Great Wines Under $25

Fresh & Herbal

Andres Carull's family has been making wine in Alicante for decades. At a very young age, he already knew what he was going to dedicate himself to. However, a visit to Bordeaux in 2008 changed his course when he discovered natural wine; he decided to turn his winemaking towards this ‘old-but-new’ path.

The seed planted in Bordeaux in 2008 has now blossomed into a personal project dedicated to producing stripped-back, honest wines that truthfully express his countryside, heritage and people. Vibrant wines from living vines. Tragolargo Tinto is a delightfully easy drinking young red made from Monastrell grapes grown in Casa Balaguer Estate in Villena, Alicante.

On the nose, you'll find aromas of blackberry and strawberry, with some hints of eucalyptus and liquorice. Fresh and vibrant, on the palate Picofino is smooth, with structured yet soft tannins and a beautifully balanced acidity.

Enjoy it on its own or with a light dinner.

Light & Earthy

The vineyards of Fattoria di Sammontana are located along the hills that border the Arno River, 20km to the south west of Florence. Today, the family - now in its fourth generation - runs the farm according to organic and biodynamic practices, with the intent to fully preserve and sustain the traditions and winemaking history of the land.

This wine is a nod to the old tradition that made Trebbiano a compulsory component of any Chianti blend. Almost entirely Sangiovese with just a touch of Trebbiano, Alberese is such a delicious, simple and easy drinking wine that it could go with just about anything. 

We particularly love opening a bottle of Alberese when cooking pizza or when having an aperitivo before dinner: a beautiful choice with cured meats, cheeses and olives. Any rich pasta dish made with bacon and tons of pecorino would also be a delicious option!

Zesty & Creamy

Located 50 km east from Saint-Émilion, the Barouillet family has been growing grapes for at least 8 generations in Pécharment, Monbazillac and Bergerac. Vincent Alexis, who joined his father in 2010, converted the vineyards to organic and is about to obtain the biodynamic certification. 

This charming and expressive white is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon, and Chenin that were grown 100% sulphur free on clay & calcareous soils. Together, they create a well-balanced wine – a surprising union between freshness, fullness and aromas. There is a lightly oxidative note and a bready, lees-y back palate that bounces off the fruit which is at once fresh and zesty and creamy and opulent. Easy, fun and just a little bit wild.

Enjoy it by the glass and with white meats or poultry.

Zesty & Creamy

Located 50 km east from Saint-Émilion, the Barouillet family has been growing grapes for at least 8 generations in Pécharment, Monbazillac and Bergerac. Vincent Alexis, who joined his father in 2010, converted the vineyards to organic and is about to obtain the biodynamic certification. 

This charming and expressive white is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon, and Chenin that were grown 100% sulphur free on clay & calcareous soils. Together, they create a well-balanced wine – a surprising union between freshness, fullness and aromas. There is a lightly oxidative note and a bready, lees-y back palate that bounces off the fruit which is at once fresh and zesty and creamy and opulent. Easy, fun and just a little bit wild.

Enjoy it by the glass and with white meats or poultry.

Rich & Fruity

Located 50 km east from Saint-Émilion, the Barouillet family has been growing grapes for at least 8 generations in Pécharment, Monbazillac and Bergerac. Vincent Alexis, who joined his father in 2010, converted the vineyards to organic and is about to obtain the biodynamic certification. 

This is organic and low intervention at its best. With equal parts Cabernet, Malbec and Merlot, and a hint of Fer Servadou and Merille, the wine is filled with liquorice and ripe red fruit aromas. Notes of blackcurrant reveal a fruity and rich mouthfeel that still maintains freshness.

It matches perfectly with grilled meat, roast, charcuteries, or with spaghetti Bolognese.

Fresh & Zesty

The Thirst Clairette Blanche explores how saltiness and acidity can enhance the overall freshness of a wine. Extended skin maceration before fermentation has added complexity. It has a distinct minerality with splashes of green and stone fruits. It's an intriguing example of this quirky variety.

It offers exceptional refreshment and drinkability, as well as an interesting and complex collection of aromas and flavours. Driven by its fresh citrus zest, the wine shows great focus. Generous lime and lemon flavours delight the palate that is accented by a distinct minerality, before a long and tapering, saline finish.

Pairs well with seafood, vegetables or white meat.

Elegant & Lively

Cantine Barbera is located in Menfi, on the west coast of Sicily. The vineyards, that are farmed following organic and biodynamic practices, are about one mile from the Mediterranean Sea: an uncontaminated deep blue sea. The low cliffs and sandy dunes create a beautiful environment for the grapes to thrive, and are also protected by the Belice River Natural Reservation Fund.

NoTrix is a wine made with the grape Perricone, a red grape variety introduced to Sicily by the Greeks about 8th century B.C. At the beginning of the 21 century, the final extinction of the Perricone seemed inevitable: the area covered with Perricone was only about 192 hectares’, representing only a mere 0.30% of the vineyards cultivated in Sicily. Recently, a small number of vintners started to take care of old vineyards and to experiment with more modern winemaking techniques, while paying a great respect to the traditional heritage embodied by this fascinating grape variety. 

Marilena Barbera's commitment is to defend the existence of Perricone, to protect and respect the terroirs that give birth to this amazing variety, and to produce only high quality wines that represent the true identity of her home land.

NoTrix is a medium-bodied and very easy drinking red wine. It has a lively ruby color, with violet shades. To the nose, a playful bouquet of red berries and geranium flowers meets intense scents of fine herbs and sweet spices. It has firm but smooth tannins that enrich a medium-bodied palate, with notes of star anise and ginger that stand out against a persistent saline background.

This is the way Perricone is, and this is how Marilena likes this wine to be: no tricks and no frills, far from winemaking models that do not belong to Menfi’s wine tradition.

NoTrix pairs well with red meats, pasta dishes and cheeses. It is also an interesting companion to spicy fish soups and grilled tuna fish. Its delicate and direct palate can complement prosciutto crudo, fresh salami, and medium aged cheeses