24 Top Wines for $10 or Less

Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good. In blind tastings, people often prefer mid-priced wines to stuffy, hard-to-appreciate premium-priced wines. Certainly spending a lot of money on a bottle does not guarantee you will enjoy it -- and that's the most important part, regardless of price. With so many new labels and so much information about wine, it can be overwhelming to navigate the shelves, especially when looking for good value. Cheapism.com has rounded up a dozen white wines and a dozen red wines for $10 or less that have earned the approval of professional and consumer reviewers in tastings across the country. Prices and distribution vary, so not all the wines are available everywhere at these prices, but you're sure to find at least a few recommended bottles at a local shop.

Est. Price: $10
This delicious expression of chardonnay comes from South Africa. The rich, rounded wine is dry yet full of ripe citrus flavors. Tasters pick up faintly floral aromas, and a touch of oak enhances chardonnay's naturally buttery quality without overwhelming the fruit.

Est. Price: $9
A great value in California pinot grigio, non-vintage Bandit Pinot Grigio comes in a 1-liter Tetra Pak -- larger than the usual 750 ml bottle. In other words, buyers get more wine for the money. This simple wine is clean and crisp, with a hint of fruity tartness.

Est. Price: $10
A top-selling favorite in Spain, this white is made from the same grapes as cava, the country’s premier sparkling wine. Sporting a slight effervescence and a balanced and earthy flavor profile, it merges citrus flavors with fresh herbs to produce a perfect accompaniment to fish and other seafood.

Est. Price: $7
This semisweet riesling from California is juicy, with stone-fruit flavors that start sweet and end crisp and dry. Pair it with pan-Asian takeout for a perfect food match.

Est. Price: $10
The value-driven South African brand behind this wine does not disappoint. The Indaba Chenin Blanc is dry yet floral, and features flavors such as lemon, apricot, and cardamom.

Est. Price: $9
This clean, crisp Chilean wine features flavors of young grass, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits. Ideal as an aperitif, it’s lovely for cocktail hour but has enough fruitiness to enjoy alongside a full meal.

Est. Price: $9
This sauvignon-blanc-based wine comes from Gascony in southwest France. The inclusion of gros manseng, a local grape variety, adds layers of tart citrus fruit, herbal flavor, and a somewhat chalky texture with a clean finish.

Est. Price: $10
This mouthwatering Portuguese wine is bright and fresh with a slightly bubbly mouth feel. It’s been cited as an ideal summer wine, a nod to the light body and aromas of lime and pink grapefruit.

Est. Price: $6
Light and fairly simple, this domestic wine retains an earthy and herbal character that unmistakably smacks of the namesake grape. Use it as an all-purpose white for parties to please a variety of different palates.

Est. Price: $10
This white wine from Rías Baixas, Spain, serves as an excellent introduction to albariño and an appealing alternative to the usual suspects. It's full of peach and lemon flavors with undertones of herbs -- a good, approachable everyday wine.

Est. Price: $9
This non-vintage blend of grenache, malvasia bianca, and orange muscat yields a dry wine that's pleasant and fruity. Exuding floral aromas and sweet citrus flavors, it can stand on its own or accompany salads, fish, and poultry.

Est. Price: $8
This wine from Gascony, France, is a charming blend of ugni blanc and colombard, two grapes often used in the production of sparkling wine. With flavors of lemon and green apple, this crisp wine drinks like a sauvignon blanc.

Est. Price: $10
This California wine is a delicious, powerful red that tastes of blackberries, black cherries, and spicy tobacco. A firm tannic structure makes this wine an ideal match for grilled meats and perfectly cooked steaks.

Est. Price: $9
From Mendoza, Argentina comes a consistently low-priced and delicious malbec. Rich, layered flavors of plum, black fruits, and sweet spices create a warming effect with each sip.

Est. Price: $8
This true expression of California merlot is soft, fruity, and easy to enjoy. Beneath the fruit are hints of smoky tobacco and background notes of black pepper.

Est. Price: $9
This silky-smooth Spanish wine has undertones of hearty herbs and spice aromas through and through. Pair it with lamb, grilled meats, and dark green veggies to bring out the raspberry notes.

Est. Price: $10
One of the best values on the market, this big red comes from California. The bold flavors, including cooked red fruit and jam, give way to a raspberry finish that's slightly bitter (in a good way).

Est. Price: $9.50
This inexpensive French wine exemplifies the terroir of Bordeaux, the world-famous region known for high-priced wine. It offers hints of soft spice and smooth blackberry, plum, and currant flavors. This all-purpose red can be enjoyed on its own or served with meaty dishes ranging from burgers to filet mignon.

Est. Price: $10
"CMS" refers to the blend of cabernet, merlot, and syrah that makes up this wine from the Columbia Valley in Washington. It's a full-bodied, easy-drinking red wine with a soft texture and flavors of blackberries and pepper spice. Pair this one with grilled meat or a cheese plate.

Est. Price: $8
This very pretty French wine results from a blend of carignan, grenache, cinsault, and syrah. It has a light body, with delicate floral and mineral notes, and tastes of strawberries and red raspberries. It goes down very easy; large-format magnum bottles sell for just a few dollars more.

Est. Price: $8
This Spanish red is earthy, rich, and full of spicy red fruit that works in a variety of settings, from Thanksgiving dinner to casual happy hour drinks. The grapes are grown organically, using ladybugs in place of chemicals to control vine pests.

Est. Price: $10
Petite sirah is a variety of grape that makes intense wines with a deep concentration of ripe plums and berry flavors along with considerable spice. This California version does not disappoint, offering all the typical flavors in an inexpensive bottle.

Est. Price: $10
This all-purpose, medium-bodied red is made with sustainably grown grapes from Chile. The flavors are light and typical of the variety, offering hints of cherries and red berries. This wine works especially well chilled, in warm weather or with spicy foods.

Est. Price: $9
This inexpensive malbec from Mendoza, Argentina, hits all the marks for a traditional South American malbec, with its bold fruit and rich, spice-laden body. The slightly leathery mouth feel is a counterpart to the juicy fruit, creating an exciting profile of flavors and textures in every sip.