100 Top Values

During this tumultuous year, we have all looked for comfort wherever we can find it. Because of the emphasis on home due to the pandemic, it has been our closest family and friends who we’ve relied on most to get us through. There’s no better way to connect than with good food and wine, making it as important as ever to have affordable, go-to bottles we can count on.

Yet being at home doesn’t mean we can’t try new flavors, experience different cultures and expand our senses. That’s another way that value-priced wines have been a source of pleasure this year, by allowing us to travel the world from our kitchens. The diverse selection in this year’s annual roundup of 100 top values covers six categories—Light Whites, Rich Whites, Elegant Reds, Big Reds, Rosé and Sparkling—and spans every corner of the globe. All of the wines are rated 88 points or higher, priced at $25 or less and made in large enough quantities to be widely available. (Another 22 wines in this year’s Top 100 also represent exceptional value. See the complete list.)

Producers in both established and emerging regions have made an ongoing commitment to delivering high quality wines at prices that allow for exploration. In the pages that follow, you’ll find plenty of your favorites—from vivid Sauvignon Blancs to refined Pinot Noirs—but also less-familiar offerings. Even in well-traveled regions such as Italy and Spain there are discoveries to be made. All you need is a guide to show you the way.