10 Great Wines for Under $30

So you’re thinking of getting a bottle of wine as a holiday gift, and you’re afraid that anything you could afford might taste like, well, crap. Lucky for all you budding wine aficionados, there are gads of value wines for the taking: wines that are excellent quality for their price-point. If they cost more, people would still buy them—because they’re that good.

But how to find them? Gregory Fulham, a wine consultant at Binny’s, offered 10 of his top picks for wines that are worth more than what you’ll actually shell out for them. Average price? $19.50 (all prices rounded to the nearest dollar).

Year: 2004
Price: $23

This is a real gem of a Spanish red from Rioja, Spain’s most famous wine region. What you’ve got here is a blend, most of which is Tempranillo – wines made from this grape are usually earthy and spicy.

Pour this sucker into your glass and enjoy the deep garnet red color. Mixed in with some dark berry flavors (such as cherry and cranberry) you may also catch hints of cinnamon or vanilla.

Having steak, lamb, pork, or aged cheeses? This is the wine for you.

Year: 2010
Price: $17

This wine comes all the way from Mosel, the most famous of Germany’s wine regions. Rieslings are often sweet and crisp, and this one offers whiffs of peach, apricot, and lime, with just a hint vanilla. Clear, and maybe even a bit creamy, this isn’t one of those overly-saccharin dessert drinks, nor is it dry like the ones that come from Alsace, France. Not too dry, and not too sweet, this one is just right.

Sample this with some blue cheese, meals with a kick (jalapeños, anyone?), and who could resist sticking with the German theme – this wine just calls out for some apple strudel.

Year: 2004
Price: $23

This is a pretty fruit-forward red, made of a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese. Open up a bottle of this particular vintage, and you’ll catch scents of tobacco, licorice and grilled herbs—not to mention cherries and floral notes. It’s a relatively soft red, exchanging overwhelming tannins for a little more finesse.

Some good options to take this wine for a spin with are steak and, well, anything braised.

Year: 2008
Price: $15

A medium-bodied, blended red from the Piedmont region of Italy, this is a nicely vibrant, juicy wine. You’ll find a mix of dark cherry and floral accents, as well as a hint of cinnamon. The taste will linger in your mouth, and if you’re keen on authentic Italian reds (or want to be) this one isn’t to be missed.

Stumped on what to serve with a super-creamy pasta dish? A wine like this is just feisty enough to do the trick.

Year: 2009
Price: $24

This earthy and spicy Zinfandel blend from Sonoma, California, is a winning combo of pepper, elegant tannins, and a sweet-tart dynamic of raspberry and cherry. A little vanilla rounds this off, and the modest alcohol level means it’s pretty easy to enjoy a glass of this any time day or night.

With great balance and good acidity, this pick will go with a wide variety of foods. Anything grilled goes, from veggies to red meat. It also pairs well with sharp cheeses and chocolate.

Year: 2009
Price: $22

This one is quite a wonder—an easy-to-drink cab sauv. Throw in your jammy red and black fruits, add a touch of delicate spice to make the tannins noticeable, but palatable and you've got a winning combination, a perfect companion to a stew, braised meat, or a fancy-pants burger.

Year: n/a
Price: $18

Here we have not just any sparkling wine from Italy, but one of the best. A blend of wines from different years, this is pure refreshment: crisp, light, and just what a Prosecco is meant to be. Citrusy and nose-tingling, you can enjoy this as an afternoon delight or pair with pasta, lightly fried fish, or sushi. See that cheese plate over there? A match made in heaven.

Year: 2009
Price: $15

Not to be confused with a Muscat (which is made from a different grape), this is a French white wine from the Loire Valley. Citrusy with floral notes, this is a pretty light, almost tangy wine – unusual for this kind of wine, which helps make it such a standout.

This is another great match for seafood dishes. And hard-to-match items like exotic Asian salads or pickled vegetables.

Year: 2009
Price: $27

You’ll find all kinds of citrus flavors here – apricot? Check. Peach? Check. Toss in a bit of lime and honeydew, and you’re ready to enjoy this golden yellow treat. With a soft texture and medium finish, you can’t go wrong with this crisp, dry wine that remains rich and complex.

Fish, salads, or raw veggies work well with this one – not to mention, fondue. On top of that, you can say you’ve had a wine from Switzerland—who knew?

Year: 2009
Price: $10

Fruity, aromatic, and balanced, this is a Beaujoulais for non-Beaujoulais drinkers. This is one of those winners easy enough to enjoy on its own, and it’s also complex enough to hold up well with food.

Don’t like Beaujolais? This might be the time to try. Especially if you’ve got some goat cheese, and just about anything grilled, baked, roasted or poached. Hard not to come out a winner.