The best bottles of wine at the LCBO for $25 or less

2024 Mesta Tempranillo D.O. Ucles Organic

$10.80 | Spain Don’t judge a bottle by its low, low price—Spain is known for producing great value wines, so this is excellent bang for your buck. It’s fresh and intense, with aromas and flavours of candied cherry and red licorice. Bonus: it’s both organic and vegan (because you just know you’ll have that one dinner guest who wants nothing less). LCBO 44591

Related: The LCBO’s best bottles of sparkling wine and champagne

2024 Giovinello Pinot Grigio

$10.95 | Hungary This very affordable pinot grigio hails not from Italy but from Hungary. Anyone throwing a bash this holiday season can grab a box of these bottles without breaking the bank. On the palate, it’s light, with citrus, green pear and a touch of white peach, plus plenty of crisp acidity on the finish. The turkey won’t know what hit it. LCBO 43705

2022 Ribafreixo Seleção White

$11.90 | Portugal Made from a blend of Portuguese grapes, this refreshing white gives ripe pineapple, mango and a touch of peach on the nose and a burst of tropical and citrus flavours on the palate. LCBO 42930

2023 Senza Tempo Montepulciano D’Abruzzo DOP

$12.95 | Italy If you have the patience (it’s hard to find during the holidays, we know), open this bottle at least 30 minutes before serving and you’ll be rewarded with a full-bodied, juicy sip brimming with plum, cassis and cherry. LCBO 32159

2024 Postales Del Fin Del Mundo Patagonia Malbec

$13.95 | Argentina There’s a global trend toward using less oak in the making of red wines so they turn out fresher and fruitier. This particular bottle—with notes of dark cherry, blackberry and violet—is more approachable and easy-drinking than the typical Argentinian malbec thanks to soft tannins. It’s a great excuse to bundle up, brave the cold and fire up the barbecue for grilled beef or lamb. LCBO 36858

2024 Gloria Grillo Sicilia

$15.90 | Italy The grillo grape is grown in Sicily, where volcanic soils allow the grapes to develop a minerality that can be found only here. There’s also a nice hint of citrus, which makes this wine fresh, light and the perfect pairing for any seafood dishes you have planned. LCBO 31003

2024 Kacaba Unoaked Chardonnay VQA

$15.95 | Ontario Bright and crisp, this take on one of Ontario’s signature grapes is for the anti-oak folk out there—you know who you are. It starts with a nose of green apple, pear and citrus, and the palate follows suit, with a subtle mineral note on the finish. Balanced acidity makes it extremely food friendly. Get the night started (or end it) with a glass of this and some brie. LCBO 326975

2023 Chateau De Courteillac Bordeaux AOC

$15.95 | France This merlot–cabernet sauvignon blend punches far above its price point. Cherry, black currant and subtle violet notes provide that classic bordeaux profile—but there’s also a plushness that feels less French than South American. Good luck finding a bottle at this price that delivers as much flavour and structure. LCBO 360552

2023 Truffle Hunter Barbera d’Asti

$16.55 | Italy Barbera is Italy’s answer to gamay. It’s a ready-to-drink wine with lots of fruit, and it’s even better when lightly chilled. Serve it with appetizers, pizza, pasta—even turkey. LCBO 43949

2022 Château Le Grand Retour Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône Villages

$17.95 | France Plan de Dieu translates to “Plain of God,” a name that explains the exceptional quality of this red blend. On the nose, you’ll find ripe black cherry and raspberry fruit with a hint of pepper—that classic southern Rhône savoury-spice character. The palate is full-bodied yet smooth, generous with dark berry fruits that mingle with earthy undertones. Tannins are present but refined, giving structure and nice acidity. This keeps the wine balanced and food friendly. LCBO 224592

2021 Gérard Bertrand Languedoc

$18.95 | France Full bodied yet approachable with a soft finish, this syrah-grenache blend gives loads of black currant, blackberry and plum that mingle with subtle notes of cozy campfire. Try pairing it with something classically French, like ratatouille or roast duck. LCBO 413237

2022 Santa Alicia Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

$18.95 | Chile American cab fans, this may be the bottle you’ve been searching for. It’s super juicy and brimming with black currant and cherry pie filling. However, this is not a California-style wine produced in Chile. Instead, it shows the regional characteristics of where it’s from, like hints of eucalyptus on both the nose and the finish. LCBO 60244

2021 Sister’s Run Calvary Hill Shiraz

$19.95 | Australia The Sister’s Run logo features a high heel and a boot to show the two sides of the winemaker’s life: sometimes she’s hosting a fancy dinner; other days she’s out in the field checking on the grapes. This particular bottle also has a double life, as an elegant dinner wine or one that goes equally well with friends, a couch and a good movie. Look for plenty of cassis and spice, and as it opens, the dark fruit just takes over. Pair it with family dinner and don’t forget to invite your sister. LCBO 222018

2024 Invivo Sauvignon Blanc

$19.95 | New Zealand The intense tropical aromas and flavours of this stunner will have you forgetting all about any snow and ice outside. Passion fruit, guava and ripe pineapple cascade out of the glass with a cool intensity, and all that fruit is carried by a crisp and refreshing acidity. It’s an instant mood-brightener—even in the middle of an Ontario winter. LCBO 14199

2024 Alpha Estate Turtles Single Vineyard Malagouzia

$19.95 | Greece There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of malagouzia, but consider this your new go-to sauvignon blanc. It has a refreshing citrus note with a touch of juicy peach and an exquisite burst of acidity. Bring out a bottle with the appetizers. LCBO 32161

2024 Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio

$21.95 | Italy Most well-known pinot grigio comes from Italy’s Venezie region, but this one bucks that trend, hailing from Alto-Adige, an even more northerly area at the foot of the Dolomites. Staunch pinot grigio drinkers dig the simple wines that Venezie offers—and there’s nothing wrong with that—but this wine is a step up, loaded with lime cordial and citrus pith flavours, with an unexpected creamy texture for an unforgettable finish. LCBO 474742

Related: These Toronto bars are getting festive for the holiday season

2019 Beronia Reserva

$23.95 | Spain The Spanish love to age their wines before they reach the masses so that they’re ready to drink right away—which is why bottles like this one, six years from its vintage date, really deliver. With characteristics of fresh fruit and smoke, it’s an ideal match for roast red meat and rich stews. LCBO 50203

2021 Lakeview Cellars Vidal Icewine

$24.95 ($22.95 until January 4) | Canada Icewine is one of the most regifted bottles in Canada, but did you know you can actually keep it for yourself and drink it? While most of us don’t uncork an icewine on a random Tuesday, it remains Canada’s signature style for a reason—and this vidal is a perfect reminder why. It’s overflowing with honey, canned peaches and apricot yet lifted by enough acidity to keep every sip bright, not syrupy. A little goes a long way, but every drop is worth savouring. LCBO 522672

2021 Tezza Valpolicella Ripasso Valpantena Superiore

$24.95 | Italy Ripasso means “to repass,” which is exactly what happens in the winemaking process. Valpolicella gapes are repassed over amarone skins, giving the wine more flavour and a bigger (and boozier) punch. It’s more affordable than your typical amarone but less complicated and easier to drink. When it’s well made (like this one is), it far out-delivers its modest price point. LCBO 25823

2024 Closson Chase The Brock Chardonnay

$24.95 | Ontario While this winery is located in Prince Edward County, the fruit used to make it actually comes from Niagara. A portion of it is aged in oak, giving it seasonal notes of vanilla and baking spice, which help enhance the supporting fruit flavours: peach, pear and tangerine. LCBO 20899