I'm curious to hear people's suggestions for budget alcohol. The best value budget red that I've found that isn't vile and doesn't produce a hangover is the Hardy's Regional Range Shiraz at $7 a litre. I was wondering if anyone knew of a wine that had a better price/quality mix than this option?
thanks!
+1 McGuigan's Black label. It's a blend. Very easy drinking and cheap. It has a subtle sweetness to it, but wouldn't taste like it if you have a sweet tooth.
It's the best blend and great value!
Wine is so subjective.
Big & bold shiraz, award winning for $5. Available at Liquorland, Vintage Cellars, First Choice and Liquor Market outlets. Personal taste: a bit sweet and to much pepper but good for $5. I like their $5 cab merlot a bit more.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=big+%26+bold+shiraz&oq=bi…
http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/coles-takes-o…
Water with red food colouring
We are spoilt for choice for red wine in this country.
At the low end, Hardy's make a cask version, maybe it is the same wine as the RR you quoted? The 3L casks are about $17 but go on special at 2 for $25.
I think it tastes ok, and no hangover after a few glasses (but I haven't had it for a few years, the budget here has loosened up a bit).
I find it a little harder to do portion control with a cask, however, and tended to pour bigger glasses, and sometimes an extra one with no visual feedback that I was going past half a bottle (or no doubt, a whole bottle sometimes).
One leads to the other as deciding if a 3rd glass is a good idea is clouded if the first two were oversize…
In any case, I suggest you also look at some of the somewhat costlier wines on special. There are some great deals on here, Tonester is a reliable poster of very good value, both at the lower price point and some massive savings on premium wine.
Some of the best deals on here I have had were Saltram Maker's Table Cabernet at $4.16/bottle delivered and Mount Pleasant Philip Shiraz for $5.83/bottle delivered (up there in my best bargains ever). Up the chain a bit and Lindeman's Pyrus at $24, even less as I think that one had cash rewards.
One other thing to consider is that some cheap wine has lots of sulphites added for preservation. This can cause a histamine reaction (like hayfever) in some people, including me sometimes. So it is good to try it before you buy a dozen!
Thanks mskeggs, I will pick up a box and see if it tastest the same as the RR.
Is that why red wine makes me sneeze? I've never come across anyone else that also experiences this.
Maybe.
My reaction is the sniffles
It is reasonably common. I work with somebody who gets the same reaction from beer, and my spouse gets it too, and she sometimes sneezes.
https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/product-allergy/sulfite-…
I don't get it to all red wine, just a minority, and more so with a couple of really cheap reds.
Have a look at Aldi, there $5 rose is excellent and have pretty good drinkable red wine for $10 or under - which have performed very well on blind tastings
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/drink/aldis-7-wine-has…
I think some of their white is good too
The proposition that cheap wine produces more hangovers than expensive wine sounds like an urban myth invented by wine wonkers. Has any scientific investigation been done?
It depends if you drink it by the glass or by the dollar.
$20 worth of fancy red won't cause a hangover, but $20 worth of Berri 5L cask certainly would!
I haven't seen any correlation to price, just volume.
If you want cheap and drinkable, get those sub $10 ones from Aldi.
I find the Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon to be pretty good value when they go on sale.
They seem to be decently popular on OzBargain as well.
I will try a bottle and see just how bad it is!
I stand by my recommendation. I like it. Hope you enjoy it too.
Water Wheel Memsie Shiraz ……its a blend, around $9 -10 bottle.
Central Vic vineyard.
Been buying it by the case for too many years ……no headaches !
try mcguigan