Ever had one of those days where someone says something exasperating in your 10am meeting and you find yourself gazing off, already daydreaming about what wine you’re going to open to cope that night? If you said no, you’re either boring or lying 😉
There’s no denying that the work week can be stressful and that sometimes a glass of wine helps break up the monotony. While I think we can agree that weeknight wine is an indulgence we should all partake in, I think we can also all agree you might want to save that $50+ cab you’ve been aging for a more significant occasion than Monday night’s episode of the Bachelor. Drinking California wines doesn’t have to be crazy expensive (most of these will run you the price of a mediocre cocktail at a fancy bar in SF) and I’m here to share some of my favorite weeknight wines:
Noceto Sangiovese $20.99 on wine.com, $18.99 at Total Wine: There are some foods that I simply cannot and do not want to eat without wine. Pasta is one of those foods. Vino Noceto is a winery in Amador County that specializes in Italian varietals and I’ve found their Sangiovese to be budget and palate friendly.
Lord Sandwich Blanc, $20: I had a hard time with this one. Smith Story actually has 3 wines priced at $20 and I love all of them, but putting the other 2 would be cheating on keeping it California here since they’re both from Germany (that said, please do yourself a favor and buy both the Riesling and the Rose.) The Lord Sandwich Blanc is a table white blend that combines their Sauv Blanc and Chardonnay with a splash of Verdelho from another winery. It’s refreshing and goes down easy, perfect for porch pounding by day and pairing with reality TV by night.
Brea Pinot Noir, $22.99 on wine.com: Brea pinot is something I discovered on SF restaurant wine lists because it was usually one of the more affordable options. It’s a Central Coast pinot that definitely has some body to stand up to food, but this is not to say you can’t sip it on your couch when you come home and kick off your shoes.
Greenwood Ridge Dragon Red, $20: Every trip to Greenwood Ridge, my family leaves with at least half a case of this wine. It’s a Cab/Syrah blend that is super easy to drink. Pair this with pizza for date night in when work is too stressful for cooking.
Roederer Estate Brut, $17.99 at Costco: Who says you should limit bubbles to a special occasion or Sunday brunch? This Roederer brut is a staple for a lot of people I know and the low pricepoint means you can celebrate any occasion – whether that be an engagement or kicking butt on a presentation at work earlier that day.
Klinker Brick Albarino, $15: I easily buy a bottle of this every time I go to Lodi. It’s a VERY dry white, with apricot and almond notes that make it super easy to drink. Pair it with takeout (albarino is a great match for sushi, Thai or Vietnamese food) or do what I do and enjoy a glass in the bathtub.
Want more tips for finding affordable wine? Here are some of my go-tos for finding great wine bargains:
- Join the wine club! I have never actually paid more than $16 (usually less!) for a bottle of the Dragon Red I mentioned above because of my wine club discount.
- Try lesser known regions – Everyone knows Napa and Sonoma can get pricey, so have you tried Lodi, Anderson Valley and Amador County? They’re all less expensive than their famous counterparts and produce some really interesting takes on the same varietals.
- Go international – Spanish and Italian wines are generally more budget friendly. You can easily find some great options at your grocery store for $15 and under.
- Choose a white or rose – Red wine is generally speaking more expensive (though I’m sure Sonoma/Napa fans will agree it seems like every day Chardonnay is catching up.) Save your reds for a nice meal or a special occasion and treat yourself to a bottle of rose or sauv blanc.
- Pick a blend – Blends are not only a super fun way to be introduced to a winemaker’s passion, they’re often cheaper! Here’s an example: Quintessa, which makes some of the highest rated wines in Napa, sells their cab for $175 a bottle. They bottle a red blend under a different label called Leviathan and sell this for only $50…such a bargain and you’re literally drinking the same grapes as well as tasting what often become a winemaker’s fun side project.
How about you? What are your weeknight wine preferences? We have 4 days until Friday, so lots of opportunity to explore 🙂
