Delicious Great Wines Under 20 That Won't Break the Bank - updated September 2025

tgandco2
Sep 25
12 min read

Updated: Nov 20

I still think you can get lots of great wines for under $20.

Introduction

Wine lovers rejoice! Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or just starting your wine journey, finding a great bottle of wine that doesn't break the bank is always a delight. This post is a refreshed version of my original 2020 list, updated with the latest prices and availability. Let's dive into some fantastic wines that you can enjoy for under $20.

Background

This was one of my original posts in 2020 when I started my blog. I updated the post in 2022 and thought I would refresh the list, delete any wines that are no longer available, and update the pricing. Given the current position taken by the Ontario government not to stock products from the US in the LCBO, I could not update any of the wines from the US. I am going to leave them on the list because many of them are my favourites, and hopefully, at some point soon, they will be available again (as a side note, I totally support the government's position on this despite losing access to some of my favourite wines).

Given that I had not updated this post in 3 years, I was not sure what to expect in terms of pricing. Good news, 14 wines went down in price (wow!). While 19 wines went up in price, only one went up by as much as $3. For all the others, the increase was less. Ten wines had no price change. If the price increase put the wine over my $20 limit, and I really like it, I left it on the list. If it was just so-so, I took it off the list.

Enjoying Wine

Enjoying wine with friends and family is certainly one of the things I enjoy, whether at a family gathering or celebration, at dinner at home, or on the deck of the cottage overlooking the lake (the reality is I can enjoy wine almost anywhere). I am certainly not a wine expert, so the wines included here are just a list of ones that I (and our family) have enjoyed.

Criteria for the List

So I thought I would create a list of my favourite wines. Here are the criteria for getting on my list:

The wine needs to be less than $20 at the LCBO.
We have enjoyed all the wines on the list.

Additional Notes

Although there are some neat wine apps to keep track of your favourite wines, I just use the LCBO app (for those of you in Ontario). You can search for the wine and then mark it as a favourite. Unfortunately, when the LCBO refreshed their app, it removed the function to categorize your favourite wines. This is very annoying as the app now simply shows a list (in my case, a long list) of your favourite wines. The app shows the price at the LCBO, the LCBO listing number, as well as the availability online or in stores near you. An additional nice feature of the LCBO app is that on the home page, as you scroll down, it will highlight any of your favourite wines that are on sale (so you can get them for even less than $20!).
I certainly have my biases and preferences regarding wine, so here are some of the things you can expect to see on the list. I generally enjoy red more than white, so you will see more red on the list. California cabs or Shiraz are some of my favorites, so lots of those. Recently, I have found reds from southern Australia to be amazing, so look for those. I also love wine from Washington State, and whites from New Zealand. After we visited Puglia in southern Italy, we fell in love with the wines there. We also had a short stop in Sicily on that trip and discovered Nero d'Avola. Malbecs from Argentina are on the list as well as a few Spanish wines. You won't find a lot of French wines on the list. I find them overpriced and not that good. For sparkling wines, I enjoy Prosecco from Italy, great taste and value (and you just don't find French champagne for under $20). I don't have enough Canadian wines on the list. One of my goals is to find more good Canadian wines to enjoy (I often find the prices over my $20 limit). I have found some really good organic wines, so you will find some of those on the list. With regards to white wine, not a big fan of Chardonnay, but I enjoy Pinot Grigio from many countries as well as Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand has some really good ones).

Below you will find the list. I have divided it up by country or region (where the country is too big, like the US), with red wines separate from white. I have organic wines listed in a separate category, so the wine regions are mixed. I have listed the wine name, country/region, LCBO or Vintages product number, and price as of this writing. I am not assigning a rating; if the wine has made the list, I think it is worth buying. You can sort through which wine will best suit the occasion you are buying for. In most cases, I won't add comments unless there is something specific or exceptional to highlight. I will keep this list up to date, so as I find more great wines, I will add them to the list. If you have suggestions that meet the criteria above, send them in, and I will try and get them on the list (if they are good (smile)). Ok, with that as an intro, here goes.

California Reds (not updated due to products not being available at the LCBO)

Bar Dog Cabernet Sauvignon - California - LCBO 10882 - $17.95
- Although I have switched more of my wine purchases to Australian reds, California Cabs remain one of my favourites. We picked this up just to try something different, and it was delicious. We have now had it two or three times, great every time. Although not Teresa's favourite, I think it should make the list.
Sand Point Cabernet Sauvignon - California - LCBO 11193 - $13.15
- A delicious California Cab you can enjoy any time.
Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon - California - Vintages 738823 - $24.95
- Above my $20 limit, but when it is on sale, it is $20.95, so close. Worth the extra 95 cents (smile). Rich with lots of flavour and smooth.
Stave and Steel Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon - California - LCBO 541946 - $17.95
- I would say not quite as good as the Jacob's Creek Bourbon Barrel Shiraz but still a very good wine. Bolder and "heavier" than most cabs we enjoy, it was still delicious and will definitely become one of our regular wines.
Carnivor Shiraz - California - LCBO 10717 - $18.05
- From the Carnivor family, we love the Cabernet Sauvignon, and this is almost (very close) as good. I would suggest taking either the cab or Shiraz, whatever is on sale, and you can't miss.
Josh Cellars Legacy Red - California - LCBO 507467 - $19.95
Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon - California - Vintages 342428 - $19.95
- One of my all-time favourite wines. Consistently good, and it has come down in price (used to be $21.95). Even better! This is a wine you can serve at any special occasion and enjoy, but priced for everyday drinking.
Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon - California - LCBO 392647 - $18.45
- One of our original "cottage" wines (wines we love to drink at the cottage). Still one of my favourites.
Gnarly Head Cabernet Sauvignon - California - LCBO 68924 - $17.00
Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel - California - LCBO 678698 - $18.55
Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon - California - LCBO 55517 - $15.95
- One of our original cottage favourite wines.
Smoking Loon Old Vine Zinfandel - California - LCBO 272393 - $15.95

Australian Reds

Small Gully The Formula Robert's Shiraz - Australia - Vintages 142935 - $19.95
- Just love Australian reds and this is a good one. Smooth, balanced, and really enjoyable.
Wakefield Estate Shiraz Clare Valley - Australia - Vintages 943787 - $19.95
- Although I have not tried all the Wakefield wines (I am working on it), I am guessing they are all delicious. This one and the one below definitely are!
Wakefield Promised Land Shiraz - Australia - LCBO 441543 - $13.05
- I cannot believe this wine is less than $15.00 (currently on sale for $12.60). It is an amazing wine you will enjoy each and every time you have it. A perfect dinner wine.
Mcguigan Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia - LCBO 524355 - $10.00
- I tried this after I tried the Shiraz (listed below) as the Shiraz was sold out at the LCBO.
Mcguigan Black Label Shiraz - Australia - LCBO 325787 - $10.00
- This would be an amazing wine at $15, but it is $11.00! You cannot go wrong and should buy a case so that you always have it on hand. Smooth, easy to drink with great flavour. What more could you ask for? Also comes in a 1.5-litre size!
Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz - Australia - Vintages 660043 - $24.95
- Over my $20 price limit, I got this wine on sale for $21.95 (so close). Wow, it is excellent. It quickly became one of my favourite wines and will definitely make wine of the month soon.
Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart of the Barossa Shiraz - Australia - Vintages 167189 - $20.95
- I went to the LCBO one day, and they had almost every wine I was looking for (I assume they were stocked for the holidays). This is one I wanted to try, and it did not disappoint.
Jacob's Creek Double Barrel Shiraz - Australia - LCBO 19986 - $20.00
- Another great wine from southern Australia. Delicious and $17.95!
Wits End Luna Shiraz - Australia - Vintages 921239 - $16.95
- I think for $30 or more this would be a great wine. For $16.95, it is amazing. Another great red from Australia.
Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia - Vintages 606624 - $22.95
- This is the wine we served at my daughter's wedding, so it will also be a special wine for us. $3 over my limit, it is well worth the extra $3. A great wine to take as a gift, but even better if you enjoy it yourself.
Smoky Bay Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia - LCBO 553891 - $10.95
- Amazing value at $10.25 and often on sale for under $10, and it is delicious!
Sisters' Run Old Testament Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 - Southern Australia - Vintages 478271 - $19.95
- Amazing wine that is so good you can serve it for a special occasion but for $18.95 you can drink it anytime!
Sister's Run Bethlehem Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 - Southern Australia - Vintages 360636 - $19.95
- Love all the wines from the Sisters' Run family. When you are looking for a great red wine, take whichever one is on sale, and you will enjoy it.
Sister's Run Epiphany Shiraz 2017 - Southern Australia - Vintages 269464 - $17.95
Sister's Run Calvary Hill Shiraz 2017 - Southern Australia - Vintages 222018 - $19.95

Argentina Reds

Luigi Bosca Malbec - Argentina - Vintages 452672 - $19.95
- Love a good, rich, bold, flavorful Malbec, and this is one you will enjoy.
Alamos Malbec - Argentina - LCBO 295139 - $18.00
Pascual Toso Malbec - Argentina - LCBO 35170 - $14.95
Pascual Toso Limited Edition Malbec - Argentina - LCBO 162610 - $16.95
Santa Julia Reserva Malbec - Argentina - LCBO 429761 - $16.95
Trapiche Malbec - Argentina - LCBO 501551 - $13.00
- Amazing wine for $13.

Canadian Reds

Wayne Gretzky Baco Noir VQA - Ontario - LCBO 426528 - $16.95
- Considering I bought this primarily to get the free hat and t-shirt, love this wine, Canadian (yeah!) and good value.

Chilean Reds

Concha y Toro Winemaker's Lot 148 Carmenere - Chile - Vintages 30957 - $17.95
- Doubled the Chilean wines on my list this month. Both are of great taste and great value.
PKNT Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - Chile - LCBO 191866 - $13.00

Italian Reds

Lupi Reali Montepulciano D'Abruzzo DOC Organic - Italy - LCBO 486647 - $14.00
- Great value, and it is also organic!
Fantini Farnese Sangiovese IGT - Italy - LCBO 512327 - $11.75

Organic Reds

Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon - California - Vintages 342428 - $19.95
Lupi Reali Montepulciano D'Abruzzo DOC Organic - Italy - LCBO 486647 - $14.00

Puglia Reds

Oggi Botter Primitivo IGT - Puglia - LCBO 86421 - $11.55
- Love wines from Puglia, and this is a good one, and yes, it is $11.55!
The Wanted Zin Old Vines Zinfandel IGT - Puglia - LCBO 416487 - $15.60
- A totally amazing wine for $15 (or less when on sale).

Spanish Reds

El Goru - Monastrell/Syrah/Petit Verdot - Spain - Vintages 443945 - $14.95 - with no California wines at the LCBO we have had to expand our choices. This is a good one
LAN Crianza - Spain - Vintages 166538 - $18.95 - Picked this up at the LCBO, knowing nothing about it. It was great.
Beronia Tempranillo Rioja - Spain - LCBO 243055 - $14.95
Toro Bravo Tempranillo Merlot, DO Valencia - Spain - LCBO 635755 - $10.95
- You are not going to believe this wine is $11 and change.
Radio Boka Tempranillo VDT Castilla - Spain - LCBO 376145 - $12.95
- One of our original wine choices. Awesome wine for $13. This wine also comes in a 3-litre box. For those of you who think boxed wine can only be crappy, here is some info. It turns out that what ruins opened wine is air; with boxed wine, the wine is in a bag. As you drink the wine, the bag collapses, removing the air, and therefore the wine remains "fresh" (or at least good tasting). LCBO 491118 is the number for the 3-litre box.

Sparkling Wine (no champagnes but a couple of great choices to celebrate with)

Bottega Vino Dei Poeti Prosecco DOC - Italy - LCBO 897702 - $18.95
- Our go-to special occasion sparkling wine. We also served this at our daughter's wedding, so also a special wine for us. Delicious and less than $20. Great on its own or mixed to make a fancy cocktail. There are a lot of sparkling wines in the Bottega family, the most expensive and with fancy bottles. I would stick to this one. Great flavour and value.
Brilla! Extra Dry Prosecco - Italy - LCBO 13836 - $19.95
Josh Cellars Prosecco - Italy - LCBO 16947 - $21.95
- Now over my $20 limit, I would just go with the Bottega above.

Washington State Wines (not updated)

Wines of Substance Cabernet Sauvignon - Washington State - Vintages 419770 - $19.95
- I love Washington State wine,s and this is one of the best. This is also Teresa's favourite new win,e so it has to be good!
Columbia Crest H3 Merlot 2016 - Washington State - Vintages 209874 - $20.95
Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon - Washington State - Vintages 210047 - $19.95
- This was our first Columbia Crest wine, and we loved it. But all from the same winery/family, with great wines.
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon - Washington State - Vintages 460154 - $18.95
- Our original find from this winery and still our favorite.

Rosé (for me, rosé wines are definitely summer wines, not so much with dinner, maybe lunch, definitely in the afternoon/early evening, relaxing at home or at the cottage)

Folonari Pink Pinot Grigio Venezia IGT - Italy - LCBO 43588 - $14.95
- I love Pinot Grigi,o so how can you go wrong with a pink one. It is really good!
Bask - Ontario - LCBO 16778 - $13.95
- Rosé for us is a summer wine usually consumed at the cottage or at home by the pool. This is a nice one you will enjoy.
Three of Hearts Rosé - Ontario - Vintages 552562 - $19.95
- Cool bottle, so a nice gift for a summer party, but also a nice light rosé.
Toro Bravo Garnacha Shiraz Rosado - Spain - LCBO 14145 - $10.50
- For $10.5,0 how can you go wrong? And it is good!
Malivoire Ladybug Rosé - Ontario - LCBO 559088 - $19.95
Wayne Gretzky Rosé - Ontario - LCBO 14870 - $17.95
- Really enjoyed this.

White Wines (I am going to just list all the whites together; they are all good)

Te Henga Sauvignon Blanc - Australia - LCBO 41817 - $15.95
- New wine, which we love, is light and crisp.
McGuigan Black Label Pinot Grigio - Australia - LCBO 441576 - $10.00
- Part of the McGuigan family of wines, which are all delicious and of amazing value!
White Cliff - New Zealand - LCBO 610972 - $17.95
- Sauvignon Blanc is one of our favourite white wines, and the ones from New Zealand are at the top of our list. This is a great wine, clear, crisp, and light.
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc - New Zealand - LCBO 424630 - $20.00
- I would say this wine is as enjoyable as any Sauvignon Blanc on the list.
Lindeman's Bin 95 Sauvignon Blanc - Australia - LCBO 181388 - $14.00
- Sauvignon Blanc is one of our favourite white wine,s and this one is delicious!
Susana Balbo Crios Torrontes - Argentina - Vintages 1834 - $16.95
- Read about this in an article highlighting women winemakers. A great light wine.
Citra Pinot Grigio Terre Di Chieti IGP - Italy - LCBO 17483 - $10.95
- Nice light, crisp, affordable white wine.
Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough - New Zealand - LCBO 415745 - $20.00
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc - New Zealand - Vintages 316570 - $20.95
- Love Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, got this on sale for $16.95.
Smoking Loon Pinot Grigio - California - LCBO 483289 - $16.30
Smoking Loon Sauvignon Blanc - California - LCBO 544114 - $14.95
- Love all the Smoking Loon wines!
Toro Bravo Verdejo Sauvignon Blanc DO La Mancha - Spain - LCBO 10711 - $10.95
- From the same vineyard as the Tempranillo above. This white is crisp and delicious, and it is only $10.95.

Wine in a Can

Not big wine-in-a-can drinkers but we ended up buying them for Brendan and Candace's wedding which was held in our backyard (during the pandemic). Better than I was expecting.

Bodacious Pinot Grigio - Ontario, Canada - LCBO 10426 - $3.95 (250ml can)
Joiy Sparkling - Australia - LCBO 486456 - $5.50 (250ml can)
- My new favourite wine in a can. Great way to toast!

Enjoy! Let me know your favourite wines under $20 (Canadian) at thethirdperiod.ca@gmail.com.