Windy City Wine Guy's Top 10 Holiday Wines Under $20

Just in time for your holiday entertaining shopping list, here are my top 10 picks for you wines! These are all under $20 and can be found at a local wine shop or retailer like Whole Foods. These recos are short and sweet: price point range and my notes. Enjoy!

1. 2011 Couly Dutheil Chinon Rouge 'La Baronne Madeleine' $19.99

French Cabernet Franc with solid tannins, juicy & smokey black fruit.

2. 2013/2014/2015 Amayna Boya Leyda Valley Pinot Noir $14.99

Hard to find this varietal with this amount of quality at this price.

3. 2014 Villacreces 'Pruno' Ribera del Duero $16.99

Tempranillo based beauty with body and acidity.

4. 2013 Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino $18.99.

A Tuscan red which is bright and floral but has weight.

5. 2010 Chateau Lamothe Bergeron Haut Medoc $17.99 

Gotta have your Bordeaux at an affordable price- great vintage too.

6. 2012 Columbia Crest H3 Le Chevaux Red Blend $11.99

When you want an everyday red at a great price.

7. 2012 Senorio de Barahonda Barrica $14.99

A complex, inky blend of Monastrell and Syrah

8. 2014 Opolo Zinfandel $18.99

A true Zin with deep extracted fruit, minerality, rich.

9. 2012 Chris Ringland 'CR' Shiraz $19.99

 Layers of cherry, chocolate, plum cake, leather- just dang good fireplace wine.

10. 2012 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon $19.99

Complex cool climate Cab with all the body you want

The Windy City Wine Guy's Top 10 Fall Wine Picks

Do you hear that? That's the sound of leaves and autumn hitting the streets. It's also time where many of you may drink more reds than white and need a stockpile of it in your homes. Don't forget that drinking rose all year round is STILL a thing. In the meantime, have no fear, your top fall wine picks are here! You can find most of these in your local wine store. 

1. NV Avinyo Cava Brut Reserva

I can't think of a better way to kick off this season than with a sparkling wine that's light on body while full on doughiness & sweet citrus. Cin Cin! Runs  $14.99

2. 2015 Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet

Oyster season is back (the best oysters are harvested in the 'R' months) so enjoy it with a zippy and citrusy wine that holds a touch of sea brininess. $13.99

3. 2015 Hecht Bannier Cotes de Provence Rose 

Even though we've moved from Summer, I cannot give up the pink. This one offers floral aromas with ripe watermelon.  $15.99

4. 2013 Beauregard Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Gris Orange

Many eschew "Orange" wines (white wines made with limited amount of white grape skin contact) but I love them. They are much more complex than your normal whites with honey, orange peel and coconuty aromas and flavors. Jump on the bandwagon! $22.99

 5. 2013 J. Janodet Domaine les Fines Graves Moulin-a-Vent                                                            

Hard to think about harvest season without a wine from the region which turns out the first wine of Northern Hemisphere harvest.  This Cru Beaujolais has red strength but time has settled it. Take it for a ride.  $19.99

6. 2014 Erath Pinot Noir 

I love the foresty complexity of many Oregon Pinots and this one has a light fruit aspect too which is perfect for a the season. $16.99

7. 2013 Darting Pinot Meunier Pfalz

Hailing from Germany, this is a fun red full of juicy red fruit, chestnuts and hints of chocolate.  $21.99

8. 2013 Damilano Nebbiolo d'Alba

Nebbiolo is the perfect autumn wine with it's mushroomy earthiness and forest floor aspects combined with the peppercorn and red fruit of this bottling.  A real bargain at $19.99

9. 2013 Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache

Hard to find good bargains with this grape but this wine from Down Under delivers floral aromas and light red fruits to go along with the Thanksgiving bird.  $16.99

10. 2013 Masseria Surani 'Heracles' Primitivo

I'm not quite ready to get into heavy reds but this progenitor of Zinfandel is a good start.  Smoky herbs and green olive fragrance accompany strawberry and rhubarb.  $13.99