The 50 best wines under $50 from our critic, who tasted 2,874

"I've been paging through my 2025 tasting notebooks, reviewing how many good and great wines I've sipped, as well as the number of boring overpriced duds. This year, my total of reds, whites, rosés and sparklers hit 2,874, from 26 countries. Admittedly, I sampled only a few from Moldova, Bolivia and Peru, but I plan to up that in 2026."

"Although I sampled a surprising number of good value chardonnays this year (is that because of grape oversupply?), under-the-radar varietals and regions are where to look. Think the Languedoc-Roussillon in France, Ribeira Sacra in Spain, all of Portugal and South Africa, the Lodi region in California, the Finger Lakes in New York and more I'll tell you about in 2026."

"Unhappily, in the US, tariffs on European Union wines, rising interest rates and increased shipping costs have led to slimmer selections and some price hikes. Will the US Supreme Court knock down those tariffs on wine? Keep your fingers crossed. In the UK, increases in duty on alcohol volume (lower levels pay less) and packaging fees mean costlier bottles. Average prices are listed for both regions when possible."

2,874 wines were tasted from 26 countries, including a few from Moldova, Bolivia and Peru. The annual top-50 wines under $50 highlight both new discoveries and perennial bargains, though few Champagnes remain at that price point. A surprising number of good-value chardonnays appeared, possibly due to grape oversupply. Under-the-radar varietals and regions to watch include Languedoc-Roussillon, Ribeira Sacra, Portugal, South Africa, Lodi and the Finger Lakes. In the US, tariffs on EU wines, higher interest rates and shipping costs have reduced selections and raised prices. UK duty increases and packaging fees have also increased bottle costs. Retailers commonly offer discounts, especially on Champagne before holidays and in January.

Read at Boston Herald