ~$13

Ok this is a bit of a unicorn. Cortese is often thought of as a grape that makes kinda forgettable wines, but this one has tons of complexity, depth, texture, and some evolution, honestly maybe the best value wine under $15 I’ve had in YEARS.

ORANGE/ROSÉ

2023 4 Kilos Mallorca Blanco “Motor America” Mallorca, Spain ~$23

A great “gateway orange” for people wary of skin-contact whites, this has charming peachy/apricot fruit and an approachable structure. Made from 50/50 Malvasia and the indigenous Prensal.

2022 Krasno, Goriška Brda Orange, Slovenia ~$20

Delightful skin-contact wine made from aromatic varieties so not too funky, but with a pleasant, lightly bitter grip. Tropical, apricot, touch of herbs, quaffable but not simple.

2024 Erdenleid Rosé Zweigelt, Austria ~$12/1L

I meeeean… it’s simple and a scootch angular, but you just can’t beat the price. Plus, I love a savory rosé, and this was great with charcuterie. Maybe not super impressive, but solid for sure.

RED

2021 Domaine Tour Boisée Carignan Vielles Vignes, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ~$15

Bright tangy acid and soft but supportive tannins frame this juicy mid-weight quaffer. Blackberry and blueberry with balanced earthiness. Holds its alcohol very well. Fab Tuesday-night option.

2019 Tatsis, Xinomavro-Negoska Young Vines, Greece ~$20

Xinomavro can be an intense grape (it means “acid black” in Greek, after all,) but this one is a great gateway; young vines, blended to soften, meant to drink early. Pomegranate and bramble, with a light earthiness. Try with a chill!

2020 Terres Blondes Touraine Gamay, France ~$16

We can easily forget that Gamay isn’t just from Beaujolais. This has a charming lift from semi-carbonic maceration and delivers pleasant fruit and earth with light florals. Yum.

2023 Markus Altenburger Blaufrankisch Vom Kalk, Austria ~$24

A very minerally and taut Blaufrankisch, with just the right amount of tannic grip. Herbs, blueberry, blackberry. Great value. Definitely another chillable red.

2023 Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese, Oreste Buzio, Italy ~$19

If you like Pinot Noirs or Jura reds, you MUST check out this Grignolino. It's light but gorgeously aromatic, cranberry/ raspberry herbs and spice, and has a kind of waxy texture to balance. Love it.

2023 Bodegas Luzon “Finca Luzon” Monastrell/Syrah, Jumilla, Spain ~$10

I keep forgetting that Jumilla red blends are a killer option for lovers of bold, fruity reds! This has loads of dark cassis, black cherry, and a fig/herby/chocolate sheen. Amazing value.  

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There you have it, friends - my favorite values of the year. Comment below if you've discovered any standout wines under $25 that fellow Wineaux need to check out! Be sure to send this to a vinophile friend, and sign up for my newsletter HERE so you don't miss a trick. Cheers!