Good white wine can be cheap, and cheap white wine can be great. So, we rounded up the five best bottles for people with expensive taste on a budget — and we mean no more than $20 — according to expert reviews. Because after all, most of us can’t afford the super-pricey wines like a bottle of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet, which will set you back $5,000!

OK, pick your jaw up off the floor after reading that price and fear not. There are white wines under $20 that even sommeliers — you know, the wine experts — would love to sip. And if you’re reading this list, hoping to sip some high-quality, low-cost white wine, we’re willing to bet you’re an extrovert and a night owl. Why?

A survey of 2,000 Americans found stark differences in personality between people who prefer red wine and those who’d rather have a cold glass of white, with white wine connoisseurs more likely to consider themselves extroverts and night owls. They also tend to be perfectionists, like cats more than dogs, enjoy listening to jazz music, and are more likely to identify as curious and sarcastic individuals. And we’re curious to know if you agree? Let us know in the comments what you think.

Now that we’ve tried to guess your personality, are you ready for the list of bottles that won’t break the bank? Grab your cat, and check out our list below of the five best white wines that are $20 and under (all steals, according to wine experts!). You can read about the best red wines under $20 as well!

The List: Winning White Wines, $20 And Under, According To Experts

1. Decoy Sauvignon Blanc

“Netflix and Chill” has a new meaning, per Iowa Girl Eats. She enjoys drinking a chilled glass of Decoy while binging TV, writing, “Decoy Sauvignon Blanc is my go-to ‘I’ve had an insane day, haven’t sat down since 7 a.m., and need something to relax with while watching incredibly trashy television after the children are in bed’ wine. I don’t cook with this wine (and hate sharing!) because it’s just so good by the glass. I’ve told all my white wine-loving friends to try it!”

Adds Cheapism: “This is a rich style of sauvignon blanc from California. The flavors are focused on fruit, with notes of Meyer lemon, lemon curd, and stone. This juicy sauvignon blanc remains bright and tangy with a dry white finish after its generous fruitiness.”

2. Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc

This is a light white wine that’s also light on the wallet. Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc was one of 2022’s Decoded Wine Award winners by Dan Murphy’s in Australia. “A bouquet of intense and lifted tropical fruits and a very juicy and vibrant palate makes for a punchy and contemporary style of Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc,” the Dan Murphy’s review says.

This wine has the bonus of sustainability, according to WineO Mark: “It’s a sustainable wine made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes, bottled in lightweight recycled glass from New Zealand and stamped with labels made of renewable sugarcane.” 

3. Joseph Drouhin Macon-Villages Chardonnay, France

Taste of Home makes our mouth water with their description of this white wine, writing, “Burgundy on a budget? Yes, please! This is a lovely Chardonnay from the Macon region of southern Burgundy. It boasts plenty of green apple, lemon, white tree blossoms, almond, a hint of toast and vanilla notes.” 

It’s a modern marvel, according to Athens Banner-Herald: “Every time we drink this chardonnay from France’s massive Maconnais region we marvel at its value. Clean, pure fruit character, medium body, lean acidity and crisp apple and mineral flavors.” 

4. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 

This wine is a burst of fruity freshness, straight from New Zealand.

“A classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from the famed Marlborough region with telltale grapefruit aromas that pounce out of the glass and make a delicious second debut on the palate. Citrus-centered fruit wrapped around a tight core of refreshing acidity and a crisp, dry finish give this Sauvignon Blanc a versatile food pairing appeal that partners well with fresh oysters, summer salads, grilled shrimp and a variety of easy appetizers,” according to Best Wines Under 20.

 

WikiliQ also comments on the fruit flavors: “Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc White Wine is fresh and juicy with ripe, tropical flavors of passion fruit, melon, and stone fruit. Each sip of wine reveals classic Marlborough sauvignon blanc aromas of lifted citrus, tropical fruit, and crushed herbs, along with vibrant acidity and plenty of weight and length on the palate.” 

5. Château du Cleray Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie

The Baltimore Sun recommends this wine, with or without oysters: “The exquisite yeasty, mineral flavors of this Loire wine suggest a non-sparkling version of Bollinger champagne. With its full body and complex, toasty flavors, it’s a Muscadet that’s not just for sloshing down oysters. Drink this year.”

And Toronto Life highly suggests chilling out with a glass, writing, “Made from the melon de Bourgogne grape, this is a slim, tart-edged, mouth-watering white with slightly warmed green apple, grapefruit and mineral aromas. It’s light- to medium-bodied with fleshiness, a touch of spritz and a bitter, saline finish. 

What’s your favorite white wine under $20? Let us know in the comments below!

You may also be interested in our best vodkas or best craft beers.

Sources

• Iowa Girl Eats
• Cheapism
• Dan Murphy’s Decoded 2022 Wine Awards
• WineO Mark
• Taste of Home
• Athens Banner-Herald
• Best Wines Under 20
• WikiliQ
• The Baltimore Sun
• Toronto Life

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.