10 Wines for Under $10 to Enjoy Outdoors | Wine Enthusiast
Wine bottle illustration Displaying 0 results for
Suggested Searches
Shop
Articles & Content
Ratings

10 Wines for Under $10 to Enjoy Outdoors

While it is not summer yet, the days are growing longer and warmer.  It is hard to beat the feeling of opening a fresh bottle of white, sparkling wine, or an easygoing red on a pleasantly warm spring or summer day. Well, unless that bottle was also under $10. Whether you’re packing for a day at the beach or just plan on relaxing on a warm evening in the backyard, here’s how to make the best for less.

White Wines

Spier_Bottle
Photo Courtesy of Spier

Spier 2016 Chenin Blanc (Western Cape); $8, 89 points. This highly aromatic wine starts off with bright aromas of white flowers, fynbos, pink apples and white peaches. The lightweight palate offers clean flavors of peach and melon, with zippy acidity and a brisk finish. It’s super tasty and easy to like, so enjoy now. Saranty Imports. Best Buy. —Lauren Buzzeo

Chateau Ste. Michelle 2015 Harvest Select Sweet Riesling (Columbia Valley); $9, 88 points. Aromas of honeysuckle and ripe peach lead to lightly spritzy medium-sweet stone-fruit flavors. It provides easy-drinking appeal. Best Buy. —Sean P. Sullivan

Veni Vidi Vici 2015 Chardonnay (Thracian Valley); $9, 85 points. This straw-colored Chardonnay has aromas of apple and citrus blossom with flavors of creamy apple, vanilla and citrus pith. It has nice weight on the palate with a clean acidic finish. Bulgarian Master Vintners. Best Buy. —Jeff Jenssen

Famiglia Cielo 2016 Pinot Grigio (Delle Venezie); $8, 85 points. This simple white opens with aromas of honeysuckle and pear while the easygoing palate offers hints of nectarine and green apple. Fresh acidity gives it a brisk finish. Drink soon. Best Buy. Vintage Imports, Inc. —Kerin O’Keefe

Sparkling Wines

Henkell NV Brut Sparkling (Germany); $9, 88 points. Hints of creamy yogurt meld into bright tropical swirls of mango, melon and tangerine in this fun, fizzy blend. It’s delicately effervescent with bristling lemonade acidity. Mionetto USA. Best Buy. —Anna Lee C. Iijima

Vicente Gandia NV Sandara Sparkling (Spain); $8, 86 points. For a fruity  wine, there’s nothing wrong with this. Aromas of ripe apple and lychee precede a palate with weight. Residual sugar causes lychee, lime and apple flavors to come across as sweet, while the finish is steady and avoids being cloying. Vicente Gandia USA. Best Buy. —Michael Schachner
Global Wines NV Encontro Q do E Rosé Bruto Classico Sparkling (Bairrada); $8, 86 points. Based on Touriga Nacional, this soft, yeasty, salmon-hued wine is light and fruity. Red berry flavors dominate the palate, with attractive crisp and clean acidity. It’s ready to drink. Best Buy. —Roger Voss
Lion-Gri 2015 Château d’Or Sparkling Rosé Muscat (Moldova); $9, 85 points. Pale pink in the glass, this sparkling rosé (which is made from Muscat) has aromas of lavender, red cherry and dried rose petals. There are flavors of sweet raspberry and cantaloupe that are topped off with a delicately sweet finish. Aidil Wines/Old World Import. Best Buy. —J.J.

Red Wines

Barone Cornacchia 2015 Casanova (Montepulciano d’Abruzzo); $9, 86 points. Made with organic grapes, this straightforward wine opens with plum aromas and a whiff of cinnamon. The round easygoing palate doles out black cherry and a hint of cake spice accompanied by mellow tannins. Frederick Wildman & Sons, Ltd. Best Buy. —K.O.
Georges Vigouroux 2015 Le Temps des Vendanges Malbec-Merlot (Comté Tolosan); $9, 85 points. This is an easygoing fruity wine. It has soft tannins and bright juicy red fruits. The structure is just right to give the wine its shape along with the acidity and generous aftertaste. Drink now. Grantham Distributing. Best Buy. —R.V.