20 Best Dry Red Wine For Drinking (2023 Updated)

The perfect type of wine for camping turns out to be the perfect wine for everyday at home, as well. I bought a box to try out for a camping trip. So much easier than bottled wine, doesn’t break like a glass bottle, doesn’t require a special device to open it, won’t leak if it gets knocked over on its side, you could balance the lawn with a box of it on the floor tipped back so the spouts up in the air.

No muss, no fuss. So we decided to try a box and spent the trip enjoying the stuff and buying more of it at supermarkets along our camping route. When we got home we ensconced it on our fancy wine bar and that’s mostly what we drink right now.

It’s good wine! Medium body, not sweet, not dry, very flavorful. And my go-to everyday wine. My husband still likes some of his fancier bottles for special occasions, but I’m happy with this for every occasion.

I was a wine connoisseur once. I thought that the most expensive wines were the best, but Black Box Cabernet changed all of that. It is a delicious Cabernet with a wonderful taste on the palate. On average, one box is equal to about four standard bottles of wine.

This makes it a really good value. The taste makes it feel like you are not sacrificing. The wine doesn’t have to be refrigerated even after opening. The Black Box company has a reward program which converts uploaded receipts into points for some really nice gifts.

I got these gold insulated wine goblets free with free shipping for just a few points.

Tastes very good. It definitely evolves if you let it breathe. I’m no wine snob, but I’ve had my fair share of different wines. Very dry, but eases up after breathing for 15-20 minutes. It’s better than many bottled wines I’ve had and at a great price-point.

My advice is to keep it in the fridge and let it breathe for 10-15 minutes before fully enjoying. My main gripe is that it’s hard to tell how much is left. I was initially under the impression it came in 4 750ml bags, but it’s one big 3L bag.

I was under the impression I’ve poured about half of it, but when I opened the box to look in the bag I really couldn’t tell. Some markings on the bag would go a long way. It also starts to pour slowly around the halfway mark, but I fixed that by adjusting the bag.

Currently have about a liter left to enjoy it seems, but I’ll definitely buy this again. The biggest advantages I would say is it’s good tasting and a great value. The biggest disadvantage is that it has no markings on it whatsoever seemingly and it can be slow to pour around halfway.

It’s deceptively strong too, 14% abv is nothing to sneeze at.

I bought this wine last week to compare with other “value brands”. The residual sugar (clearly from the addition of Mega Purple) is apparent. I can see the broad appeal with the sweetness (not typically found in Cav Sauv) but I found the flavors to be one-noted with very little nuance.

This wine is fine to bring to your in-laws for Easter but that’s about it.

Allow me to preface this review: I am not a wine expert. I drink any Cabernet Sauvignon that tastes good with red meat and is not too expensive. Hence, Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon. I’ve found deals for $4.

99 – $5. 99. In my opinion, it beats most “bottom shelf” wines (I don’t agree with that term, but you know what I mean). It’s not weak by any means, but has a very easy, mellow, berry flavor. I pair it with my weekly Ribeye (backyard charcoal grill, medium rare).

I give Barefoot Cab 5/5 stars, not because it’s the best (you can spend over $49. 99 for a great wine), but because it’s the best affordable (“bottom shelf”) wine I’ve ever had. My wine closet is filled with no less than three Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignons and I’m not ashamed to drink it or serve it to guests.

Try it! You’ll like the flavor and the price.

I loved this wine. It’s very convenient with the single serve size. You don’t have to open a full bottle when you want just one glass. Had a very robust flavor of berries and I lived the oak undertones.

If you like a wine with the oak flavors. You should try the single serving size. I will buy this again.

Good cheap wine!! The packing is easy to open and the spout is easy to use. If you have a small refrigerator the box may take up a bit of space. The Cabernet is good and at 12% alc vol 2-3 glasses will have you nice and relaxed.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a large quantity of wine (about 5-6 bottles worth) for the price of 2 affordably priced bottles of wine.

This is my favorite wine. The price is great. The flavor is great. I have been drinking this for years and drank it all through college. It lasts 30 days in the box without losing it’s flavor. After about 30 days it starts getting a vinegar flavor and I throw it away.

I highly recommend Franzia. I keep my box wine at room temperature or in my wine fridge.

I had a hard day moving a family from OR to IN. The customer presented me a bottle of Earth Pinot Noir. This wine has brightened my evening. My fatigue has gone, my taste receptors are at their highest ever pleasure, my mood is at top satisfaction.

I want both to enjoy the evening and to start the coming day full of energy and joy. This wine just great (as a conclusion). Try it,and feel a rainbow of feelings.

I was so incredibly pleased with this Pinot Noir! The bottle says itself that its smooth finish made it attractive to white and red wine lovers alike but I was still a bit skeptical. until the first sip! This may have been the smoothest Pinot Noir I’ve had to date.

It was such an enjoyable drinking experience and paired well with the whole assortment of treats we incorporated. I’m someone who generally prefers white over red but my friends who have much stronger aversions to red wine actually asked for a top off from their initial ‘trial sips’.

As someone who entertains often, this aspect of the wine makes me incredibly excited for the next opportunity to host friends; no more stressing out thinking about how to keep the masses happy!.

WOW! This wine is delicate with no tannins, and it’s cherry tart forward on the nose, but on the palate, it’s earthy! Graphite, wet stones, dirt, dust, crushed gravel! It’s like chewing on a cherry flavored riverbed rock covered in moss.

and that’s not a bad thing. I prefer cabs, but this is a really good Oregon Pinot Noir if you like earth in you flavor wheel.

Excellent wine and a great price! Flavor iis great. Love the price point. Black box never disappoints. Great to take to outdoor events where glass is not permitted. Less to recycle. Award winning wine for a great value.

Smooth finish and wonderful fruity notes. So good!.

Can’t beat the price and quality on this wine. I’m tired to spend twice or more in bottles of wine. An important fact to consider in my opinion. Also, sometimes I only want to drink one glass, but guess what.

if you open a bottle you better drink it in less than 24 hours or it won’t taste the same. It is also great for cooking. With Black Box, I can keep my wine for almost six weeks!. I finally discovered the best way to save my money and drink a good glass of wine every time I want to without wasting the rest.

Smells corked when first opened, even though the wine hasn’t been near a cork ever. After a day, the wine isn’t terrible, but still has some bitter flavors. Boxed wines should be approachable – this isn’t.

Sutter Home is known for being a budget wine and their Merlot is no exception. But for its price point it’s actually not bad. Fruity, with a jammy finish, low acidity and medium tannins, it’s a great Merlot for every day, for a barbecue or for cooking.

Maybe it won’t win any awards, but it’s a reliable, mellow, semi-dry/semi-sweet red for when you don’t want to break the bread.

There’s nothing exceptional or even interesting about this wine. Often a wine will have something that stands out and makes it worth drinking because it gets your attention. This wine is just bland and nothing grabs you.

It’s not bad but it’s certainly not good either. I use it for cooking but not for drinking.

Just a Friday watching this beautiful woman in the pictures video and drink this wine. And loving it. If you need a good storyteller you need to look up Christina Randall. I have been watching for a few years and she is like a fine wine her stories better with time and how she tells them suckers you in.

is there anything better than a good tasting merlot with a filet mignon? how about a great tasting merlot that doesn’t break the bank as well? this one is it. I like mine room temperature, however some enjoy this merlot chilled.

either way, snazzy up steak night with your better half and a bottle of good wine. pop in a tape of “breakfast at Tiffany’s” in the ol’vcr and have another bottle of wine for dessert😎☺.

I’m not a sommelier, but I do buy a few bottles of wine every week and keep “wine notes” of what I like and don’t like. Here’s what I can say about Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon: I’ve never had a “bad” bottle and for the price, it doesn’t get better.

I could spend over $40 on a really great bottle of wine (maybe, because you don’t know if you’ll like it until you buy it and taste it), but I can say that for under $5, it doesn’t get better than Barefoot.

Everyone’s taste is different, so here’s what I found: Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon is mellow, smooth, not too acidic (just a touch), and the finish doesn’t leave your mouth in a bad place (as many sub $10 wines do).

Here’s the great news: spend the $5 and see for yourself. If you hate it, you’re only out $5. If you’re like me, you’re going to drop about $15 for 3 bottles each week and be content with a consistent wine that goes great with a medium rare rib-eye over charcoal.

Try it; you won’t be disappointed.

It’s just. ok. i don’t know what I don’t like about it. Maybe it’s that you need half a glass before it settles into your pallet. I am sure with the right meal it would work better. Maybe a steak or something.

If it was on sale I would probably get it again. I don’t love it or hate it. It isn’t my first choice in reds, but better than most. My review is terrible, I’m sorry.

It’s a refreshing wine. I really enjoy it. It’s a good way to unwind after a long day. It’s about $9 for a large bottle and that lasts me for a week. Hints of strawberry and peach and other berries. It’s sweet but not tart.

A pleasant and relaxing sweet wine. I do recommend this wine.

My friends and I love this! A huge bottle for 8 bucks, great for a fun girls night!! Most liquor stores carry this in their wine selections! Beringer Main White makes a white zinfandel too and their bottle looks VERY SIMILAR, I have not tried it but it’s cheaper.

Yum! This is a deliciously sweet wine. Not too sweet but not to dry either! I have had it cold from the fridge and room temperature and it is good either way! Us moms need a little adult beverage every once in a while but we are known for spending way more money on our babies than ourselves so this inexpensive, tasty wine is perfect for moms!.

Overall, a very smooth and drinkable wine. I enjoyed it from start to finish. The cherry and raspberry notes were quite evident as well as the subtle vanilla flavor which bridged them together in such a nice and seamless way.

I was relaxing and listening to some of my favorite music while savoring the likeable uniqueness of this wine. I started licking the inside of my cheeks and smiling in between sips while enjoying the total experience of drinking this wine Surely, this wine is worth visiting again, and no doubt, I will soon!.

Not your typical Pinot or red. It has a very smooth almost sweet taste. No idea if the carbs and if added sugar but Pinots are supposed to be low carb. My wife doesn’t like red wine but loved this one.

I usually o my drink reds and still loved, it’s just sweeter than a typical.

Nice Pinot for the price. An everyday table wine that has flavors of dark cherry, vanilla, and dark chocolate.

This wine is a very good deal for a cheapie. If you dont want to spend $50+ on a casual Cabernet, use this one with a steak or some kind of red meat. I would also recommend with pork. One thing that stood out to me is the consistency.

I like a Cab that pours deep and rich. This one pours slightly thin so I thought it would be garbage. But I was wrong about its quality of taste. I do think it lingers on the palate a bit too much but its not the worst.

Someone made a comment on letting the wine sit out for some time. They are correct. However, if you aerate your reds, you wouldn’t be having that problem in the first place.

We tried 14 Hands though we’re Zinfandel people and don’t often drink Cabernet. The vintage we tried was 2017 and we were impressed so we ordered a case of the wine from Total Wine and More in Olympia.

Our helper, Megan, discovered that only one of their cases on hand was a 2017. She very nicely hand carried it to a safe place and put it aside specifically for us. Very good!.

This is one of the few wines my wife can drink without getting a stuffy nose. Recently, it has been very hard to find. Until now. Total Wine stocks it and usually has a good amount in their inventory.

Merlot is the only wine I like so we are both able to enjoy this. Glad I found a local store for this!.

Smooth, not too sweet & not too dry. Perfect balance with a very slight champagne-ish finish. That’s the best way to explain it. Lol. Definitely will purchase again!

I love Sea Glass wine. We served sea glass Cabernet at our wedding, so I wax excited to try their Pinot Noir. Very smooth and slightly dry but not harsh. Nice warm feeling after it goes down. I’d recommend this brand.

This is one of my mother’s favorite ‘second shelf” wines. She appreciates the Pinot without musky chocolate undertones that still maintains a full flavor profile. 89 points on WineEnthusiast 2017 and its still ranking in 2021.

2017 vintage shows bright and lively acidity with prominent, fresh, ripe strawberry fruit. Balanced tannins lends a bit of weight to the wine. Good menthol/eucalyptus/herbal notes on the nose. Finish lingers into dark, plummy fruit.

Lots of value in this wine. Great with tomato sauce, pizza, fatty sausage. Would definitely stand up to some spice. Delicious!.

I wasn’t a fan of this at first; I let it breathe for an hour and it seemed light and bland. But I gave it some more time, swirling it around in my glass before I sipped, and the flavor exploded in my mouth.

I’d say it was stronger on the cherry on the finish, somewhat tart, and dry and smooth. I don’t think this is the valpolicella we’d serve to guests, but it’s good enough for us to enjoy at home.

I absolutely love this wine, I wished I wouls have found the Allegrini Valpolicella Classico long ago. I stumbled on it last year; my best lock down find. Please don’t ever quit selling it 🙂

Taylor Cream Sherry has a dark rust-red or plum appearance, which is semi-transparent. The aroma is of strong, dark raisins and prunes. The flavor is similar with measured sweetness, raisin, grape skins, and other tannins.

The body is fairly heavy, and Taylor Cream Sherry finishes semi-sweet. RJT.

I was looking for a port and my local store had this one on sale. I actually like it a lot, enough to go back and buy another bottle while it is still on sale. The label says “rich with flavors of caramel” but I would describe it more like the flavor of Welch’s Grape Juice and port, but I like it.

When my brothers and I were young, my parents would give us 7 Up with a bit of Mogan David. Reminds me of that, but I like sweet wines. Not for a true oenophile, but a decent, inexpensive port. I have had $350 bottles of port, which are really excellent (I bought it for $20 in Portugal and saved it for over 30 years).

For something to sip on a cold evening, this is just fine.

I was absolutely impressed by how delicious this port wine was. I thought it was gonna be dry n on tbe bitter side but it wasn’t. Its a red wine but sweet to semi sweet taste. Kinda taste like mixed berries.

Yes, I recommend this wine wit dessert or just randomly have a glass or two. I would repurchase.

IšverstiShow in original languageI’m a big fan of Prisoner Red Blend and grabbed this based on the incredible reviews. I think this wine is terrible. I’d rather have a $9 bottle of 19 Crimes. There is no depth at all.

This tastes like acidic water. Really disappointed.

IšverstiShow in original languageMy favorite wine is The Prisoner Red Blend. Recently picked this up, always eager to try something from The Prisoner (Saldo Zin is also spot on). Great cab, easy to drink.

Nice hints of blackberry. If you plan on sharing with more than 1 person, grab another bottle.

IšverstiShow in original languageSo very disappointed. This is not the quality of a Prisoner wine,, I would never buy this wine again. There is NO complexity,. It’s extremely boring and a very flat wine, No effort was made in the wine making of this wine.

Not the quality of a Dave Phinney wine. I would not drink this wine for my every day come home from work wine, I expected more from the wine maker. Your loyal clients deserve more.

Had this by chance at a steak house and was happily surprised with the HUGE value. Deep, dark, rich, without being over the top in ripeness or alcohol level. Nice structure (tannins/ acid) but not super mouth puckering.

Nice long, lingering finish. Drinks nice now, great match to meaty/ fatty component. Total crowd pleaser with our group made up of novices and pros alike. Will be interesting to see how it ages/ develops.

Can’t wait to monitor that!.

big California fruits, black cherries and blackberries, with pepper and tobacco. I tasted, then decanted for about an hour and it opened up quite a bit. This is a fantastic value, a seriously well-structured red blend from start to mid-palate to long finish.

I think the winemaker used to make wine for Screaming Eagle.

I had it at Barcha in SF, with Mediterranean food. Slightly dry yet smooth and fairly full body, Cab forward blend! It was a 4.7 for me.

This wine is so good, every time! I have expensive taste when it comes to wine and love bold Italian reds. This is a total budget wine that tastes incredible! This is a bold, Italian wine, full of flavor.

Cannot go wrong with this. I always have it on hand at home and buy it by the case.

Relatively aromatic with scents of blackberries and plum with a little spice. Palate of red and black berries moving into chocolate toward the end. Acidity is higher than expected and is slightly off putting to the overall enjoyment.

Medium length finish.

We live half the year in Abruzzo in the middle of the Teramo province vineyards. This Zaccagnini is hardly ever seen there and is not considered one of the better Montepulciano d’Abruzzo available. It’s quite rough and doesn’t hold a candle to even what you get from the vino sfuso (bulk) vendors.

To me, it’s not a good representation of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo in the Teramo and Aquila provinces. smooth, elegant, medium bodied food wines. I would check out some of the others available from Total Wine.

I brought to a friends get together. I am not a red wine drinker but I tried it and its delicious. Most red wines I find are heavy, acidic, dry. Not this one its smooth, medium body and clean. Love it!!! Can’t wait to try all their wines.

Too much Merlot in this blend. Left a nasty aftertaste in my throat and tongue. it is bold but too much…..Will be saving in my wine cooler for cooking only.

The Federalist Red Blend is smooth, luscious, and deeply satisfying. My current fav.

I thought the opposite of some of the more critical reviews. TONS of body and a wine doesn’t have to be complex to be good. It’s far from boring either. Had it been a blind tasting I would have assumed it was more expensive than $15.

This is one of my favorite <$20 Reds.

Bought to go with steaks as normally drink wines from California and intrigued by the Bourbon-barrel aging. Really impressive wine, not overpowering but full of flavour and good structure. Added to the list.

This is a great surprise! Got it for a Christmas gift. Nice flavor; the bourbon barrel aging is nice!! And the price range – great – we are looking forward to buying some more!!

Honesty a great table wine for the price! It is comparable to many of the 15$ bottles that we drink on the weekends but at a much lower price per unit! Also- it makes a GREAT mulled wine, add some cloves, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks and 1/2 cup raw cane sugar and heat on low for 15 minutes and it’s perfect for entertaining outside socially distanced during the pandemic! Highly recommend.

Carlo Rossi makes light, sweet, everyday wines. The Merlot is their best (less bitter little sister to a Cabernet Sauvignon) and ViVino members agree giving it a 3. 7 out of 5 rating (others say the best is the Burgundy).

You’ll never taste any hint of pencil shavings, barnyard grass, or cat urine and leather (actual wine terms). Lacking such complexity, it’s still quite drinkable. There is no better wine until you pay twice.

It’s also ideal for cooking. Wines go bad after opening due to contact with the air so I fill up under a dozen cleaned and capped old beer bottles (called splits in the wine world) right after starting.

LOVE this wine – it’ a dessert wine, but it matches every dish. It is deliciously sweet without an acidic “afterburner”, no heartburn and absolutely no headache. Did I mention that I LOVE this wine? I deeply dislike that it is not available everywhere, especially at Publix.