My Favorite red wines for the everyday budget
Jean Ahn
Hello and happy 2024! Ready for a fresh new year and month! 👏
I have been meaning to share some of my favorite wines for a while and I am finally getting around to it. If you watch my IG stories, you can see that I love to enjoy wine every so often. While I am not an expert by any means, I do know a thing or two about wine thanks to a handful of trips to different wineries and even a visit to Napa!
Something about the winter time, I find that I enjoy red wines the most! They pair well with so many winter meals and being all cozy at home with a glass of red is the perfect type of evening. 😉
I’ve compiled a list of my favorite wines that I have tried over the years that are for the everyday budget! 🍷
Wine glass linked here
Here are my favorite red wines for the everyday budget:
Decoy red wine: I absolutely love all their wines especially their red blend! It is smooth, rich and fruity but not too fruity and pairs well with a nice steak or lamb!
La Crema Pinot Noir: Out of all the reds I love pinot noir the best because it is really smooth and earthy and isn’t too overbearing. La Crema is has the perfect balance of bitterness and frutiness in my opinion and is one of my regular go tos for pinot noir.
Ghost Hull Cabernet Sauvignon: Usually I find cabs too bitter but this one is a very smooth cab and tastes amazing. It has aromas of black cherry and plum, accentuated by notes of chocolate and baking spice. The palate is full-bodied with rich flavors of ripe black fruit and a hint of mocha at the finish. It pairs well with many beef dishes!
2018 Rosa Obscura red blend: Another great blend that is super smooth and has the perfect hint of sweetness. This makes a great dessert wine!
Calista Pinot Noir: This Pinot has aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry and baking spice followed by flavors of ripe cherry, raspberry and cranberry. It’s well-balanced and food-friendly, Calista’s supple tannins and bright red fruit profile pair well with roast turkey, grilled salmon, lamb chops and mushroom risotto.
Meiomi Pinot Noir: Another one of my favorite pinots, it carries aromas of tobacco, dark red fruits and fresh berries. The rich cherry flavor is met with notes of cedar, raspberry and strawberry. It pairs perfectly with beef, turkey and salmon dishes.
A to Z Pinot Noir: This Oregon pinot has notes of raspberries, hints of oak, lavender and balanced with the perfect amount of acidity.
Another detail I will note, the type of wine glass is crucial to the wine experience! While I love the convenience of a stemless wine glass, a long stem wine glass provides the optimal tasting as the temperature remains the same since the heat from your hands warms the wine and alters the taste and flavors. The long stem also helps you swirl the wine to help ‘invigorate aromas within your glass’ and a stemmed glass is much easier to swirl than a stemless glass. I like this one and this one.
What are some of your favorite red wines? Share below in the comments!
Cheers! Happy wine-ing! 🍷
