15 wines under $15

It’s December and that means it’s time for holiday party-packed weekend, sparkly clothes, and more food and drink than you can imagine! So just in time to shop for what kind of wine to bring to your next holiday party or what kind of wine to consume just because you want to be merry and bright, here are my friends’ top wine picks under $15… and a couple of mine too.

1. Jen’s pick Marietta Old Vine Red: Aromas of ripe blackberries, dark cherries, and plum, with some spice, earth, and subtle oak
2. Monica’s pick Mark West Pinot Noir: Strong floral aromas, hints of black cherry, strawberries and vanilla, mild tannins and not very heavy
3. Jena’s pick La Crema Chardonnay: Lively citrus and subtle toasted oak with a kiss of butterscotch, round and nutty, with flavors of yellow apple and orange 
4. Desiree’s pick Anthropology Shiraz: Soft and fragrant, with floral and spice notes and some fresh berry flavors; not overly heavy, not overly light
5. Jessica’s pick Liberty School Cabernet: Soft and easy with aromas of blackberries and dark cherries, chocolate and cassis
6. Kathie’s pick Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc: Light to medium-bodied and aromatic, crisp and well-balanced with intense aromas of gooseberry, passion fruit and citrus
7. Betsy’s pick Dynamite Cabernet Sauvignon: Aromas of black fruit, cassis, and chocolate followed by flavors of blackberries and toffee
8. Marcela’s pick San Silvestro Dulcis Rosso: Sparkling, sweet, light, tastes of cherries and strawberries 
9. Liz’s pick Bookmark Red Wine: Scents of smokiness, marzipan, black currants and black berries, tastes of sweet fruit with berries, plums and chocolate
10. Mare’s pick Coppola Diamond Merlot: Soft, smooth tannins, rich, fruity and oaky
11. Pam’s pick Viña Esmeralda: Strongly perfumed, with some floral notes, roses, lilies, silky and sappy on the palate
12. Jim’s pick Cline Ancient Vines Mourvèdre Dark fruit, cocoa powder and a savory/meaty/smoky quality on the nose. More juicy dark fruit flavors (dark cherry mainly) on the palate, with a latte-like creaminess and a faintly herbal note (this is his review); check out Jim’s VINEgeek site… lots of great recommendations!
13. Annette’s pick DaVinci Chianti: Well-balanced with jammy flavors of ripe plums, cherries and red fruit
14. My pick #1 Pascual Toso Malbec: Smooth, tastes of bright red cherry fruit, hint of ripe blueberry and earthy smokiness
15. My pick #2 Finca el Origen Malbec: Aromas dominated by red plums, cherries, figs and apricots; hints of oak, vanilla, chocolate, toast and caramel

I have not tasted all of these, and prices vary by seller, but you should be able to find them for $15 and under. I look forward to enjoying them all! And have some fun while your wine shopping, serve it up in my favorite red swirl glassware from Pier 1. Perfect for the holidays! Cheers!!!