It sounds like an easy task, right? Finding that elusive “every day” drinker. That wine that you can open when your friend drops by on a Wednesday afternoon or the one you would rather open after consuming a few big dogs earlier that night – meaning your taste buds and/or memory isn’t going to serve you well enough to open a nice bottle. You all know what I am talking about and I think this deserves discussion as there is still no reason to settle for shitty wine even on these occasions. There are plenty of amazing bottles out there that won’t break the bank. Hell, it may even impress your guests (especially if it truly is after a couple of the aforementioned big dogs and no one has a clue what they are drinking).

First, we need to figure out what an “every day” drinker is. Each person has something in mind when they think of this and to me it is a solid wine that costs between $10-20 per bottle. Some others price points may be lower or higher, but regardless of price, the idea is to find a great wine that falls into that price point. A wine you are proud to open with a novice and perfectly fine cracking for Johnny WineExpertGuy.

Now let’s get to my recommendations….

The Whites:

#1 Four Graces Pinot Blanc. Balanced, fruit forward and refreshing from Oregon. Recognizable name with an approachable price point. $18.99 a bottle. Perfect for summertime.

#2 Ipsum Verdejo. Super crisp and minerally. Excellent talking point for the evening at a rock bottom price. $10.99 a bottle.

The Reds:

#1 Wagner Family Belle Glos “Meomi” Pinot Noir. Sure, this wine is everywhere, but there is a reason for that. It is damn good and very affordable. My local wine shop, the ever-amazing Whispering Vine, carries this for $15.99 a bottle. A steal!

#2 Duckhorn “Decoy” Cabernet Sauvignon. This entire portfolio is great, but the Cabernet is especially a favorite and for $16.99 a bottle it’s a slam dunk. Juicy and approachable and when people see Decoy, they see Duckhorn and that means quality.

#3 Cortijo Rioja. Abstract wine from Spain. Rioja always packs a bang for the buck and will be a conversation piece. $10.99 a bottle.

This is just a small sampling of wines that would fit the bill as “every day” drinkers that you can add to your existing rotation. I’d love to hear what you’re casually sipping on as well. I’m always up for some R&D!