Best $15-and-Under White Wines

Wines $10-and-Under

2010 Aveleda Fonte Vinho Verde ($8)

A blend of Trajadura, Loureiro, Arinto and Azal Branco grapes, this is bracing, with citrus and green apple notes.

2010 Lindeman’s Bin 90 Moscato ($8)

A light-bodied, slightly sweet white brimming with fragrant lime zest and orange blossom tones.

2010 La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Luberon ($9)

From Rhône’s southernmost zone, this is fresh and peachy.

2010 Elsa Bianchi Torrontés ($9)

Orange blossom and minerals mark this delicious white from one of the coolest areas in Mendoza’s San Rafael subregion.

2010 Marqués de Cáceres White Rioja ($10)

Stainless steel fermentation keeps this white Rioja’s citrus flavors fresh and vibrant.

2010 Aveleda Follies Alvarinho-Loureiro ($10)

Loaded with bright, zippy lemon and green pear flavors, this refreshing white is a terrific value.

2010 Indaba Chenin Blanc ($10)

Lemon-lime and herb flavors mark this refreshing white.

2010 Le Jaja de Jau Sauvignon Blanc ($10)

Tart and refreshing, with lime and grapefruit flavors.

2010 Fontana Candida Frascati ($10)

Fresh and fragrant, with citrus, peach and floral flavors.

2010 Salneval Albariño ($10)

An ideal summer sipper, this Albariño features light, zesty green apple notes and a salty kick.

2010 Luis Pato Maria Gomes White Beiras ($10)

Fragrant pear and nectarine flavors have a mineral-rich finish in this blend of Maria Gomes and Arinto grapes.

NV Segura Viudas Brut Reserva ($10)

This low-priced gem is packed with green apple and citrus.

Wines Under $15

2009 Hogue Riesling ($11)

Citrus and peach flavors mark this lovely off-dry bargain.

2010 Santa Carolina Reserva Chardonnay ($11)

The Casablanca Valley’s cooler climate imparts a nice vibrancy to ripe apricot and peach flavors.

2009 Maculan Pino & Toi ($11)

A peachy, floral blend of Tai (formerly known as Tocai), Pinot Bianco and Pinot Grigio at a super price.

2010 Yalumba The Y Series Viognier ($12)

Lemon, lychee and apricot flavors shine in this exotic white.

2010 Santa Rita Reserva Sauvignon Blanc ($12)

Consistently an amazing value, this Sauvignon Blanc is loaded with fragrant lime, herb and tropical flavors.

2010 Veramonte Reserva Sauvignon Blanc ($12)

Bold tropical aromas are followed by lime flavors.

2010 Mas Carlot Costières de Nîmes Tradition Costières de Nîmes ($12)

An easy-drinking blend of Grenache and Syrah with a mix of vibrant red-fruit flavors.

2009 Dancing Bull Chardonnay ($12)

An appealing everyday Chardonnay with ample yellow apple flavors that have just a hint of sweetness.

2009 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc ($12)

Made with grapes from a vineyard located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, this features lively citrus tones.

2009 Edna Valley Vineyard Paragon Chardonnay ($12)

A great everyday white, bursting with refreshing green apple and citrus notes.

2009 Geyser Peak Winery Sauvignon Blanc ($12)

This zesty, always delicious white offers exuberant lime, sweet melon and grass flavors.

2009 A to Z Pinot Gris ($12)

A great value, with bright apple and lime on the palate.

2009 Acrobat Pinot Gris ($12)

A great value; full of satiny quince, nut and apple flavors.

2009 Columbia Winery Cellarmaster’s Riesling ($12)

This white’s robust peach flavors are deliciously juicy and made vivid by bright acidity.

2010 Trumpeter Torrontés ($12)

Aromatic lime zest is up front in this vibrant white.

2008 Barossa Valley Estate E Minor Chardonnay ($13)

Stuart Bourne makes this Chardonnay, which shows nice balance between its oak influence and lemony acidity.

2010 Valentín Bianchi Sauvignon Blanc ($13)

This first-vintage wine is full of mineral and lime flavors.

2009 François Chidaine Sauvignon Touraine ($13)

Biodynamically farmed vines yielded this tangy, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc with a smooth texture and notes of herb.

2010 Little James’ Basket Press Vin de Pays d’Oc ($13)

This unusual, crisply delicious blend of lush, tropical Viognier and zesty Sauvignon Blanc comes at a compellingly low price.

2010 Mas Carlot Clairette de Bellegarde Clairette de Bellegarde ($13)

Thanks to very old vines, the humble Clairette grape yields this pleasant white with silky stone-fruit flavors.

2009 Allegrini Soave ($13)

Citrusy and refreshing, this Soave boasts a round texture and loads of minerals on the finish.

2009 Alamos Chardonnay ($13)

Oak aging adds a vanilla note to tangy citrus and pear flavors.

2010 Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc ($13)

Zippy and refreshing, with savory lime and grass flavors.

2010 Paul Cluver Gewürztraminer ($13)

Superaromatic, this expressive wine shows a lovely purity and a hint of sweetness in its vivacious fig and floral notes.

2009 Tasca d’Almerita Regaleali Bianco ($14)

Almerita’s Regaleali estate turns out this fresh, floral-edged blend of three native grapes.

2009 Pierre Sparr Réserve Pinot Blanc ($14)

Fresh apple and pear notes mark this food-friendly wine.

2009 Bonterra Riesling ($14)

Tangy and fresh, with subtly sweet apple and citrus notes.

2009 Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc ($14)

Bursting with intense zesty lime and green apple flavors.

2009 Domaine Weinbach Sylvaner Réserve ($14)

Sylvaners are often bland, yet this slightly sweet apricot-infused example has lots of personality.

2009 Luneau-Papin Pierre de la Grange Vieilles Vignes Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie ($14)

A fabulous bargain, this fresh, captivating wine is made with grapes from old vines.

2009 Bodegas Nekeas Vega Sindoa Chardonnay ($14)

Silky baked pear and stone fruit mark this great-value white.

2009 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay ($14)

Straightforward citrus flavors are rich yet focused in this tasty KJ white.

2009 Cousiño-Macul Sauvignon Gris ($14)

Lemon-lime flavors reveal a pleasant trace of sweetness.

2010 Viu Manent Secreto Sauvignon Blanc ($14)

Marked by vivacious passion fruit and grapefruit.

2010 Backsberg Kosher Chardonnay ($14)

A refreshing unoaked white full of apricot and lemon flavors.

NV Mionetto Brut ($14)

Crisp and bright, with zippy lemon and apple accents.

$15 Wines

2007 Trimbach Pinot Blanc ($15)

The addition of some Auxerrois contributes a bit of fruitiness to this racy, citrusy Pinot Blanc.

2009 Villa Matilde Rocca dei Leoni Falanghina ($15)

This well-priced wine bursts with white peach and citrus notes.

2010 CVNE Monopole Blanc Rioja Alta ($15)

Zippy acidity and ripe melon and citrus notes make this a textbook introduction to the Viura grape.

2010 Domaine Skouras Moscofilero ($15)

An expressive honeysuckle nose and zesty citrus palate define this charming, summer-perfect white.

2009 Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc ($15)

A racy mix of herb, lime and vegetable flavors.

2010 Villa Maria Private Bin Dry Riesling ($15)

Pleasantly accessible, with bold peach, apple and lime tones.

2010 Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc ($15)

A firm backbone of acidity and brisk grass and mineral flavors reflect the coolness of the 2010 vintage.

2009 Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc ($15)

There’s an appealing green apple note amid citrus flavors.

2008 Domaines Schlumberger Les Princes Abbés Pinot Blanc ($15)

Schlumberger’s basic wines, including this medium-bodied Pinot Blanc, offer terrific quality.

2009 Hugel et Fils Gentil ($15)

A fragrant, floral blend of five grapes, with soft apricot tones.

2010 Cantine Giorgio Lungarotti Torre di Giano Trebbiano-Grechetto Torgiano ($15)

A graceful, refreshing blend with floral, pear and apple tones and a subtle effervescence.

2010 Condes de Albarei Albariño ($15)

Its clean, minerally lemon-lime flavors are tangy and brisk.

2010 Martín Códax Albariño ($15)

This widely available bottling makes a great introduction to Albariño, with zesty lime and herb flavors and a hint of fizz.

2010 Domäne Wachau Terrassen Grüner Veltliner Federspiel ($15)

Terrassen bottlings come from terraced vineyards, which yield intense, focused wines, like this citrusy example.

2010 Berger Grüner Veltliner ($15 for 1 liter)

Sealed with an easy-to-pop crown cap, this zesty one-liter bottling makes a great summer white.

2009 Foxglove Chardonnay ($15)

The prestigious Santa Barbara region is the main source of the grapes used in this zesty, unoaked white.

2010 Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon ($15)

A grassy, crisp white with lime and lanolin notes.

2008 Rocky Gully Dry Riesling ($15)

Frankland’s entry-level Riesling is a steal, loaded with petrol, green apple and tangy lime tones.

2010 Doña Paula Estate Torrontés ($15)

An intense jasmine nose is followed by compelling white peach and succulent tropical flavors.

NV Anna de Codorníu Brut ($15)

This low-priced sparkling blend of Chardonnay and the Spanish grape Parellada is soft and apple-laden.

NV Gruet Brut ($15)

Among the best value sparkling wines made anywhere, this shows a refreshing mix of citrus and green pear.

White Wine Pairings & Recipes