Affordable Wines That Taste Expensive
At Cave Bristol, we believe great wine shouldn’t be a luxury—it should be a pleasure within reach. There’s real magic in discovering a bottle that punches above its weight: affordable, yes, but bursting with character, balance, and a sense of place. These are wines that surprise you, that feel like a secret shared among friends and prove that quality doesn’t always have to come with a heavy price tag. Although it may be true these wines are few and far between, they are out there.
So here is a list of them…
White
Duncan Savage, Salt River, 2023
A quietly confident South African white that punches well above its weight. This is a Sauvignon Blanc from the hands of Duncan Savage, one of the Cape’s most respected winemakers. Expect bright citrus, a whisper of stone fruit, and a gentle saline edge that lives up to the name. It's zippy, textured, and effortlessly drinkable — like a coastal breeze in a glass. Finding a wine this expressive and elegant for £20 feels like a secret worth sharing.
Bodegas Loxarel, Cora, 2023
A crisp and quietly characterful white from one of our favourite Catalan producers. Cora is a blend of organically grown Xarel·lo and Muscat – vibrant, floral and citrus-laced, with just enough texture to keep things interesting. Think elderflower, white peach and a twist of grapefruit zest, all wrapped in a clean, mineral finish.
It’s the kind of bottle that feels far more expensive than it is – ideal for spring evenings, park picnics or a casual dinner where you still want to impress. Seriously good wine for £17.
Clos Lapeyre, Jurancon Sec, 2022
This is southwest France in a bottle—zesty, sun-kissed, and full of personality. Made from organically grown Gros Manseng in the foothills of the Pyrenees, it’s bone-dry but bursting with ripe citrus, white peach, and a little wild herb edge that keeps it fresh and food friendly. We love this wine because it delivers way beyond its price point—elegant, characterful, and made with real care. A proper crowd-pleaser that’s just as happy with seafood as it is with a cheeseboard. One of those bottles you’ll come back to again and again for £19.
Red
Ciu Ciu, Rosso Piceno Bacchus, 2023
For £14, juicy, easy-going, and packed with personality — this organic red from the Marche hills is pure Italian charm in a bottle. A blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese, it’s all ripe cherry, soft spice, and a little earthy twist that makes it endlessly drinkable.
It’s the kind of bottle you crack open on a Wednesday night and wonder why you’re not drinking it every night. No oak, no fuss — just vibrant, honest wine that overdelivers for the price. A total crowd-pleaser and a staple for your kitchen table.
Gran Cerdo, Tinto, 2023
This is not your average Rioja—this is Gran Cerdo (literally, “Big Pig”), a juicy, wild ride of a wine that punches way above its weight. Made from Tempranillo and fermented naturally with minimal intervention, it’s vibrant, fresh, and full of unruly cherry fruit, soft tannins, and a whisper of earthy spice. Zero nonsense, just proper good juice in a bottle.
Why drink it? Because it’s the rebellious friend in your wine rack—ridiculously drinkable, organically grown, and still somehow £13. It’s the kind of red you crack open mid-week and wonder why you ever spent more.
Domaine De Ferrand, Mistral, 2023
This is southern Rhône sunshine in a bottle—vibrant, fresh, and bursting with wild herbs, ripe cherry, and that signature garrigue twist. The 2023 vintage of Mistral is pure, unfiltered energy—made with love by Philippe Bravay, who knows his way around old vines and honest winemaking.
Why pour a glass? Because it delivers way more than you'd expect. It's easy on the wallet, refreshingly unfussy, and outrageously tasty. The kind of bottle you crack open on a Wednesday and instantly feel transported to a sunny hillside in Provence.
Fizz
Pago de Tharsys, Cava Brut Nature, NV
This is proper sparkling—bone dry, brilliantly crisp, and outrageously good value. From one of the region's most respected organic producers, Pago de Tharsys delivers a Brut Nature that punches well above its weight. Expect zesty citrus, green apple crunch, and a whisper of toasted almond, all wrapped up in those fine, elegant bubbles we love. No dosage, no nonsense—just pure, clean fizz that’ll outshine bottles twice the price.
Orange
Chateau St Cyrgues, Salamandre Orange, 2024
A sun-drenched orange wine that punches well above its price tag. Made from organically grown Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, this skin-contact beauty brings apricot skins, orange peel, and a gentle herbal grip to the table. Fresh, textural, and just wild enough to keep things interesting — it’s the kind of bottle that turns a casual
Tuesday into something worth remembering.
Great with food, better with friends. One of those wines that makes you wonder why more people aren’t drinking orange.
There is always a good selection of wines on the bargain shelf in the shop, but our website has even more. Click the link and find a wine for you.