$2
The more you know about a graduate's plans for the future, the easier it is to come up with a cheap graduation gift. However, the suggestions below should work for most any grad and cost less than $25.
In this review:
Cheap Red Wines Buying Guide
Our wine expert compiled a long list of very good cheap red wines, all of which are mentioned on the following pages. From among this group we then chose a select few as our top picks. Our first choices are Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (starting at $10, Amazon
So what do you get for $10 or less? In a blind tasting, many wine drinkers would be able identify the difference between a cheap red wine and an ultra-premium bottle costing $25-plus. But it's often more difficult to tell the difference between a really good cheap red wine and a mid-level wine that sells for $10 to $20 or so. Indeed, experiments have shown that people's perceptions of a wine are influenced by the price; the higher the price, the more enjoyable they report the wine to be.
That said, we'd be remiss if we didn't note differences in taste between cheap and upmarket red wines. Expensive wines are usually made with meticulously selected grapes from carefully tended vines grown on high quality land. These grapes are often hand-picked, processed in small batches, and aged slowly -- often in expensive oak casks. High-end red wine demands 24/7 attention at critical times of the year, and the finished product is often more balanced and smoother tasting than cheaper wines, layered with flavors, and imbued with a pleasant, lingering "finish." Wines produced under these conditions are usually available in relatively small quantities; you won't find them at big-box outlets.
By contrast, mass-market producers typically buy surplus grapes, use centrifuges to skin them (a process that removes tannins and eliminates the need to age the wine naturally), sometimes use oak chips (or liquid smoke) to impart a hint of oak flavor. The resulting wines are usually released just days after bottling. Cheap red wines are produced all over the world, mostly with a blend of grape varieties, or rarely, one grape varietal. Cheap red wines range in color from deep purplish red to bright ruby red; in style from full-bodied to light, rustic to elegant; and in taste from fruity to spicy, earthy to tart, dry to sweet.
The vintage (the year in which the grapes are harvested) plays a huge role in the taste, and ultimately the success, of a wine. This is as true for cheap red wines as premium red wines, and a good year for grape growing increases the likelihood that a cheap wine will taste swell. But as you read through our list of best and good cheap red wines, you'll note that we often don't mention the vintage. That's because cheap red wines don't age as well as pricier wines and should be consumed within one to three years after bottling.
If you're serious about the wine-drinking experience, however, a few simple tips will enhance the taste of a cheap red wine: After buying the wine, let it "rest" for a day or so before opening. On the appointed day, open the bottle at least an hour before serving so it can "breathe" (removing the cork or cap is sufficient; alternatively, decant to aerate the wine). Store cheap red wine in a dark place at 55-60 degrees F and serve at 60-65 degrees F, but under no circumstances let the wine reach a temperature higher than 75 degrees F. And finally, use a vacuum pump and stopper to preserve the remains of an unfinished bottle for no more than a few days.
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Products Mentioned in This Review
Franzia MerlotCharles Shaw Cabernet
Dancing Bull Zinfandel
Mirassou Pinot Noir
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon
Melini Chianti Borghi d'Elsa
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