Holiday Entertaining: 10 Wines Under $20 (With Recipe Pairings!)

Christmas may be over, but the holiday celebration season is still going strong through New Year's Eve. If you're entertaining this New Year's Eve or perhaps attending a party, don't arrive empty handed! A bottle of wine makes a great gift and doesn't necessarily need to break the bank. If you're looking for an inexpensive bottle of wine, here are my picks for 10 that you can typically find for under $20. Many are available at your local grocery/liquor store or can be easily ordered online. I've also included some handy recipe pairing ideas as well.

Cheers!

1. LBD Cabernet Sauvignon - Little Black Dress aims to make wines that are "affordable, approachable, and delicious." Perfect, right? I'd recommend the Cab-- A rich oaky wine with notes of berry and vanilla.

Pair it with: Mushroom & Pancetta Flatbread

2. Charles & Charles Rose - A brightly acidic rose with fruity notes like watermelon and citrus and earthier notes like grass and wet stone.
Pair it with: Cherry, Prosciutto & Parmesan Crostini 

3. OneHope California Red Wine Blend - This red blend has bold fruitiness like black cherry and boysenberry, and notes of oak, black pepper, and black tea on the finish. Even better? Every bottle purchased "helps veterans continue their service through disaster relief."
Pair it with: Bacon-Wrapped Dates

4. Predator Old Vine Zinfandel - Smooth, spicy, almost a little smoky with notes of juicy berry.

Pair it with: Spicy Two Bean Bison Chili

5. Juve y Camps Pinot Noir Brut Rose - One of my favorite sparkling wines: This Pinot Noir Cava from Spain has notes of apple, strawberry, and almond with a nice creamy finish.

Pair it with: Pancetta Baked Scallops

6. Honig Sauvignon Blanc - One of my favorite wines from one of my favorite wineries in Napa: This Sauvignon Blanc is dry with notes of grapefruit and tropical fruits and lemongrass.

Pair it with: Prosciutto, Provolone & Basil Stuffed Chicken

7. Mark West Black Pinot Noir - This Pinot is smooth and a little more full bodied than its less expensive brother (Mark West Pinot Noir, minus the "Black"). You'll taste vanilla, mocha, caramel, and rich fruits like black cherry and plum.
Pair it with: Balsamic Fig Grilled Lamb Chops 

8. Adler Fels Chardonnay - Full bodied, fruit-forward with bright acidity-- it's not your average Chardonnay.

Pair it with: Pan Seared Salmon with Broccoli Slaw

9. The Show Malbec - This Argentinian red features dark fruit flavors with slight acidity, characteristic of wines from this region.
Pair it with: Slow Cooker Pot Roast Bolognese

10. 2 Lads Late Harvest Riesling - From my favorite northern Michigan winery, this Riesling has bright acidity and the late harvest means it is on the sweeter (but not syrupy) side.

Pair it with: Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash & Chipotle Soup



Editor's Note: Complimentary samples of Adler Fels and LBD wines were provided in order to facilitate this post. Thanks for supporting the brands that support A Squared!