It has been brought to my attention that a lot of my recent posts have not hit on that real value end of the spectrum.  For some wine drinkers, a value wine is under $20, for others under $15 or $10. But there is also a large contingency that is looking for something cheap and drinkable under the $7 mark. Mind you, it is tough to find “great” wines at this price point.  However what we are looking for here is great value,  not top quality.

So with that, I give you my Top 7 under $7!

7. Fish Eye Pinot Grigio

Nothing too complex here, but the fruit is clean and the acidity is crisp. What else do you want from a $7 Pinot Grigio?!

6. Yellow Tail Shiraz

Bash it all you want, for about $5-6 this is an easy drinking Shiraz with lots of ripe, dark fruit.  And for a few extra bucks their Reserve is a big step up!

5. Il Bastardo Sangiovese di Toscana

This is the wine that has that fat Italian guy sitting in a chair that’s too small and drinking out of a glass even smaller. Funny label,  good juice!

4. Beringer Chenin Blanc

All the green apple and citrus that a good Chenin Blanc should have with just a hint of sweetness. Fantastic summer sipper at $5-6 a bottle.

3. Rex Goliath Cabernet Sauvignon

Ever seen that label with the Rooster… that’s this wine! Lots of black cherry and cassis, but with soft and mild tannins. Smooth and supple.

2. Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir

Blind taste this next to Pinots 2 and 3 times the price and you will be shocked how well it stands up. The whole Pepperwood Grove line is solid, but this one stands out.

And the number one wine under $7 is….a tie!!

1. Black Box & Bota Box

That’s right… Boxed wine! It doesn’t matter which varietal you go with (Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, etc.), these two brands provide the absolute best bang for the buck on the market. Box wine no longer has to be the sweet, cheap and nasty wine that gives you those viscous hangovers.  They are using good grapes and making really solid wine from them. And at around $20 a box that breaks down to $5 a bottle  (4 bottles per box for those non mathematicians out there).  So open it up and keep it in your fridge for the week…with the bag acting as a “bladder” inside the box the wine will stay fresh longer than in your fancy bottles.

Cheers!