Seeking wines on the cheap? Brands you can afford and find from Modesto columnist

When I started writing Wine Line in 2007, I wanted it to be a consumer friendly approach to wine. I continue in that quest. Wine should not be complicated. Find a wine that you like, one that you can afford and enjoy it. That’s it!

Here are four wine brands in the $8-$12 price range I’ve been buying for many years. They are consistent, readily available and a good value. Two Valley wineries I look for are Bogle Vineyards and McManis Family Vineyards. Two Washington wineries I look for are Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest. Here are three more wineries that are relatively new that I have added to my good deal wine list. They are SEAGLASS, Dark Horse and the Sand Point Family Vineyards. They are often sale priced under $10, which makes them hard to beat,

If you think your daily wine should be less, maybe in the $5-$7 range, try Barefoot, Fetzer or the Moon Series wines from Trader Joe’s. Also, consider a box wine. The sale price is $16, that’s just $4 a bottle. It’s easy to store and stays fresh for four weeks. Another good source for daily wines is Costco’s Kirkland Signature Series. It’s difficult to pass up the Italian Pinot Grigio ($4.99), the New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($5.99), the Malbec from Argentina ($6.99), the Sonoma County Chardonnay ($6.99) or the Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($9.99). I must confess, these wines are never on the list the Navigator gives me. When I get home, before I empty the car, I bring in a bouquet and a bottle of Kirkland’s French Champagne ($19.99), and well, all is well.

Award-winning Pinot Noirs

Finding a reasonably priced Pinot Noir is a challenge. A lightly chilled pinot is perfect for most summer meals. Finding a daily pinot (read inexpensive) is difficult. Here are gold medal winning pinots that you should be able to find in your local market and priced under $14. They are: Sand Point Family Vineyards 2019, Line 39 2019, Unruly 2019, Menage A Trois Luscious 2018, Castle Rock CA Cuvee 2019, Bogle 2019, SEAGLASS 2020 and Barefoot NV.

What’s on our table

The 2020 Castano Monastrell from Spain is an Eric Solomon selection, which was all I needed to know. Solomon is a well-respected expert on Iberian wines. Grocery Outlet’s price of $4.99 was also a factor. I wasn’t disappointed. The 2020 Dark Horse California Sauvignon Blanc was voted the Best Value Wine in the 2022 California State Fair. It’s readily available in all supermarkets and with the buy-six discounts, it’s under $9. It’s a great pick. Well done Judges. Cheers!

Questions? Comments? Find me on Facebook or at rgwinton@yahoo.com.