So you’re walking down the wine isle in Wal-Mart (because anything classier just won’t fit into the budget) looking for the cheapest wine you can find without compromising taste; let’s just go ahead and cross off Arbor Mist and Boone’s Farm from the list. We want something with alcohol, not overpriced Kool-Aid. There are literally hundreds of bottles to choose from. You avert your eyes from the top shelf; the bottles are so enticing, but that price tag is like an electric fence. Which one to choose? Do I like dry or sweet? How do I even know which is which? Selecting the perfect wine can be a challenge, but fortunately I’ve done quite a bit of the dirty work for you. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve rounded up the craziest sounding wines I could find. They range from extremely dry to extremely sweet. The best part? They are all UNDER ten bucks! I managed to find eight bottles that either had really pretty bottles or totally insane names, and here is what I think of each one:
Fish Eye: $4.28
Fish Eye is a Pinot Grigio, which is a white wine. It’s going to be a lighter, smoother tasting wine. The bottle suggests that you pair it with spicy Asian cuisine. Some spicy Korean chicken hits the spot and the wine compliments the burn, unlike sodas which seem to make it worse.
Find the recipe here
Monkey Bay: $7.78
Also a white wine, Monkey Bay features subtle, fruity notes. In my opinion, this wine has more flavor than the Fish Eye, although it doesn’t seem to shock your taste buds as much. It is a Sauvignon Blanc and pairs well with either chicken or seafood. Ceviche anyone? Or how about an easy lemon, garlic, and butter shrimp dish?
Find the recipe here
Ménage \a Trois: $9.87
Feeling flirty? This wine is perfect for you. Sweet and flavorful, this Moscato is everything your ex-boyfriend could never live up to. Grab a glass and toast a night with some gal pals. It’s worth every penny I promise. Don’t worry about pairing this wine with dinner, it serves well a dessert or stand-alone drink.
Plum Loco $9.87
Produced and bottled in Deming, New Mexico, this wine is sure to drive you ‘Plum Loco’. Sweet and flavorful, this red wine has a buzzworthy 11% alcohol. Another wine that goes well by itself, Plum Loco has a special place on my shelf (though not for long because it’s so good!).
Mad House Wife: $7.28
When I saw the name on the bottle, I just had to try it. Mad House Wife is a Sweet Red wine. Those who enjoy dryer wines might want to stay away from this one, because it is very rich. To me, it feels a bit thick and has an after taste sort of like molasses. I would drink this wine while eating some cheesecake.
Lucky Duck: $4.46
This Cabernet Sauvignon has a taste as quirky as the name. It isn’t dry, but it isn’t sweet. I believe it is the perfect blend of bold, rich fruits like blackberry and cherry. Best of all, this wine pairs excellently with pastas or red meats. Spaghetti night anyone? Or how about Swedish Meatballs? This is the perfect date night dinner wine.
You can find the recipe here
Smoking Loon: $6.92
Oddly enough, this wine is crazy good! Just like the name suggests, this Pinot Noir has hints of smokiness in every sip. It goes down easy, but I would suggest splitting this bottle with friends; the cork is rather difficult to get bac into the bottle. Though you could pair this wine with dinner, I would suggest a glass with some artesian cheeses and olives. Smoking Loon is a $7 bottle of pure class.
Rex-Goliath: $4.97
This soft bodied Merlot goes great with any dinner, from the simple grilled cheese sandwich to the complex crab legs and asparagus. The wide range of flavors in this wine make it good to sip at get-togethers or barbeques. Although it isn’t sweet, the boldness of various flavors brings out the best and makes this wine go down