6 Red Wines Under $20 to Pair With Fall Festivities

As the days grow cold and the leaves begin to change, nothing is more warming than a glass of red wine. From now until the new year, there are all kinds of dishes and occasions where red wine matches the mood and pairs with the food. Whether you are planning virtual get-togethers, attending socially distanced dinner hangs, or just chilling with your pod, good, affordable red wine that’s easy to find is always a win-win — on or in between celebratory days.

I love sharing wine this time of year. The feeling I get from bringing a bottle or two of something fun and different, or solid and familiar, and seeing the smiles on peoples’ faces when they try it, is one of the reasons I got into the wine industry in the first place.

Nowadays, the selection of wines on the American market is more plentiful and varied than ever before — especially in the $20- and-under category. This is one of my favorite categories, as the complexity of wines at this price comes less from aging and more from the youthful, inherent aromas of the grapes they are made from. They are often juicier than aged wines and have aroma profiles that will please a crowd. And if oak is used, it’s more of a finishing touch than a long-term aging element. Given that these wines are best in the first five years or so after harvest, they’re all about the here and now.

I’ve compiled a list of six awesome red wines that are not too hard to find — which is great, especially if you need people to pick up on their own for a virtual event. These six bottles will pair with almost all the holiday food and please all the palates. You may recognize some, while others may be new, but all are fun and delicious. You can double up on each bottle and go for a 12-bottle case to have on hand, or you can always grab one or two that sound interesting.

Matané Primitivo Puglia IGT

Primitivo is what they call Zinfandel in Italy, specifically Pugila in southern Italy. Here, it’s lighter than its California counterpart with a more vibrant mouthfeel and great acidity worthy of a slight chill. I love this wine with Thanksgiving leftovers, like a cranberry sauce turkey sandwich on buttered and toasted day-old bread.

Read the Full Article

By Keith Beaver | VinePair.com