The Best for $12 or Less - Wine & Spirits Magazine

The Best for $12 or Less

from our August Issue


Heat waves and lockdowns? Reach for the glou-glou. These bottles have case-friendly prices, so there’s no need to be shy.

Out of 542 wines tasted by our panels for the August 2020 issue, these are the best bottles we found for $12 or under.


For $8

Quinta da Lixa

2019 VINHO VERDE ANJOS DE PORTUGAL

Green and clean, with flavors of lime and fresh pea shoots; for sautéed prawns with green olives.

Grape2Glass, Newark, NJ

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For $9

Ca’ del Sarto

2019 FRIULI PINOT GRIGIO

Inviting in its rich texture and tart apple fruit, this is an easy pour for summer barbecues.

Enotec Imports, Denver, CO

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For $10

Adega de Monção

2019 MONCAO E MELGACO ESCOLHA

A 50-50 blend of green-apple-scented alvarinho and floral trajadura; to chase down freshly shucked clams.

Aidil Wines & Liquors, Newark, NJ

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For $11

Quinta da Lixa

2019 VINHO VERDE ALVARINHO-LOUREIRO TRAJADURA

This is all about brisk green-pear flavor, with a scrub of acidity that keeps it bone dry.

Grape2Glass, Newark, NJ

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Chateau Ste. Michelle

2019 COLUMBIA VALLEY ROSÉ

Savory and bright, this offers fresh cherry fruit and a hint of scallion that will match cold sesame noodles.

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J. Lohr

2018 MONTEREY VALDIGUIE

A brisk, peppery red with blackberry flavor and lean, edgy tannins; full of nerve and character.

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Quinta das Arcas

2019 VINHO VERDE ARCA NOVA ROSÉ

Pack this along for dim sum, where its clean, fresh, crunchy red-berry flavors will cut through spicy lamb dumplings.

Wine Bridge Imports, Davis, CA

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For $12

Dio Fili

2019 SIATISTA XINOMAVRO ROSÉ

Pack this along for dim sum, where its clean, fresh, crunchy red-berry flavors will cut through spicy lamb dumplings

Wine Bridge Imports, Davis, CA

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Santa Carolina

2019 LEYDA VALLEY CAROLINA RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC

Luscious and oceanic in its briny notes, tart fruit and generous, juicy texture; for grilled oysters or branzino.

Carolina Wine Brands USA, Charleston, SC 

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Ktima Voyatzi

2019 MACEDONIA KYKLOS XINOMAVRO ROSÉ

A pretty rosé, from its carnation-pink hue to its floral scents and wild-strawberry flavor; refreshing with a fried-chicken picnic.

Celina Imports, NY

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Prisma

2019 CASABLANCA VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC

Pungent with passion fruit and lime flavors and silken in texture, this is bold enough for nut-crusted fish.

Brazos Wine Imports, Brooklyn, NY

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The Best for $12 or Less wines are the top picks for specific price points from all of the August 2020 tastings. After our editors made their selections, we offered wineries the opportunity to promote their recognition with a bottle image and link to their site.


This story appears in the print issue of August 2020.
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