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Last year, we tasted nearly 500 BC red wines.
Of those, 18 were under $20. That’s not including the GST, Liquor Tax, and bottle deposit that is added at the till. The highest score across these wines was 88 points, which two earned.
That’s an ominous start to a list of top value reds from British Columbia. The truth is BC wine struggles to compete under $20. Guess what: it’s not alone. So does Napa, Willamette Valley, and Walla Walla, among many others.
There’s value to be found, but you need to do your homework and be prepared to spend a few more bucks. You’ll be rewarded by what you find in the glass. Take Orofino’s excellent 2018 Syrah ($25). That’s a wine to back up the truck for.
Does that mean BC wine is overpriced? Our reviews from last year suggest otherwise. The 97 BC reds that we rated 90+ points had a median price of $40. In comparison, the 235 international reds (available in BC) that earned 90+ points had a median price of $50. Taste the wines on this list and let us know what you think.
Here are the ground rules:
- Available direct from the winery for about $25 or less
- Currently available for purchase at the winery (a number of wines didn’t make the list because they’re sold out)
- We, of course, had to taste the wine - no vintage substitutions
Without further ado, our top value BC reds:
