Wines Under $30

Shopping the $25–$30 tier

This is gift and dinner-party territory. Look for appellation-specific wines — Napa Valley or Russian River rather than plain California, Sancerre rather than plain Sauvignon Blanc — and for verified scores of 90 or more, which are common here. Discounted bottles in this tier often represent the largest dollar savings in the shop.

Because these wines are usually made in smaller lots, a markdown here is more often a vintage change than a closeout: the newer vintage has arrived and the previous one is being cleared at a lower price. For most reds under $30 the older vintage is the better drink today, so treat those markdowns as the opportunity they are.