Happy Tuesday y’all! It’s officially winter here in the city (and by that I mean it’s been in the 50’s for the last week), and it has definitely messed with my immune system. I’m home sick today and catching up on some much needed rest. While I’m out of commission for the day, I wanted to share a big thing that I consider myself an expert on: red wine. I’ve been a wine-o since my sophomore year of college, and once I moved to the city and started working full time I basically considered myself a professional (kidding, but still). While I love a nice glass of Cakebread or Etude when I’m home with my parents, I tend to pick up a bottle at the liquor store on the way home that costs under $25. To be transparent, I’ll really only spend $20+ on wine if I’m really splurging for myself/a friend. So sit back, grab a glass and enjoy my top 5 favorite red wines under $25! Have a great day and thanks for reading!
1. Dreaming Tree Cabernet. ($15) Dreaming Tree stole my heart early in college. Maybe it was because I could easily find it at Kroger, or because I was a big Dave Matthews fan but this is one of the best. It technically retails for $15, but I find it at my liquor store for $22.It’s “elegant and supple,” as their website says, with notes of blackberry and plum. Definitely my favorite on the higher end of the budget.
2. Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir. ($20). This is another affordable wine I found in college, mainly because I love their Chardonnay. Their Pinot Noir retails for $20, but I usually find it for closer to $17. It has notes or cherry, raspberry, strawberry and is one of my favorites to pair at a nice dinner with friends if it’s an available option.
3. Apothic Red Blend. ($13). Apothic is a brand that my friends definitely introduced me to. It’s more affordable at about $13 a bottle, and my favorite is their red blend. It’s definitely a stronger red wine from what I typically go for and I have to let it breathe for a little bit, but it has hints of cherry and mocha. There’s definitely an Apothic stain on my couch too, haha!
4. Dark Horse Cabernet. ($8 ). Dark Horse is the OG of wines for early 20-somethings. It’s easily the most affordable and accessible wine as opposed to other brands. Their cabernet is smoother and velvetier for an extremely affordable wine, and I just realized you can order it in bulk on Amazon!
5. Chloe Merlot. ($23). This is a super rich merlot for a lower price point (on the higher end of my budget, but my liquor store usually has a deal on it). I’ve loved Chloe wines for awhile, but the merlot has a lot more spice than a usual merlot that I love. Something about this merlot makes me feel instantly classier, and I try to pick it up every time I see it. It pairs nicely with a pint of ice cream and good gal pal!
Photos by Caitee Smith.
