15th February 2023 | Top Drops | 6 minute read
The best value wine regions aren’t always as obscure as you might think. Sure, lesser-known regions generally offer good value for money, but some of the more famous wine-producing countries can give brilliant bang for your buck too. From Romania to Rioja, here are some of the best wine regions for maximum enjoyment at minimum cost.
We’ve chosen four of the best value wine-producing countries in the world right now.
Of course, there are many more regions than this across the globe that offer fantastic value for money, and you can find low cost versions of your favourite wine styles in numerous places (winemakers from up-and-coming regions, for instance, often look to famous appellations for inspiration, and regions that share a similar climate usually produce similar grape varieties). But the four grape-growing countries we’ve chosen to cover in this article are our pick of the bunch.
Unexplored and exciting, Romania is relatively new to the mainstream wine scene for the UK, and it’s grabbing all the headlines. Whether you’re looking up wine industry award winners, or reading a round-up of the most exciting wines to try this season in the papers, Romania pops up a lot.
The truth is, Romania isn’t a new wine region at all. In fact, it’s one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world. Its rich winemaking heritage dates back more than 6,000 years, but it’s only in recent years that Romanian wine regions have really started wowing wine drinkers. We think it’s a great time to explore Romanian wine, while its reputation continues to soar, but its prices remain low.
Romanian wines vary in style due to the diverse climatic conditions of the continental north and west versus the Mediterranean style of the east. Generally speaking, though, you’ll find very enjoyable wines with fruity, expressive palates, made from intriguing local grape varieties like Băbească Neagră and Fetească Regală.
With bright, eye-catching label artwork inspired by the Carpathian Mountains, the Curious Parallel range is a celebration of Romania’s ancient winemaking history and advantageous location on the 45th parallel north (the latitude that also runs through Bordeaux and Northern Rhône). Their two standout wines are the Curious Parallel Feteasca Neagra, which delights with sweet blackcurrant, warming spices and pleasingly plush tannins, and the extremely elegant Curious Parallel Feteasca Regala, enticing us with a symphony of stone fruit and floral notes.
For a long time now, Portugal has been firmly on the map for its flavoursome, robust wines. Its most famous export has always been rich, fortified reds like Port and Madeira, closely followed by characterful wines made from indigenous grapes like Touriga Nacional that set Portugal apart from its neighbours.
In fact, there are well over 250 native grape varieties dotted throughout Portugal’s wine regions, each with its own unique flavours and flair. And many of these lovely, local wines come with a modest price tag, too.
We all know that Portugal is synonymous with powerful, show-stopping reds, and they’re often a fraction of the price of rich reds produced in other European countries. So, for this reason, we’re going to highlight a Portuguese producer that’s making divine white wines at very affordable prices.
Quintas do Homem care passionately about provenance, crafting quality wines from indigenous grapes like Arinto, Loureiro and Fernão Pires. The Quintas do Homem Domum Vinho Verde is one of their high-end whites, offering a complex nose of melon, lime and grass, a super fresh, steely core to the palate, and exceptional value for money for the astute white wine drinker. Meanwhile, Ardido Vinho Verde DOC is sun-soaked Portuguese classic with bucketloads of modern panache.
One of the most exhilarating wine nations right now is South Africa, where breath-taking landscape creates beautiful wines in a variety of styles. It also happens to be home to some of the best value wine regions in the world.
Once a land of bulk wine production, South Africa has certainly come a long way in a short time. Over the last decade or so, wine lovers have been discovering the diversity of South African wine regions, from the bold, Port-style reds of Klein Karoo to the refined wines of the Cape South Coast. Best of all, the quality may have been elevated, but the pricing has not.
South African wines often take inspiration from the greats. For instance, you might find a clean and fresh Sauvignon Blanc to rival Marlborough, a smooth, Bourgogne-style Pinot Noir or an opulent, Bordeaux-style red. Basically, you can find a style to suit any taste thanks to the nation’s varied climate.
The Three Gables range represents everything the Swartland region has to offer. An area of craggy slopes and old vines basking in searing sunshine, Swartland allows winemakers to produce alluring, flavoursome wines like the Three Gables Dry Farm Swartland Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s full of ripe black fruit flavours and toasty nuances lifted by menthol notes, making it a great, low cost alternative to a classic Bordeaux. While the aromatic Three Gables Reserve Swartland Chenin Marsanne Grenache Blanc gives tangy lemon freshness followed by a delicious palate of baked apple and barley.
Home to iconic regions like Rioja, Spain may seem like it would be too expensive to make it into an article all about lower cost wines. With a winemaking heritage as ancient as France’s, Spain has all the viticultural experience of its neighbours, yet its prices are generally lower (Cava being an excellent example of this).
What you may not realise is that Spain is actually the world’s third biggest wine producer, with more area under vine throughout its wine regions than any other country. Once you know this key fact about Spain, you can see how it has a big enough output to be able to cater to different budgets.
Spanish wine is known for being highly-concentrated and full of personality. This is partly thanks to the arid climate and old vines that allow wines to develop deliciously intense flavours. Wine from Rioja, in particular, is revered the world over, offering top quality at reasonable prices.
Anyone who’s shopped with us for a while knows how much we adore Manzanos. Based in Rioja, the sixth-generation, family-run winery has built quite the reputation over the last century for their stylish wines that uphold tradition yet stay on top of modern trends and remain very accessible. The Finca Manzanos Seleccion de la Familia Rioja is a classic Rioja red that exudes complex flavours and class, while the Finca Manzanos Seleccion de la Familia Rioja Blanco wows with a sophisticated palate of grapefruit, honeysuckle and almond that you’d expect from a wine that’s twice the price.
It’s wines like these that demonstrate how even hugely prestigious winemaking areas can be more affordable than you might initially think.
