By: Claire Addision- Wine & Beer manager Beverage Superstore, Grayson
Most of us have busy schedules in the fall. Kids are back in school, the vacation time is over and it’s back to the grind. With all the stress of settling back into a fall schedule of late meetings and soccer practice, we need a wine that will be available, interesting, pair-able, and stress-free. Most of us also have to be budget conscious, meaning that wines under $15 are the way to go. But how to choose? Do you look at the label? The score from some website or publication that you’ve never heard of? Which varietal to go for? White? Red? Bubbles? I’ve taken the liberty of listing out three wines that you must try. These wines might not be household names, but they are tried and true wines that have proven to be as comfortable as your couch at the end of a long, hard day.
Charles & Charles Rose $10.99
From the wonderful Columbia Valley in Washington State, the well-known Charles Smith has done it again. A fantastic rose that surprises even the harshest critics with a wine that is refreshing with aromas of watermelon and citrus that follow through on the palate. A crisp, enticing wine that could be dubbed a “patio pounder” for
the approachability of the wine.
Clayhouse Cabernet Sauvignon $13.99
Paso Robles is probably one of the hottest wine regions of California right now. Their great climate and soil content make for amazingly complex wines at a fantastic value. This cabernet is complex, light on tannins, but still has the ability to pair with spaghetti or pizza nights. Rich in color, a lot of dark fruit and hints of cedar and vanilla show through and accent the richness of this wine that over delivers for the price. This is a wine you’ll want to have around all the time.
19 Crimes Red Blend $9.99
Australian wines sometimes get a bad reputation for being mild and unimpressive. This wine will definitely change your mind! The wine has a great intensity with bright hues of dark berry fruits and strong vanilla aromas that are followed with chocolate and cedar. As an added bonus, each cork is marked with one of the 19 crimes that would’ve gotten you deported to Austrailia. Collect all 19!
