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Brooklyn’s best under-$10 bottles

Smith & Vine in Carroll Gardens.

A holiday party without good wine is like… well… enough said. With the sheer number of get-togethers on most folks’ calendars this time of year, bringing a bottle to every gathering can get a little out of hand. But nobody wants to leave their celebrating cohorts dry either. We called up some of Brooklyn’s best sellers for their affordable holiday picks, and here’s what they recommend. All bottles are under $10 a pop and available at a wine shop near you.

Palacio de Vivero (Viura/Verdejo) $8.99
A Spanish white wine with a nice, crip finish
Fat Cat Wines
(Carroll Gardens) 583 Court St., 347-599-0765

Sa-Ra-Da (Garnacha Tintorera, Monastrell) $8.99
This quencher is made from four grapes and never poured into a barrel, giving the fruit all the shine.
Windsor Wine Merchants (Windsor Terrace) 216 Prospect Park West 718-768-2291

Olivier $9
Named for the obscure Hungarian grapes it’s made from, this dry white wine is marked by a citrus finish.
Smith & Vine (Carroll Gardens) 268 Smith St. 718-243-2864

Liotro (Nero D’Avola) $9.99
A juicy red from Sicily bursting with spicy tannins.
Fermented Grapes (Prospect Heights) 651 Vanderbilt Ave., 718-230-3216

Segura Viudas NV Brut Reserva Cava (Macabeo, Parellada) $6.99
Great for dinner parties, this easygoing bubbly goes well with any meal. Alas! Something vegans and meat-eaters can agree on at the dinner table.

Vina Borgia Campo Borja
(Grenache) $6.99
Blackberries, blueberries and autumn spices make this bottle a steal.
Heights Chateau (Cobble Hill) 123 Atlantic Ave. 718-330-0963

Grao (Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro) $8
Hailing from Portugal, this medium-bodied red is accented with cherry and cedar flavors.

Astica (Cabernet Sauvignon) $7
Tempted to grab a cabernet from Duane Reade? Don’t. Shell out an extra Washington or two for this yummy, cherry flavored bottle.
Big Nose Full Body (Park Slope) 382 7th Ave. 718-369-4030

Tochuelo (Malvar) $6.50
Fruity and light bodied, it’s a great compliemt to a spread of cured meats.
Gnarly Vines (Clinton Hill) 350 Myrtle 718-797-3183

Tannat $8.99
Described by one D.O.C. sales rep as “a Cabernet on steroids,” this tasty gem from Uraguay is a great pic for frugal cab lovers.
D.O.C Wine Shop (Williamsburg) 147 Broadway 718-388-0087

Domaine le Couroulu Vin de Pays (Grenache) $9.99
Since the Grenace grape count in this wine is just shy of the minimun to be classified a Vacqueyras (a fancy wine hailing from the French region of its namesake), the price is cut in half. However, you still get the full flavor–boysenberry with a hint of tobacco leaf.
T.B Ackerson Wine Merchants (Ditmas Park) 1205 Cortelyou 718-826-6600

Leah Faye Cooper :

View Comments (1)

  • I bought the Astica ($7) at Big Nose Full Body last night. Thanks for the recommendation!