By now, all that remains of holiday season are the few happy pounds you may have managed to acquire and a credit card bill clearly calculating your generosity and extravagance. The pinch is on.
You can give up cheese, swear off dessert and opt to stay in for the evening but I don’t recommend complete abstinence. A glass of wine shouldn’t destroy your diet or break the bank. Plus it’ll give you something to sip on while you plot your budget and health regime for the year.
To help you in your efforts, I hunted down the best values under $15. Equipped with a corkscrew (though barely necessary with all the screw caps these days), wine glass and spit bucket, I waded through the good, the bad and the ugly. Luckily the good ones always stand out. I was delighted by a few new finds and proud of the performance of some of my old favourites. (There’s a reason they’re staples.)
2014 Finca Los Primos, Torrontés • San Rafael, Argentina • $9.99
Floral and honeyed with perfectly ripe, fleshy apricot and a dash of ginger, the Primos Torrontés is crammed with pizzazz. Enjoy with a spicy (and healthy) vegetable stir-fry.
Casal Garcia • Vinho Verde DO, Portugal • $10.99
Often referred to as the quintessential summer sipper, Vinho Verde is indeed delightfully light and refreshing. But I can (and do) drink this spritzy wine year round. And it’s great with a light salad.
2014 Citra, Pecorino • Terre di Chieti IGP, Italy • $12.99
You might be familiar with Pecorino the cheese, but let me introduce you to Pecorino the grape. It’s currently one of Italy’s hottest whites. Fragrant wild fennel and pithy lemon zest make for a vivacious mouthful.
2014 Don Hugo, Tempranillo • Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain • $8.99
When your credit card bill is a real doozy, Don Hugo is here to help. Full of cheerful summer berries and the promise of carefree days in the not too distant future. What more do you want?
2014 Fresco, Sangiovese • Rubicone IGT, Italy • $9.99
Cinnamon stick leaps out of the glass followed by innocent red cherries. Simple but buoyant and very easy to drink. Thank you Italy for this perfect vino della casa. Keep a bottle on hand in case you do break down and order pizza.
2013 Porca de Murça • Douro DOC, Portugal • $12.99
Oh Portugal, I knew I could count on you. If this wine is not on your radar yet, check it out. A mouthful of liquorice, violets and black plum madness awaits. Needless to say, it consistently over-delivers for the price.
2013 Borsao, Garnacha • Campo de Borja DO, Spain • $13.29
A fruit-forward, Garnacha-based gem boasting raspberry, sweet herb and evocative strawberry with a whisper of baking spice on finish. Throw in some pork chops and you’ve got an affordable dinner.
2013 Undurraga, ‘Sibaris’ Pinot Noir Gran Reserva • Leyda Valley, Chile • $13.99
It’s tough to find a sub-$15 Pinot Noir that does justice to this noble grape, but Chile makes that possible. Here’s one from the cool Leyda Valley, a region to watch for clean, vibrant wines all around.
• All wines available at BC Liquor Stores. Prices are exclusive of taxes.
