Column: Seven holiday wines under $50

With the holiday season upon us, many people ask me about wine gifting recommendations. 

I will concentrate on great gift wines under $50 in this column. My next column will focus on wines over $100. 

Villa Antinori 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva ($42.99 reduced to $38.99)

Antinori is one of the most famous Tuscany wine producers and this wine has quality that exceeds its price. The wine is predominantly produced with Sangiovese grapes and spends a minimum of two years in oak and another three months in bottle.

You will get cherries with violets and tobacco with dark chocolate on the aftertaste. This wine has a 93-point Wine Spectator rating and will drink well for more than 15 years

Wente 2023 Morning Fog Chardonnay ($22.99)

I find it very difficult to find affordable California Chardonnays that are not over-oaked.  This wine is aged 50 per cent in neutral oak, 50 per cent in stainless steel and is a blend of 95-per-cent Chardonnay and five-per-cent Gewurztraminer grapes.

The Gewurztraminer gives the wine a bit more sweetness and aroma.  Only 1000 cases of this wine were produced and it has a 91-point Wine Spectator rating

The Prisoner Wine Company 2022 Unshackled Cabernet Sauvignon ($35.99)

If you like full-bodied, fruity wines, this wine is perfect for you.

This wine is very balanced with black plums, blackberries, raspberries and cassis. It is a pop and open-wine that will give you instant enjoyment. 

When you purchase a bottle of Unshackled, you will get a complimentary cylindrical sleeve that looks like a spray paint can with artwork created by Canadian street artist Ben Johnston. (While quantities last and in select locations during the holiday season.)

Nk’Mip Cellars 2020 Qwam Qwmt Syrah ($42.99, available on the winery website)

Nk’Mip is the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America and in my opinion, they produce one of the best B.C. Syrahs.

Their Qwam Qwmt line represents premium wines in their portfolio. You will get blueberry, spice, violets and pepper notes on the palate. If you order their wines online, you will get Four Food Chief ornaments as a complementary gift, while quantities last.

Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars 2002 Pinot Noir Reserve Cuvee ($44.99)

Blue Mountain is especially known for its Pinot Noir wines.

The grapes used to produce this wine come from three key Pinot Noir vineyards of the winery. You will get cherry and strawberry aromas and tastes with clay, minerality and spice on the aftertaste.

Torbreck 2021 Woodcutter’s Shiraz ($39.99 reduced to $34.99)

Torbreck is a quality Australian producer and Woodcutter’s is one of their entry labels.

It is a wine that you would imagine a high-country Scottish woodcutter might like at the day's end. 

It will have red cherry, raspberry coulis, blueberry, wild blackberry and blackcurrant flavours with spicy notes. I recently had the 2017 vintage and this wine ages very well.

Astrolabe 2023 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($26.99)

For those who have noticed that Cloud Bay Sauvignon Blanc is now over $40 per bottle, here is a more affordable New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc which provides even better value.

Astrolabe is a family-owned winery founded in 1996. You will get lemon grass, lime and passionfruit aromas with white peach, tropical fruits and citrus flavours, and a dry minerally finish

Hope these recommendations help you with your holiday wine needs.  Until next time, happy drinking!

Tony Kwan is a Richmond News columnist. Lawyer by day, and a food and wine lover by night. Kwan is an epicurean who writes about wine, food and enjoying all that life has to offer. 

Got an opinion on this story or any others in Richmond? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected]. To stay updated on Richmond news, sign up for our daily headline newsletter. Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.