According to the Wine Market Council, since the year 2000, the high frequency wine drinker segment (those who drink wine several times a week or daily) has more than doubled – from 7.6% in 2000 to 13% in 2015. Perhaps not surprisingly, they also found that women accounted for 57% of wine volume in the U.S., while millennials drove the surge in high-frequency wine drinkers between 2005 and 2015, drinking 42% of the nation’s wine last year.
Regardless, wine consumption in the U.S. only continues to increase. So if you’re someone who enjoys a glass occasionally or frequently, here are some options to save the most money when you buy wine.
Ways to Save on Wine
Some of the best ways to save on wine include buying in bulk (see below), buying second labels and shopping online for wine. Some good options for buying wine online include Wine.com, invino and Last Bottle (it’s free to join the last two.) Also, white wine tends to be less expensive, so if you want to save a bit more, opt for white over red.
Super Cheap Wine
If you’re someone who just wants the cheapest wine there is, there are several options out there for a wine under $5 a bottle. At Trader Joe’s the popular ‘Two Buck Chuck,’ or Charles Shaw wine is just under $3 a bottle, sometimes as low as $1.99 a bottle. This wine comes in red and white varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot.
Aldi, Trader Joes’ sister company, also has a brand of wine called Winking Owl that you can find for as low as $2.98 per bottle, available in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Moscato, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and White Zinfandel.
However, in order to avoid those cheap wine headaches or if you’re sensitive to sulfites, the website WineFolly.com recommends wines made with organic grapes or choosing wines from Europe or U.S. wines.
Wines $10 and Under
The Spruce Eats has a list of 20 budget-friendly wines for $10 or below. Here are a few of their favorites:
- White: Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling (WA): $9, Broadbent Vinho Verde: $9, Beso de Vino Seleccion 2011: $8
- Red: Apothic Red Blend: $9, Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (CA): $9, Campo Viejo Rioja (Spain): $9
Wines $15 and Under
In a post for Thrillist, wine aficionado-turned-digital-media-mogul Gary Vaynerchuk shares his favorite options for wine under $15.
- Whites: 2012 Simi Chardonnay: $12, 2013 Bodegas Nieto Senetiner Torrontes Cafayate Valley: $12, 2014 Mapuche Sauvignon Blanc: $10
- Reds: 2010 Willunga 100 Shiraz/Viognier: $15, 2008 Macarico Aglianico del Vulture Macarico: $15
Wines $20 and Under
Fortune Magazine recently did a comparison of the best wines out there under $20 that are good enough to buy by the case. Here are a few of their favorites, but you’ll also want to check out the full list here.
- Rosé: Mulderbosch 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé Coastal Region: $14
- White: Santa Cristina 2014 Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie: $12, Hanna 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley: $19
- Red: Enrique Mendoza 2012 La Tremenda Monastrell Alicante: $12, Château Saint-Sulpice 2012 Bordeaux AOC: $15, Qupé 2012 Syrah Central Coast: $20
Bulk Options
If you’re an avid wine drinker and you really want to save the most per bottle, you might want to know that Costco is a great place to buy wine in bulk. But if you’re not a Costco member, even buying in bulk at grocery stores or wine retailers can save you up to 15%.
Some other options may be to check out online bulk wine retailers. But since wine is so specific to the brand and the tastes of the drinker, price matching for the kind of wine you like and taking into consideration whether you are a light or heavier wine drinker will definitely have an impact on the best place to buy your wine.
Where do you get the best deal on your favorite wine? Tell us in the comments!
