The image in this story is of judges at the 2024 New World Wine Awards
New is coming in thick and fast of people reselling their Xmas presents and scouring the shelves for half price bargains in the Boxing Day sales, which began before Xmas had taken place this year and still seem to be in full swing for many retailers around the motu.
Here are my top five bargain buys under $25 for 2024, four of them also place getters in this year's New World Wine Awards Top 50 Under $25. The following wines also happen to be in my own top 10 best buys for 2024. There is no shortage of contenders but these are consistent stars for me. I hope you enjoy them as much as I continue to.
Five of the best... wine buys under $25 for 2024
18.5/20
2014 Remarkable Riesling RRP $23.99
Dry Riesling at 10 years old is one of the wine world's best kept secrets and this one comes at a remarkable price, living up to its name and retaining incredible freshness of flavour with dry flavours from start to finish. Concentrated aromas of lemon grass lead into a crisp, aromatic wine with layers of citrusy purity in a wine with a medium body and a long finish.
It has been lying in ideal storage conditions in a temperature stable, cool warehouse in Central Otago, mostly unsold - until now. Find it at specialist wine and spirit retailers around the motu.
18.5/20
Lindauer Special Rosé RRP $14 to $19.99
This sparkling rosé won the Champion Bubbles award in the 2024 New World Wine Awards Top 50 under $25, which is no mean feat in a hotly contested category that is now packed with contenders from Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. Flavours of fresh berries and a citrusy zing combine with light yeasty freshness in this zesty sparkling wine, which is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from both Gisborne and Hawke's Bay. When it comes to value for money, this is hard to beat.
2022 Mud House The Mound Waipara Valley Riesling RRP $21.99
Young, fresh and dry in taste with aromas of lemon zest, flavours of liquid honey and a completely crisp, dry finish. This wine comes from the stronghold of exceptional Riesling in Aotearoa - the Waipara Valley in North Canterbury. Yes, many other regions also make superlative Riesling but few places are as consistent as Waipara Valley and affordably priced.
17.5/20
2021 Tohu Whenua Matua Albariño RRP $19.99 to $23.99
Albarino is the next big thing in Aotearoa right now and this is a great example at an appealing price. The Albarino grape originally comes from Spain and over the past 15 years it has steadily built up a reputation for being well suited to this country's cool, maritime climate, which enables Albarino to retain its naturally high acidity - adding freshness. The flavours here are like sitting on a beach under dappled sunlight on a warm day with a salty breeze blowing through - clean, bright and ever so slightly salty in a good way. This was the Champion Aromatic wine at the 2024 New World Wine Awards Top 50 under $25.
17.5/20
2023 Umani Ronchi Podere Montepulciano RRP $22.99
Montepulciano is one of the great Italian reds, even if it usually comes at a fraction of the price in a cheap and cheerful looking bottle. Umani Ronchi is an old family winery with a modern focus. It is situated on the Adriatic Coast of Italy, stretching from the Marche to Abruzzo, two regions where rustic wines have ruled the roost but exceptionally high quality is to be found, as this superbly plummy, medium bodied, smooth soft red with spicy nuances shows. Every sip is delicious and to the winery's credit, it is sealed with a screw cap. The winery has a strong focus on certified organic viticulture and winemaking.
One of the top 50 under $25 wines in the 2024 New World Wine Awards.
