My dad was in the liquor business for 50 years so I should have a well developed wine palate–but no! I am usually happier with a $5 a bottle White Zin than a $300 bottle of ANYTHING! That being the case, just know that success of the dinner party is not dependent upon the cost of the wine! I’ve evolved in my wine tastes from light whites with sort of a hint of Kool-Aid to something a little more grown up–and I’m sampling a lot more reds. However, no matter what your wine palate, I think you can do a lot better than ten bucks a glass!
Everyone loves to have people that they care about join them for a meal.Whether you are inviting your parents and siblings over to visit you in your new apartment or home, or you are throwing a themed dinner party for people from your new job, there are many reasons to have a meal with the people that you know and love. Eating and drinking together is a great way to learn more about people in a relaxed setting. If you love to drink wine with your meals but can’t afford to buy the best Merlot and Chardonnays by the case, there are some places to look for the best cheap wine.
First of all, despite what you more elite wine drinking friends have told you, drinking cheap wine does not mean you are drinking bad wine. Someone once told me that “good wine is the wine that tastes good to you” and the truth of that is very clear. Who cares if you are offered a thirty year old Cabernet if you hate the taste and don’t want to drink it? Don’t worry about the fact that some wines, like White Zinfandels have developed a reputation as wines for people who really wish they had a cocktail. The best cheap wine is the kind that saves you money and tastes great with what you’re eating.
If you’re at a loss as to where to find the best cheap wine, you need to start at your local wine or liquor store. Many states require that wine be sold alongside hard alcohol in separate liquor stores, while others will allow it to be sold in grocery and convenient stores. No matter where you buy your adult beverages, there bound to be a section of affordable wines. Look on the lower shelves and at the end of the aisles, as they usually try to put the more expensive wines at eye level where more people will see and select them.
Another place that you can look for the best cheap wine is right here on the internet! There are a lot of wholesale and discount wine retailers that will offer deals on cases, or better prices on single bottles simple because their overhead is lower without a store front. You will have to make sure that you live in a state where it is legal to ship wine through the mail, however.
Here are a few stores where you can snag a deal!
- World Market
- Trader Joe’s – this is where you can find “Two Buck Chuck” by Charles Shaw (read the story behind it here)
- Costco
- Wine.com
- My Wines Direct
- The Wine Web
- Sam’s Club
Remember…drink sensibly and be safe!
