My Favourite Wines for £25 and Under

Here's an important topic. Drinking well without breaking the bank. That's important. And, to be honest, expensive wines aren't always worth it (some are though, more on that in a future blog post).

One thing that's great about natural winemakers is that many of them care about keeping their wines affordable, so that every one can drink them. In recent years, this has been changing a little bit, with some prices increasing, but many amazing, affordable wines still exist. 

So, so, here's a list of a few great wines under £25. 

Mont de Marie, Salve Ager 2022 - This is a Grenache/Cinsault blend from the South of France. Mont de Marie make really affordable wines which always deliver. This light red has the perfume and delicateness of Cinsault with some of the fruity punch of Grenache. Lovely.

Christian Binner, Alsace Saveurs 2022-2023 - Here is a truly affordable wine from one of the Alsace greats, Christian Binner. It's a blend of all the white Alsace grapes varieties (Gewurztraminer, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chasselas, Riesling, Sylvaner). Truly concentrated in flavour, it's got tons of flowery notes such as elderflower, but also ripe peaches. I really really like this wine, especially given how affordable it is for the quality.

Chateau Barouillet, Splash! 2023 - This pet nat's so iconic Andrew served magnums of it at his wedding. Chateau Barouillet is another domaine to keep an eye on if you want to drink well, affordably. They're in Bergerac, inland from Bordeaux, and make tons of great wine. This is a great, easy going pet nat. It's crisp, got green apples, slight herbaceousness. Bubbles are fun. Treat yourself!

Benoit Camus, Chateau Roulant 2021 - As the label suggests, Benoit Camus is a simple man. He lives in a caravan by his vineyards in the Beaujolais. He wants a very down to earth lifestyle. Make wine, be outside a lot, live simply. This means he makes outstanding wine, but that he doesn't need to charge a lot for it. This Beaujolais has a medium body, and has tons of fruit, both red and dark fruit. Cherries, blackberries, earthiness. I drink a bottle of this as often as I can. Delish.

Durrmann, Grizzling 2023 - So. Buying wine for its label is not always a good idea. But here, it is. Pet nat made from Riesling (that's pretty cool, right?) by an awesome winemaker called Yann Durrmann in Alsace. This is a good one to pick up if you're getting a spicy takeaway. It's got minerals, citrus. It's fresh, fizzy, refreshing. It works super well with Thai food, Chinese food, and other umami/spicy flavours. This winemaker is the best seller of the importers that bring it into the UK for a good reason. Click here for plenty of other great affordable stuff from them as well.

To finish off, we have two cuvées by iconic winemakers Gérald and Jocelyne Oustric, the winemakers behind domaine Le Mazel, in Ardèche. Many winemakers including very trendy Anders Frederik Steen buy grapes from them to make wine (a process called négoce), a true testament to the quality of the fruit they grow. I can't stress enough how amazing the 2023 vintage is tasting. Two red cuvées here.

Cuvée Briande 2023, made of 100% Grenache - complex, medium bodied, spicy but full of fresh dark fruits. Great with a barbecue, or a saucy tomato pasta.

The other one is Cuvée Paulou 2023 made of 100% Cinsault. This one's a lot more delicate, but still very concentrated in terms of fruit. The fruits are fresher, closer to red fruits, and the texture is more silky. Great on its own on the patio, or with a fresh starter, like a beef tartare, or a saucy garlicky shrimp. I can't stress enough how delicious these wines are. Truly recommend.

Happy drinking!