Around the World in 40 Wines: Taste of Garrigue

For most of 2020, we learned how exhausting it is to stay in one place. Now, our imaginations are alive with the possibilities of small summer gatherings.

To make al fresco gatherings easier, we’ve gathered a list of brands you can count on for good drinking at $20 or less. Each of them has outperformed the competition in our focus tastings over the last 12 months, with affordable wines gaining high accolades.

Here are 11 of our Value Brands of the Year, matched with a day-trip idea that we’ve been dreaming about, from our June 2021 Edition.

Start your world tour with the US leg here.

Mèze, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Scents of cedar, sage, rosemary, thyme, broom and other drought-hardy Mediterranean plants mix with the salt-water scents off the nearby Etang de Thau at Pépinière Filippi. A walk through these Mediterranean gardens is a master class in garrigue, a scent often found in southern French wines. —Tara Q. Thomas

Alma Cersius

France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Coteaux de Béziers

In August, with a plateau de fruits de mer, at a beach café.

2020 Coteaux de Béziers In Vino Erotico Blanc $15
2020 Coteaux de Béziers Gardian Chardonnay Sauvignon Vermentino $13
2020 Coteaux de Béziers Le Rosé $14

Wine Wine Situation, Signal Hill, CA

Domaine Paul Buisse

France | Loire

On deck, on a barge, cruising the Loire.

2019 Chinon Cabernet Franc $13
2019 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc $13

Cape Classics, NY

Alta Vista

Argentina | Mendoza

Around a roaring campfire, on a cold night, sharing malbec.

Kobrand, Purchase, NY

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2018 Mendoza Estate Malbec $20
2019 Mendoza Vive Malbec $12

Biokult

Austria | Burgenland

On the banks of the Danube, at a picnic, with organically raised schnitzel.

Natural Merchants, Grants Pass, OR

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2019 Burgenland Zweigelt Meets Pinot Noir $16
2020 Burgenland Naken White $20
2020 Burgenland Secco Rosé $20

Domaines Paul Mas

France | Languedoc-Roussillon

With lunch, on a sailboat, along the Côte Bleue.

2020 Pays d’Oc Vignes de Nicole Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre Rosé $20
2020 Pays d’Oc Vignes de Nicole Chardonnay-Viognier $20
2020 Pays d’Oc Mon Rosé $20

Volio Imports, Denver, CO

François Lurton

France | Languedoc-Roussillon

Al fresco, at dinner, in Tautavel.

2018 Côtes du Roussillon Mas d’en Janeil Le Traou de l’Ouille White $20
2018 Languedoc Domaine de Nizas Le Clos Rouge $17
2019 Languedoc Domaine de Nizas Grand Vin Blanc $17

Old Bridge Cellars, Napa, CA

Joseph Drouhin

France | Burgundy

At Cluny, in the courtyard, after vespers.

Dreyfus, Ashby & Co., NY

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2018 Bourgogne Laforêt Chardonnay $16
2018 Bourgogne Laforêt Pinot Noir $18
2019 Mâcon-Villages $18

Louis Jadot

France | Burgundy

On a wildflower walk, in Blagny, with a floral Burgundy.

Kobrand, Purchase, NY

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2019 Beaujolais $13
2019 Bourgogne Steel Chardonnay $19
2019 Coteaux Bourguignons Rosé $15

Montes

Chile | Colchagua

With oysters, grilled, on the beach in Zapallar.

Kobrand, Purchase, NY

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2019 Aconcagua Costa Classic Sauvignon Blanc $13
2017 Colchagua Valley Twins Red Blend $17

Saget La Perrière

France | Loire

At a lookout, in a Deux Chevaux, on the Breton coast.

Taub Family Selections, Boca Raton, FL

Buy this Wine

2018 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie Les Clissages D’Or $18
2019 Vin de France La Petite Perrière Pinot Noir $15
2020 Vin de France La Petite Perrière Sauvignon Blanc $14

Zuccardi

Argentina | Uco Valley

On a road trip, over the Andes, in view of Aconcagua.

Winesellers, Niles, IL

Buy this Wine

2019 Valle de Uco Q Malbec $20
2018 Valle de Uco Q Cabernet Franc $20
2019 Salta Serie A Torrontés $15

The wines in this newsletter were chosen by our editors, from the 2021 Value Brands of the Year in our June 2021 edition. After our editors made their selections, we offered wineries the opportunity to promote their recognition with a bottle image and brand links.