W(h)ine nights are an important part of any friendship. Unfortunately, wine is often expensive, or (if you’re like me) your wine palate isn’t quite developed enough yet to enjoy anything besides Moscato. Moscato is great. It tastes like juice, but with that sweetness comes the fact that it’s going to take an entire bottle before you really even get to enjoy that wine-drunk sort of feeling.
So, in a journey of self-discovery, and some judgmental looks from the lady at the check-out counter, I found the cheapest and most alcoholic bottles of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio. If, however, you’re standing in your grocery store aisle and it looks much different from mine, here is a comprehensive list of wines from weakest to strongest.
1. FlipFlop – Pinot Grigio, $4.49
Photo by Dorianne Ma
This Pinot Grigio was pretty okay. At 12%, it stands as the weakest wine in this list, but at $4.49, it’s also the cheapest option. I can’t say that much really stands out from it, but if you’re looking for a cheap wine that’s pretty easy to get down, then this a great option for you.
2. Rex-Goliath – Cabernet Sauvignon, $4.99
Photo by Dorianne Ma
This Cabernet Sauvignon was actually pretty enjoyable. It didn’t have that sort of “tang” that usually makes me dislike wine (sorry, I know, I’m weak). If you’re like me, this goes down really easily and is actually probably the greatest discovery that came out of this wine-venture. And sitting at 13% alcohol by volume, it’s pretty decent for a night of complaining with your friends.
3. Firefly Ridge – Merlot, $5.00
Photo by Dorianne Ma
This Merlot is $5.00, and earns points for the adorable bottle. Besides it’s cuteness, it’s also 13.5% alcohol by volume. It stands out as a pretty easy wine to get down with no weird aftertaste, which is all you can really ask for. Perfect for a night of complaining.
4. Beringer – Chardonnay, $4.99
Photo by Dorianne Ma
At just $4.99, this Beringer Chardonnay is a great deal, and since it’s 13.7% alcohol by volume, it’s only a little less than the Zinfandel (below) AND it’s half the cost. You really can’t go wrong.
5. The Original Smoking Loon – Old Vine Zinfandel, $7.99
Photo by Dorianne Ma
At $7.99, this was actually the most expensive of the bottles of wine that I managed to find. At 14% alcohol by volume, however, it stands as the strongest out of the five that I managed to pick out. Drink this Zinfandel and get ready to raise some Zinfan-Hell (I know, I’m sorry, I had to).