Wine Is One Of My Favorite Things On The Planet; Here Are 25 Bottles I Really Love

Wine time, anyone?

I'm Hannah, and I really, really love wine. So much so that I once took a six-month wine class to learn everything I could about it. And lately, I've been loving natural wines — which are becoming increasingly popular. 🍷

Hannah Loewentheil/BuzzFeed

Natural wine doesnt have a strict definition, but many think of it as wine in its most basic form. Natural wines are made with as little intervention as possible — aka: no (or very low) added processing aids, sulfites, and so on. In other words, it's pure fermented grape juice... and not much else.

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As a result, these natural wines sometimes taste a bit funky, wild, and unique, which I love. You can find a full explainer on natural wines here.

With so many different grape names, regions, and confusing jargon, navigating the world of wine can be overwhelming. But drinking delicious wine doesn't have to be overly complicated. If you've been hearing buzz about natural wine and want to try it for yourself, these bottles, all $25 and under, are a good place to start.

Hannah Loewentheil/BuzzFeed

Of course, my taste in wine won't be the exact same as yours, but the following list includes lots of diverse styles of wines that I've really enjoyed. And keep in mind that these wines won't be available everywhere. If something looks good to you, your favorite local wine shop can steer you in the right direction to find similar bottles.

POP

1. Broc Cellars Love Red

Astor Wines / Via astorwines.com

Of all of Broc Cellars' delicious wines, this one is an easy-to-drink red with a reasonable price tag. It's a blend of three different grapes — Carignan, Valdiguié, and Syrah — and it's bright, juicy, and tastes best slightly chilled.

Get it from Astor Wines for $19.96 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

2. Swick "Bring It" Red

Vivino / Via vivino.com

This wine from Oregon is made from (mostly) Pinot Noir blended with an eclectic mix of red and white grapes. This food-friendly wine can go with just about anything. It's fruity and florally, but it has some good body to it.

Get it from Discover Wines for $22 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

3. Meinklang Weisser Mulatschak

Vivino / Via vivino.com

If you want a foray into the world of skin-contact wine (aka orange wine), this is a good place to begin. This Austrian wine is made from three white wine grapes: Welschriesling, Pinot Gris, and Savagnin. The resulting wine falls somewhere in the middle of white and orange: it's peachy, citrusy, crisp, a little bit hazy, and so refreshing.

Get it from Bibber and Bell for $20 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

4. Cantina Marilina Fedelie Rosato Frizzante Ancestrale Nero D'Avola

Helen's Wines / Via helenswines.com

Perhaps you've heard of the term pet-nat and want to give it a try? Give this sparkling red wine a go. It's made from Nero d'Avola, a grape native to Sicily. It's dry and tart with lots of strawberry flavors, and it's a little bit funky and wild tasting.

Get it from Helen's Wines for $23 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

5. Bow & Arrow Gamay Willamette Valley

Vivino / Via vivino.com

If you like zippy, fresh wines that are highly chuggable, and food-friendly, this Gamay from Oregon's Wilamette Valley is a great choice. Like any glou-glou wine, it's best slightly chilled.

Get it from Discovery Wines for $25 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

6. Niepoort "Nat Cool" Bairrada

Astor Wines / Via astorwines.com

This light red wine from northern Portugal is bursting with strawberry and raspberry fruit. Whether you're day drinking or looking for a bottle to pair with pizza or a cheese plate, look no further.

Get it from Astor Wines for $19.96 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

7. 4 Monos Madrid Tinto "Gr-10"

Verve Wine / Via vervewine.com

This Spanish red is made from Grenache. It has nice dark fruit flavors balanced by good tannins, earthiness, oak, and some spice that will satisfy anyone who usually prefers fuller bodied wines like Cabernet Sauvignon.

Get it from Verve Wine for $24 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

8. Guilhem & Jean-Hugues Goisot Aligote

Astor Wines / Via astorwines.com

You've probably heard of Chardonnay, but maybe you've never heard of Aligoté, the far-more-underrated white wine grape that grows in France's Burgundy region. And compared to Chardonnay, Aligoté gives you much more bang for you buck. This bottle has great minerality and lots of flavors of peach, citrus and white flowers.

Get it from Astor Wines for $18.96 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

9. Domaine les Terres Promises A Ma Guise

Sea Grape Wines / Via seagrapewines.com

This light and acidic red wine is made from over a dozen grapes (including some you've probably never even heard of) like Mourvedre Noir, Syrah, and Ugni Blanc. This is the kind of zippy, crunchy, fruit-forward red wine that dances around in your mouth and makes you want to order another bottle before you finish the first.

Get it from Sea Grape Wine for $21.99 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

10. St. Reginald Parish "The Marigny" Piquette

The Marginy / Via themarigny.com

The description of this summery wine from the Willamette Valley reads, "when wine is too much, and water is too little, there is Piquette," and that just about nails it on the head. This low-alcohol rosé tasty like slightly boozy juice, and it's exactly what you'll want to sip with friends on a warm spring day.

Get it from Rock Juice for $18 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

11. Hervé Villemade Sauvignon Blanc

De Wine Spot / Via dewinespot.co

If you like Sancerre, you'll love this Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. It'll cost you a fraction of the price of a good Sancerre, but it drinks just like one. It's super crisp and zesty, perfect for pairing with your favorite seafood or just drinking on its own.

Get it from De Wine Spot for $20 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

12. Guimaro Ribeira Sacra Mencia

Vivino / Via vivino.com

This red wine from Galicia, Spain is made from old-vine Mencia grapes. Based on its complexity and smoothness, it tastes far more expensive than its price tag. Heavier than a Pinot Noir and lighter than a Cabernet, it's earthy and a little spicy with plenty of dark fruit flavors.

Get it from Verve Wine for $22 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

13. Domaine du Bartassou Un Petit Grain de Mamour 2019

Peoples Wine / Via peopleswine.square.site

This Grenache from the south of France is the kind of solid, easy-drinking wine you always want to keep on hand. It pairs with just about anything, it's bursting with red fruit flavors, and it's not overly complex. It's just an approachable wine for any and all the time.

Get it from Peoples Wine for $20 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

14. Domaine de la Patience Rouge

Vivino / Via vivino.com

At less than $15 a bottle, think of this blend of Merlot and Carignan from southern France as the perfect table wine. You don't need any sort of occasion to open it up, and you can leave it in your fridge for a few days, pouring yourself a glass here and there. In fact, it tastes best a bit chilled straight from the fridge.

Get it from Leon & Son for $14 or check Vivino to see find it at a store near you.

15. Cantina Marilina Sikelè Grecanico

Vivino / Via vivino.com

Another excellent beginner skin contact wine, the flavors in this bottle will basically transport you to Italy in the summertime. It's from Sicily and the grape is Grecanico. It's sunny and bright like orange groves or lemon trees and a tiny bit salty like an ocean breeze.

Get it from Leon & Son Wine for $17 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

16. Mani Di Luna Umbria Rosso

Vivino / Via vivino.com

My husband and I face a constant challenge: I love light, juicy wines while he prefers them with more structure and tannins. This wine is always one of our go-to's because it's a little bit of both. It's a Sangiovese from Central Italy (Umbria, to be exact). It's a tiny bit effervescent and funky at first, but it gives way to a smooth and earthy wine. And best of all, it's a liter sized bottle, which makes it ideal for opening at a dinner party with friends.

Get it from Discovery Wines for $23 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

17. Gaspard Pinot Noir

Wine Therapy / Via winetherapynyc.com

This Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley is a Jack of all trades. It's light enough to sip on it's own without food, but it also has some depth to it. Open it on a Tuesday night or a Friday night, pair it with anything from pizza to burgers, and just enjoy.

Get it from Wine Therapy for $17.99 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

18. Brand Riesling Trocken

Kingston Wine / Via kingstonwine.com

Here's the thing about Riesling — it gets a bad rep. Most people associate the grape with sticky sweet wine, but the reality is far different. There are lots of different styles of Riesling, like this bone-dry and acidic one from Pfalz, Germany. This bottle is a liter instead of the standard 750 ml, so you're getting some serious bang for your buck.

Get it from Kingston Wine for $20 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

19. 4 Kilos Vinícola Motor América Tinto

Vivino / Via vivino.com

This red wine hails from Mallorca, Spain, and it's made from two grapes you've probably never heard of before: Fogoneu and Callet. It's a little bit tart, sort of funky, and packed with lots of red fruit, perfect for light wine lovers.

Get it from Amanti Vino for $20.99 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

20. Enderle & Moll Müller-Thurgau

Astor Wine / Via astorwines.com

There's a good chance you've never heard of Müller-Thurgau, the white wine grape that makes this German wine. If you like other mineral-driven whites like Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc, Chablis, or Gruner Veltliner, this wine is a safe bet. It tastes like stone fruit and lemon and actually goes great with spicy food (think: Thai curry and dandan noodles).

Get it from Astor Wine for $18.99 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

21. Julie Benau Picpoul de Pinet

Flatiron Wines / Via nyc.flatiron-wines.com

As the label might suggest, this French white was basically born to pair with oysters and shellfish, but it also tastes delicious on its own. It's super dry, herbaceous, and fresh. It's the kind of wine that makes it easy to drink the whole bottle without realizing where it all went.

Get it from Flatiron Wines for $18.99 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

22. Donkey and Goat "Gallivanter" Red Blend

Astor Wines / Via astorwines.com

Donkey & Goat is one of the pioneers of natural winemaking in California. All of their wines are excellent, and this introductory red blend (a mix of Merlot, Grenache and Mourvèdre) is no exception. While many natural wines can veer toward the funky side, this is a straightforward red that makes for an easy introduction.

Get it from Astor Wines for $24.96 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

23. Puech Redon "L'Apparente Rouge"

Vivino / Via vivino.com

This Languedoc-Roussillon red (made entirely from a grape called Cinsault) is an elegant and great value bottle that will appeal to just about anyone. It's not too light, not too heavy, and juuuust right. It's bold and jammy and made with zero chemicals and zero sulphites.

Get it from Discovery Wine for $20 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

24. Land of Saints Sauvignon Blanc

Vivino / Via vivino.com

This Santa Barbara Sauvignon Blanc is a great white wine for any occasion. Light yellow in color and vibrant on your tastebuds with a bit of tropical fruit, you could pair this bottle with a seafood meal, a cheese board, or just sip it throughout an afternoon.

Get it from Leon & Son Wine for $20.99 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

25. Lammidia Miscela Rosato

Some Good Wine / Via somegoodwine.com

Miscela, the name of this wine, translates to blend in Italian. As such, it's made from a handful of white and red grapes like Montepulciano, Trebbiano, Pecorino, and Malvasia. The result is a darker-style rosé that's a little herbal, super juicy, and a little bit fizzy. The first few sips might even remind you of berry kombucha.

Get it from Some Good Wine for $21.99 or check Vivino to find it at a store near you.

Did you try any of the wines on this list, or do you have a favorite natural wine that others might like? Tell me in the comments below!