Do you haveĀ Champagne wishes and caviar dreams on the mind but you’reĀ living in aĀ Prosecco and pickled herring reality?Ā Everyone wants to hop on a private jet toĀ Napa or Tuscany, take a limo to private tastings, and hit up Michelin star restaurants before retiring in five star hotels. Want being the operative word. Thing is, these places are expensive! Luckily the cash strapped wine enthusiast has other options. Visit these wine regions on a budget.

Languedoc, France

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Why you should go: Ā Sure, you can probably list a half dozen more well known wine regions in France.Ā Compared to Bordeaux, Rhone, and Champagne, the Languedoc isĀ a relatively obscure but stunningly beautiful area, blanketed with Roman ruins, ancient monasteries, winding rivers, and of course, plenty of vineyards. Karen MacNeil, author of the prolific “Wine Bible” calls the Languedoc-Rouisson region “France’s best kept secret”.

The wines: They’re big on biodynamic and organic farming here, producing everything from sweet to dry, sparkling to to still, and even fortified wines. Red wine blends dominate production and are usually madeĀ using some combination of Grenache, Carignan, Syrah, Mourvedre. Expect full-bodied, ripe, fruit-driven reds, with big aromatics, low acidity and a backdrop of the famous herbal “garrique” quality.Ā If you like Rhone wines, you’ll dig stuff from here.Ā You can findĀ also plenty of refreshingĀ white wines, made from varieties like Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc and Muscat. Finally, we’d be doing you a disservice without mentioning one of the bestĀ values in sparkling wine – Cremant de Limoux.

Loire Valley

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Why you should go:Ā A notch up from the Languedoc but still below most of the other big French regions, LoireĀ is the former playground of kings and queens. Just a few hours south of Paris, this gorgeous region features high quality wines, fewer tourists, breathtakingĀ castles, and plenty of incredible dining options.

The wines:Ā The Loire Valley isn’t exactly an undiscovered region, but it is still hugely undervalued.Ā You’ll find a huge range of elegant and high quality wines here. Chenin Blanc in every style, from the sweet and age worthy SavenniĆØres to bone dry Vouvray. Of course there’s zippy, mineral laden Sancerre. Perfect-with-lunch Muscadet. Plenty of reds like Cab Franc, Pinot Noir, Malbec and Gamay that show a sense of purity and terroir, with lower alcohol levels. Like Limoux, CrĆ©mant de Loire offers another fantastic value bubbly.

Greece

Table above sea for two.

Why you should go:Ā The political and economic situation here isn’t ideal for residents. For tourists looking for a deal though, not so bad!Ā Spend your time visitingĀ spectacular white washed seaside towns in the Ionian islands, strolling on sandy (and often nude!) beaches of Cyclades, and touring ancient ruins of civilization in Athens and Crete. And drinking wine everywhere, of course.

The wines:Ā Assyrtiko is the big one, a lean, tropical edged white with zippy acidity. If pronunciation is not your strong suite, prepare to do a lot of random pointing at lists; the wines don’t get any easier to pronounce –Ā Moschofilero,Ā Malagousia,Ā Savatiano andĀ Agiorgitiko to name a few. Local restaurants often serve their own impossibly cheap but unbelievably drinkable house wine straight from the barrel. Then there’s “retsina“, an unusual white wine someĀ say tastes like turpentine thanks to its traditional use of pine resin to seal the barrels. It’s often served in a nondescript plastic bottle.Ā Try it once. You might like it.

Texas Hill Country

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Why you should go:Ā Texas is not allĀ big trucks, BBQs and rodeos.Ā In fact, Texas has 400+Ā wineries across eight established AVAs. Most of the wine is grown in the High Plains AVA, a dry climate sitting around 3-4000 feet elevation.

The wines:Ā Cabernet and Chardonnay are the most planted grapes, followed by Merlot, Syrah, and some Zinfandel, Sangiovese, and Viognier. Some Spanish varietals have taken hold here too – Albarino in the higher elevation and Tempranillo in the warmer, lower elevation vineyards. There’s even an American hybrid, Blanc du Bois, a white wineĀ made in both dry and sweet styles.

Okanagan Valley, B.C.

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Why you should go: Canadian wine doesn’t get as much love as it probably should, but a trip to the Okanagan Valley will change that perspective quickly. It’s quickly becoming a premier wine growing region and hosts some very serious wineries. It’s a little out there,Ā about 4-hours from Vancouver, but worth the drive.

The wines:Ā Wineries can be found up and down the banks of Okanagan and Osoyoos lakes. Long, hot 14-hour days in the summer and low rainfall along with various soil types and microclimates make an ideal place to grow wine grapes. Merlot is the most planted variety, along with Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. There’s also a fair amount of Syrah along with other Bordeaux varietals like Malbec, Cabernet, and Cab Franc.

Puglia, Italy

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Why you should go:Ā Most tourists head to Italy’s premier wine destinations – Piedmont, Tuscany, or Veneto. All great places. Everything’s more expensive there – the rooms, the food, the wine.Ā For more of a low country feel head south toĀ Puglia, on the heel of the country.Ā Way fewer tourists, dirt cheap hotels/Airbnb, excellent food and of course plenty of wine. This is where Italians go on vacation to escape the tourists in their home towns.

The wines:Ā Wine Folly called Puglia “Italy’s secret to value“. It’s in the southernĀ part of Italy, so the climate is warmer and the region is definitely rustic. Expect to find someĀ big, bold reds like Nero D’Avola and earthy/perfumedĀ Negroamaro. The latter is often blended with Malvasia Nera, Sangiovese and Montepulciano. Bombino Nero is another lesser known grape often used to make rose.

Portugal

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Why you should go:Ā Super affordable compared to the rest of Europe. Great food, and a long history of making wine.

The wines:Ā For the highest quality you’ll want to look for DOC wines. Among the most well known options are Port, obviously, found in the Douro Valley. There’s good Alicante and Vinho Verde, a fresh, zesty, and sometimes slightly carbonated white wine that’s pairs nicely with kicking back and soaking in the sun. Wines from theĀ DĆ£o region seem to age well. If you see a wine called Jaen, that’s the same as Spain’s Mencia – think fuller bodied pinot meets Zinfandel.

Loudoun, VA

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Why you should go:Ā Also known as “DC’s wine country”, this region is coming into its own and produces a range of wine from sparkling and sweet to traditional Bordeaux styled red and crisp whites. History buffs and wine lovers dreams collide in Virginia. Just south of Loudoun county you’ll find Monticello, whereĀ Thomas Jefferson, our forefather of wine, laid his vision.

The wines: You’ll find a lot of Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot here. There’s also a strong emphasis on Vidal Blanc and Viognier.

Mendocino, CA

Morning on a California Pinot Noir Vineyard, Mendocino County

Morning on a California Pinot Noir Vineyard, Mendocino County

Why you should go: This is where Willie Nelson would make wine.Ā Napa and Sonoma attract all the tourists, but just 90 miles north you’ll find great terroir and some good ol’ boys making good ol’ wines.Ā Also good if you want to take advantage of California’s new legalization of marijuana.

The wines: Bordeaux varietals like Merlot, Cab Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are popular here. Whites include Chardonnay, Riesling and Viognier.

Mexico

The Valle de Guadalupe produces some powerful red wines.

Why you should go:Ā You probably think more tequila than wine, but Mexico has some pretty great wines believe it or not. If you live on the West coast, it’s cheap and accessible to get there, and you can always take a detour from wine country to Cabo or Puerto Vallarta to dip your toes in the sand and sip on cocktails.

The wines:Ā Wines have been growing here since the 16th century and represent a melange of French, Spanish and Italian varietals. They’re a little adventurous here, often making unconventional blends using something like Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, and Barbera. Valle de Guadalupe is the most established region, sometimes called the “Napa Valley of Mexico”. SituatedĀ just south of California on the Baja peninsula, this region hosts 150+ wineries, mostly small production and has a Mediterranean influenced climate ideal for wine growing.

Of course, this is no end-all, authoritative list of the absolute cheapest wine regions, so if you have a suggestion please leave it in the comments below!

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