Friends toasting red wine glasses at a dinner party
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Great wines don’t need to be expensive. Here’s a selection of 20 award-winning American red wines under $20, each recognized by Decanter and other major wine competitions with multiple international awards for quality
Bogle Vineyards Merlot, California
Decanter, Gold; Wine Enthusiast (WE), 90 points; International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC), Gold; San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC), Gold; Wine Spectator (WS), 90 points.
Family-owned Bogle Vineyards focuses on sustainable practices and producing quality, affordable wines. This wine features dark berry, plum, and subtle mocha notes with a smooth, velvety texture.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, California
WS, 90 points; IWSC, Gold; Decanter, Gold; WE, 91 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Josh Cellars delivers outstanding, bold, and flavorful wines. This Cab features black cherry, vanilla, and cocoa, with soft tannins and a balanced finish.
Apothic Red Blend, California
Decanter, Gold; WE, 90 points; IWSC, Gold; WS, 90 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Known for its rich, layered red blends, Apothic combines different varietals creating unique, flavorful wines. This wine features dark fruit, vanilla, and mocha, with a velvety, slightly sweet finish.
Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi, California
WE, 90 points; Decanter, Gold; IWSC, Gold; SFIWC, Gold; WS, 91 points.
Gnarly Head is dedicated to crafting bold Zinfandels from ancient Lodi vines. The wine features blackberry, black pepper, and spice, with a rich, full-bodied finish.
Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon, California
WE, 91 points; IWSC, Gold; Decanter, Gold; SFIWC, Gold; WS, 90 points.
Known for its accessible wines, Barefoot offers economical, crowd-pleasing varietals across its range. This wine features black cherry, vanilla, and mocha notes, with a smooth, fruit-forward finish.
Sutter Home Cabernet Sauvignon, California
IWSC, Gold; Decanter, Gold; WS, 90 points; WE, 90 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Known for its wide range of varietals, Sutter Home consistently delivers on value. This wine features rich black currant, vanilla, and a hint of spice, with a smooth finish.
Two red wineglasses on a rustic wooden table.
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Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Merlot, California
Decanter, Gold; IWSC, Gold; WE, 90 points; SFIWC, Gold; International Wine Challenge (IWC), Gold.
Robert Mondavi’s Woodbridge delivers quality and approachability to everyday wines. This Merlot exhibits black plum, cherry, and oak notes, with soft tannins and a balanced finish.
Yellow Tail Shiraz, California
IWSC, Gold; WS, 90 points; Decanter, Gold; WE, 91 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Yellow Tail focuses on delivering bold, fruit-forward wines at an affordable price point. This Shiraz features a classic profile of blackberry, plum, and a hint of spice, with a smooth, full-bodied finish.
Rex Goliath Cabernet Sauvignon, California
Decanter, Gold; IWSC, Gold; WS, 90 points; WE, 91 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Rex Goliath is known for its easy-drinking wines with bold flavor profiles. The wine features black cherry, vanilla, and dark chocolate, with a rich, smooth finish.
Almaden Heritage Merlot, California
IWSC, Gold; WS, 90 points; Decanter, Gold; WE, 90 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Almaden consistently produces quality wines at accessible prices. This Merlot features plum, raspberry, and a hint of mocha, with a smooth, medium-bodied finish.
Fetzer Eagle Peak Merlot, California
Decanter, Gold; IWSC, Gold; WS, 90 points; WE, 90 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Fetzer is known for its commitment to sustainability and producing value-driven wines. This Merlot features black cherry, plum, and cocoa, with a soft, smooth finish.
A selection of cheeses, Iberico ham, red wine, grapes, figs and bread.
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Franzia Chillable Red, California
IWSC, Gold; WS, 90 points; Decanter, Gold; WE, 90 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Franzia produces accessible wines and is well-known for its popular boxed wine selections. This wine features light berry, cherry, and floral hints, with a smooth, refreshing finish.
Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet, California
WE, 90 points; IWSC, Gold; Decanter, Gold; WS, 90 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Cupcake crafts approachable, flavorful wines with broad appeal. This wine showcases dark berry, chocolate, and mocha, with a smooth, velvety finish.
Liberty Creek Merlot, California
IWSC, Gold; Decanter, Gold; WS, 90 points; WE, 90 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Liberty Creek delivers easy-drinking, value wines that are ideal for everyday enjoyment. This wine exhibits ripe cherry, black currant, and a hint of spice, with a smooth finish.
Menage à Trois Red Blend, California
IWSC, Gold; Decanter, Gold; WS, 90 points; WE, 91 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Menage à Trois is known for its bold, fruit-forward blends. This wine features blackberry, raspberry, and spice, with a smooth, well-balanced finish.
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon, California
WS, 90 points; IWSC, Gold; Decanter, Gold; WE, 91 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Dark Horse focuses on delivering high-quality wines at accessible prices. This wine showcases blackberry, cherry, and a touch of vanilla, with a smooth, full-bodied finish.
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot, Washington
WE, 91 points; IWSC, Gold; Decanter, Gold; WS, 90 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Columbia Crest produces wines that balance quality and price from Washington State. This Merlot features black cherry, plum, and a hint of spice, with a soft, balanced finish.
Glen Ellen Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, California
Decanter, Gold; IWSC, Gold; WS, 90 points; WE, 90 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Glen Ellen specializes in providing quality varietals at affordable prices. This Cab features black currant, cherry, and vanilla notes, with a soft finish.
Bella Sera Merlot, California
WE, 91 points; IWSC, Gold; Decanter, Gold; SFIWC, Gold; WS, 90 points.
Bella Sera offers Italian-inspired wines crafted with California varietals. The Merlot showcases ripe plum, black cherry, and a touch of cocoa, with a balanced finish.
Three Thieves Cabernet Sauvignon, California
WS, 91 points; Decanter, Gold; IWSC, Gold; WE, 90 points; SFIWC, Gold.
Three Thieves is committed to producing approachable, bold wines with unique character. This wine features black cherry, plum, and a hint of oak, with soft tannins and a smooth finish.
These wines provide a wide range of red varietals and blends, each with multiple awards from Decanter and other major wine competitions for quality and a great price point for everyday enjoyment.