17 Best Red Blend Wine Under $20 and Under $50!

When people think of red blends, they often think of a cheaper one made of cheap varietals. But honestly, I believe a red blend wine allows the winemaker to showcase their skills.

So, for example, if you are fortunate enough to have a good chef cook for you, the food will be great. Similarly, if you have a great winemaker who creates a blend, you’re going to enjoy some great wines!

What are the Best Red Blend Wines Under $50?

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1) Alpha Omega Two² Red

Love this winery and love their wines! Their other wines (although equally lovely and tasty) are above this budget, so sadly, I cannot list them. This is a fantastic, highly-rated red wine that will not disappoint if you are a red wine enthusiast, cab lover, or just a wine lover. Grab a wine glass and enjoy!

Tasting Notes: Cherry, blackberry, plum, oak, vanilla, marzipan

2) Tuck Beckstoffer Mad Hatter

Aromatic Bordeaux-style blend from Napa Valley with even more intensity, made from a Cabernet base. It’s bold and lively on the palate, coupled with a rich mouthfeel. Lastly, expect a long and smooth finish.

Tasting Notes: Black cherry, plum, blackberry, oak, spice, dark chocolate

3) Hess Collection Lion Tamer Red

Another California red blend combining many of the top-favorite Napa Valley grapes – Malbec, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Verdot, Cabernet, and Carignan. The blend is surprisingly rich, full-bodied, and silky with supple flavors. Overall, smooth and delicious! And highly rated by Wine Spectator.

Tasting Notes: Black cherry, blueberry, blackcurrant, tobacco, leather, black tea

4) Beringer Q Red

Traditional Bordeaux recipe from the heart of Napa with a Cabernet Sauvignon foundation. Expect the complexity and fullness from Petit Verdot grapes and the silkiness from Malbec grapes. What’s more, there’s the soft tannins and overall round mouthfeel you can taste from Merlot grapes.

Tasting Notes: Plum, boysenberry, vanilla, blackberry, leather, oak, tobacco

5) Stolpman La Croce

A 50-50 blend of Sangiovese and Syrah grapes, harvested together then co-fermented. It’s also a vegan-friendly red blend if you’re looking for one—excellence in a bottle. Drink now or enjoy in the next couple of years!

Tasting Notes: Red fruit, chocolate, oak, vanilla, leather, blackberry

6) The Prisoner

Most popular, recognized, and one of the best red wine blend I’ve tasted. It’s an unlikely blend – Zinfandel plus Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet, and Charbono. If you enjoy red wines, this one is fantastic and wine drinkers delight!

Tasting Notes: Blackberry, plum, cherry, raspberry, vanilla, boysenberry, pomegranate

7) Justin Isosceles

Another Bordeaux style red blend, mostly made of the Zinfandel and Cabernet grape variety. This one is from the heart of Paso Robles – a truly amazing wine that red wine enthusiasts will enjoy. I love this wine! Drink it now or cellar for a few more years!

Tasting Notes: Blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, cherry, tobacco, chocolate

8) Treana Red

One more red blend from the Central Coast, a beautifully deep-colored wine with a full-body, firm tannins, balanced acidity, and lingering finish. Overall, it’s robust and mouth-filling – perfect for your Tomahawk steak!

Tasting Notes: vanilla, blackberry, spice

9) Daou Pessimist Red

It’s a blend of grape varieties Paso Robles is famous for – Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Tannar. Incredibly fruit-forward but without being too sweet. It’s a first-class wine from a first-class winery, especially when paired with steak or chocolate cake!

Tasting Notes: Plum, blackberry, vanilla, spice, oak, leather

10) Paraduxx Proprietary Red

With its bold and expressive flavors, the Paraduxx Proprietary Red Wine is crafted to satisfy modern palates. It has rich, juicy full fruit with soft elegant tannins that will leave you wanting more!

Tasting Notes: Blackberry, cherry, blueberry, oak, vanilla, chocolate

11) Stags' Leap Investor Red

The Investor is a Napa Valley red wine blends together the wonderful flavors of Merlot, Petit Sirah, Cabernet, and Malbec, resulting in a fruit forward, rich, and easy to drink wine. A wine enthusiast will probably already know this bottle of wine, but more importantly be very pleased with this intense and delicious red wine.

Tasting Notes: Blackberry, plum, oak, vanilla, tobacco, earthy

12) Orin Swift Abstract

A blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Syrah primarily from hillside vineyards in Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino regions. The wine will be the center of attention at dinner because not only does it have an engaging label, but also due to its delicious taste!

Tasting Notes: Rich, cherry, plum, chocolate, cedar, hint of spice

What are the Best Red Blends Under $20?

13) Conundrum Red

Conundrum Red is made by Caymus Vineyards, known for producing some of the best Napa Valley Cabernet. While their other red wines go for $100-$200 a bottle, this affordable red wine retains the quality of their more premium offerings. A red wine that receives 100% approval rate from my past guests (from beginners to wine connoisseurs). Must try!

Tasting Notes: Smooth black cherry, plum, blackberry, chocolate, medium body

14) Chronology Red

A tasty blend of nine (9) different Napa Valley varietals, and what came out was an almost flawless red blend. It’s elegant and undeniably delicious. You’ll want to drink it young. But still best kept a few more years.

Tasting Notes: Black cherries, fig, blueberry, cacao, spice

15) Intrinsic Red

A Red wine blend from Columbia Valley in Washington. One of the many wine regions that make fantastic red wines. This is a smooth and easy to drink bottle of wine. This wine’s unique flavor comes from a mix of Cabernet Franc and Malbec.

Tasting Notes: Plum, blackberry, red fruit, oak, floral, herbs

16) J Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary

A perfect blend of the spice and dark fruit from Petite Syrah and the savory notes of Cab Sauv. It’s dense and fruit-focused, overall soft and approachable on the palate.

Tasting Notes: Black cherry, caramel, cocoa

17) Z Alexander Brown Uncaged Red

Surprisingly smooth with flavorful notes and even tannins. It’s a complex red wine blend that leaves you a lasting impression, especially with that delectably full finish. One sip will surely get your palate satisfied but still always ready for more!

Tasting Notes: Cherry, milk chocolate, vanilla, oak

*Prices are subject to change by sellers at anytime

What are Red Blend Wines?

SIMPLE – any red wine that is not made with just one varietal. It can be a blend of two or more different red grape varieties.

So, most wines in the US are actually red blends. For example, to be categorized as a California Cabernet Sauvignon, only 75% of the wine needs to be Cabernet. Therefore, you may be drinking a California Cab, and you may not even know that the winery probably added some other red grape varietals into the Cab. Most likely to help balance or improve the flavor of the wine.

So, essentially, even if it says California Cabernet Sauvignon on the label, you are drinking a red wine blend.

What are Red Wine Blends Made Of?

Theoretically, a red wine blend can be made of any combination of red grape varietals, and I mean anything. For example, it can be potentially made of Cabernet Sauvignon plus Merlot or Merlot plus Malbec.

One of the most famous is the Bordeaux-style red blend wine in Europe, which is a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Malbec, and, to a lesser extent, Carmenere.

Famous Red Blends

What Are the Cost of Red Blends?

Red wine blends is a massive category in the wine industry, and that means you can find bottles at very different price points.

For example, in the US, some red blends can go for under $15. Meanwhile, others can go as much as $800, red blends from Harlan Estate Winery, for instance.

Lastly, for the Bordeaux red blend wines, expect to pay up to thousands of dollars for some bottles.

So as you can see, red wine blend should not be considered cheap wine.

How Popular are Red Blends?

Cabernet Sauvignon is the undisputed top-selling red wine varietal in the United States, but the second-most-popular choice is far less specific. That would be red blends, now sitting at No. 2 on Nielsen’s measured U.S. off-premise channel numbers. However, the agency has been tracking red blends shipments as its own category only for the past few years, hinting at growing strength for these wines in the U.S. market.

Fortune.com

Why Do People Enjoy Them?

Red blend wines are famous for their drinkability, and because they can be made from any combination of varietals, they appeal to a wide range of audiences too.

And because winemakers can “blend” different grape varieties, they can ensure the product has BALANCE (sufficient tannin, acidity, levels of alcohol, and fruit extract).

Hence, the end wine is often full-flavored, rich, round, and juicy.

Summary

Red blend wines are some of the most popular wines on the market. They are made with a combination of red grapes, which allows for the winemaker to showcase their skills.