I'v never had a glass of wine that I liked. I wish I liked it...all my friends do.
There are a ton of options out there and it's difficult to give reccomendations based on "all wine" and not a particular varietal or even red vs. white. I'll provide a few economical options to get started for each from my personal experience.
White wines under $20, I'd recommend:
- Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay ($12-15, Trader Joe's)
- Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio ($19-20)
- St Supery Sauvignon Blanc ($9.99 Trader Joes / usually $19.99)
- Lockwood Chardonnay (got this at a Bevmo 5 cent sale, over delivered on price at $7 ea.)
- Rosenblum Chardonnay ($10-12)
Red wines under $20, I'd recommend:
- Spellbound Petite Sirah ($12-15)
- Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon - esp. 2007 ($18-20)
- Hess Collection Cabernet ($15-20)
- Columbia Crest wines from Washington are reliable ($10-15) also look for their H3 (Horse Heaven Hills) label for Cab and Merlot.
- Root 1: Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile ($10-13)
- Bodega Norton Malbec Barrel Select ($10-12)
- Newton Cabernet Red Label ($16-20)
Bargain hunting tips:
1) Look for wines that aren't from the most highly regarded regions for their variety. For example, Napa Cabernet Sauvignon's are often going to be more expensive ($30+), especially those rated well by the likes of Robert Parker ($50-150+). Take a look at undervalued & emerging wine regions such as Paso Robles, Monterey (California Central Coast), Sonoma Coast, Mendocino, Washington State, Chile, Argentina, etc. for great values. (France, Italy et al have theirs too - i.e. there are a lot of great Chianti's for under $20)
2) Expand beyond Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. There are good values there but I've been finding values more often in red blends, malbec, zinfandel, rhone blends (grenache, syrah, etc.), merlot, most white wine varieties, etc.
3) Find a smaller store that really curates their wines. This may be a Trader Joe's, Bristol Farms, small Von's store, Whole Foods, etc. These stores, especially in more affluent areas, tend to only stock wines their wine buyer felt over-delivered on price... so a $7-10 bottle of wine at Bristol Farms is much less likely to be a disappointment than a $7-10 bottle from a store that carries everything under the sun. (I should note: I can't speak for stores outside of California, it may be different out here from a wine buyer and consumer expectation perspective)
4) Don't be afraid to ask someone at the store for their advice.
5) Just try a lot of new wines, more often than not you'll at least find the wine drinkable and fairly enjoyable - just note what you like & don't like and it will eventually become more clear what to look for. It may not blow you away every time but in the $10-20 range you'll have success more often than not, especially in smaller stores that stand behind what they put on the shelves.