Great Wines Under $25

Zesty & Mineral

Gilvesy winery is located in the outskirts of Lake Balaton, near an ancient dormant volcano, in Hungary. Hungarian expat Robert Gilvesy moved back to his homeland from Canada to start this exciting project involving native grape varieties and volcanic soils.

This blend is light and fresh. On the nose, it's all about hints of mint, lemon and fresh cucumber, while on the palate it's zesty, with notes of green apple and citrus fruit.

It's delicious when paired with summer meals: fresh salads dressed with dried fruits such as cranberries and walnuts, grilled fish with potatoes and zesty ceviches.

Fresh & Crisp

Located on the hills that rise from the Adriatic Sea and neighbouring the coastal town of Vasto in Abruzzo, the Jasci family has been growing grapes and producing wine for three generations.

This vegan-certified wine made from Pecorino grapes is elegant and delicate, and shows aromas of grapefruit, apricots and nectarines. On the palate is pleasant, fresh and light-bodied. This Pecorino wine has a special saltiness and an aftertaste of bitter almonds.

Wines made from Pecorino pair extremely well with Pecorino cheeses drizzled with a bit of honey as well as vegetables, fish and white meats.

Full & Fresh

Mas Carlot is situated in Costières de Nîmes, a beautiful pebbly land around Nîmes and Arles in the Southern Rhône, and makes some of the very best value wines in the whole of France. This blend of 60% Roussanne, 30% Marsanne and 10% Viognier is outstanding.

An elegant white that offers up notes of peach marmalade, apricots, honeyed pears, candle wax and a touch of buttered brioche. With a good fresh acidity as well as abundant fruit and flavour, this attractive, medium-bodied wine overdelivers.

Pair this rich white well with shellfish, chicken, veal, pork and vegetables prepared with savoury butter, cream or mild cheese-based sauces.

Bright & Creamy

Arguably one of our best values in bubbly. This cava is made from Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Mas Codina is a 40 hectare estate in the Alt Penedès which dates back to 1681. This Cava Brut Nature Reserva was hand-harvested from 20 to 30-year-old vines and estate bottled. Farming is 100% organic on the estate. Though it does not say it on the label, the wine is 100% single vintage and is aged on its lees for a minimum of two years before release.

This Cava has a lovely, fruity nose with ripe yellow pear, a hint of vanilla and soft biscotti notes. It is light to mid weight, slightly creamy yet firm and dry on the finish.

Cava is fantastic with fresh salads, crudités, raw oysters and summer dishes like Spanish Gazpacho. It's creaminess makes it a perfect pairing for roast chicken and all kinds of fish.

Rich & Bold

Finca Aylés is located in the northeast of Spain, near the city of Zaragoza, halfway between Madrid and Barcelona.  The wine project of the Ramón Reula family began its journey in the 1980s and ended with the reunification of various properties that had belonged to the Finca Aylés since the Middle Ages. Today, Aylés is one of the largest private historical farms in Aragón.  

Attractive deep cherry red in colour. The wine displays a pronounced intensity on the nose, well defined, with an extraordinarily complex and wide range of aromas; think dark red fruits, ink, and spices.  On the palate the wine is clearly defined by its elegance and ripe fruit intensity. It's harmonious and well balanced leading to a rich finish. 

It's the perfect wine to pair with rich meats and anything on the BBQ.

Bold & Earthy

Casa Los Frailes (“Cals Frares” in  the old local language) takes their name from the Jesuit Friars that used to live in the Estate over two centuries (XVII to XVIII). The Casa Los Frailes estate now belongs to the Velázquez family and has for over 250 years, today the 13th generation runs the winery. Frontrunners in organic agriculture and biodynamics, the estate consists of vineyards, Mediterranean forest, almond and olive trees.

A blend of Monastrell and Syrah, its personality makes it a dark, warm and complex wine. On the nose, it has intense aromas of red fruits, jam, cherries and plums; paired with smoky tones, notes of liquorice and coffee. On the palate, the fruit perfectly blends with the oak, showing sweet tannins followed by a round, rich and deep structure.

This bold wine begs for rich foods, that's why we recommend beef short ribs, lentils, shiitake and portobello mushrooms, lamb, rabbit, soy sauce and black pepper... Adding herbs to your dishes such as thyme, lavender and rosemary will also enhance the floral character of the wine.

Fresh & Delicate

Mas Carlot is situated in the south of the Rhône Valley, extending across 76 hectares of pebbly land southeast of Nîmes.

This seductive rosé is a traditional blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%) and Mourvèdre (10%). Beautifully pale in colour and soft in texture, this is probably the most fashionable vintage to date. Delicate aromas of raspberry, watermelon, citrus fruits & herbes de Provence flow from the glass. The flavours are fruity, dry and crisp with an elegant balance & structure. This is a serious rose at an accessible price.

Mas Carlot Rosé is the perfect rosé to pair with any summer time meal, including tapas and barbecue. It is also a great wine to enjoy with cheese boards or just on it's own at any time!

Textured & Mineral

When Michel Muré settled in Rouffach and planted his vineyard in the 17th century, he surely had little conception of the beautiful adventure that he was setting in motion for his descendants. In 1935, Alfred Muré extended the property with the addition of the 12-hectare (25-acre) wholly owned Clos Saint Landelin, foreseeing already its potential for exceptional quality. He replanted the terraces, ideally situated with their sunny exposure and shelter from the rain.

Nowadays it is Alfred’s grandson René, together with his children Véronique and Thomas, the 11th and 12th generations of the family, who are responsible for running this exceptional, wholly-owned vineyard and its neighbouring terroirs, using biodynamic methods.

Muré's Sylvaner is a lovely wine.  On the nose, it delivers delicate aromas and flavours of quince, green apple and mineral. On the palate, it finishes long and clean with a soft refined perfume. 

Lovely as an aperitif; a must with shellfish and asparagus dishes.

Creamy & Fresh

3XP (Trois-X-P) - Pearce | Predhomme | Pender - is a small-production Niagara Peninsula Chardonnay collaboration between négociants Nicholas Pearce & Will Predhomme with vigneron Paul Pender. This wild ferment Chardonnay is 100% certified organic & biodynamic and is produced with minimal intervention.

We strive to show the delicacy, tension, & purity of expression of Ontario-grown Chardonnay with this small-production collaboration.  Brilliant straw colour, youthful, light-intensity aromas of white peach, green apple, citrus, with delicate integrated subtle lees. Bright lemony acidity on the palate, round mouthfeel, & refreshing. A clean, fresh, & distinctly Ontarian-style Chardonnay.

Ideas for pairing 3XP? This rich Chardonnay calls for all shades of seafood and fish: spaghetti with clams and tons of parsley, halibut, crab cakes... or even pork tenderloin! It's also wonderful as an apéro wine.

Aromatic & Fresh

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.

Prunecchio is the name of an old vineyard plot on the Fattoria di Sammontana estate planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano and Malvasia. It is has aromas of yellow plums, quince, gooseberries, and acacia flowers on the nose. On the palate, it's fresh and well balanced. 

This wine is perfect as an aperitif, or with fish dishes, pasta and all kinds of salads and green veggies. A must try with shrimp scampi!

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.

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 Tragolargo Tinto is smooth, with structured yet soft tannins and a beautifully balanced acidity.

Enjoy it with a creamy bolognese or with a meatball soup with beef stew vibes. Also great on its own.

Creamy & Fresh

3XP (Trois-X-P) - Pearce | Predhomme | Pender - is a small-production Niagara Peninsula Chardonnay collaboration between négociants Nicholas Pearce & Will Predhomme with vigneron Paul Pender. This wild ferment Chardonnay is 100% certified organic & biodynamic and is produced with minimal intervention.

We strive to show the delicacy, tension, & purity of expression of Ontario-grown Chardonnay with this small-production collaboration.  Brilliant straw colour, youthful, light-intensity aromas of white peach, green apple, citrus, with delicate integrated subtle lees. Bright lemony acidity on the palate, round mouthfeel, & refreshing. A clean, fresh, & distinctly Ontarian-style Chardonnay.

Ideas for pairing 3XP? This rich Chardonnay calls for all shades of seafood and fish: spaghetti with clams and tons of parsley, halibut, crab cakes... or even pork tenderloin! It's also wonderful as an apéro wine.

Spicy & Bold

Finca Aylés is located in the northeast of Spain, near the city of Zaragoza, halfway between Madrid and Barcelona.  The wine project of the Ramón Reula family began its journey in the 1980s and ended with the reunification of various properties that had belonged to the Finca Aylés since the Middle Ages. Today, Aylés is one of the largest private historical farms in Aragón.  

Expect the unexpected with this delicious Garnacha from Aragón! It exhibits a dense ruby/purple-tinged colour as well as delicious, crunchy black cherry and raspberry fruit with notions of cocoa & vanilla thanks to a slight stay in oak barrels. It's medium to full bodied, pure, fruity and savoury. 

It's the perfect wine to pair with rich meats and anything on the BBQ. For something really special, try it with Smoked Pork Carnitas.

Fresh & Zesty

Nestled in the heart of Empordà, La Vinyeta is a small production winery and olive grower driven by a young spirit of hard work and big dreams. The project’s origins can be found in two old Carignan and Grenache vineyards which Josep and Marta bought from an old winemaker from the town. They started producing their first bottles of wine in 2006. Today, La Vinyeta is one of the most highly regarded projects in the area, not just for the quality and diversity of the wines but also for their dynamism, humility, and commitment.

This is a white blend made from old vines of Macabeo (60%), Grenache Blanc (30%), and Malvasia (10%). The vineyards are organically farmed, without artificial irrigation.

On the glass, it has a yellow colour with green tones, sign of its youthfulness. On the nose, it has a high aromatic intensity, combining fruity notes of pineapple and stone fruit, with a final persistence of citric aromas. The palate is fresh, with a vibrant acidity and a salty hint of the calcareous soils.

Pair this wine with roast fish with cannellini beans and green olives

Meaty & Round

Nestled in the heart of Empordà, La Vinyeta is a small production winery and olive grower driven by a young spirit of hard work and big dreams. The project’s origins can be found in two old Carignan and Grenache vineyards which Josep and Marta bought from an old winemaker from the town. They started producing their first bottles of wine in 2006. Today, La Vinyeta is one of the most highly regarded projects in the area, not just for the quality and diversity of the wines but also for their dynamism, humility, and commitment.

This is a red blend made from old vines of Carignan (65%), and Grenache (35%). The vineyards are organically farmed, without artificial irrigation.

On the glass, it has a cherry colour with violet tones. On the nose, it has a high aromatic intensity, combining aromas of ripe red fruit and lactic notes. On the palate, it is meaty, with nicely integrated tannins, medium-bodied, and with a great acidity.

Pair this wine with chorizo and chickpea braised chicken thighs.