Anonymous wrote:Anything people had more recently?

Not so much particular examples, but all those who say Chardonnay isn't popular with white wine drinkers are just categorically wrong. They might not like it, their friends might not like it - but it is one of only 8 grapes taught in first level of the sommelier certification, which are so-chosen because they are the 8 most popular grapes in the world in terms of wine sold. So yes, Chardonnay is popular - it's just a fact.

Trader Joe’s has soooo many great cheap wines.

Anonymous wrote:

We need to know more about your guests- your choices for a dinner party with friends that are fairly sophisticated regular wine drinkers will be very different from those of family members who don’t like dry wines and enjoy White Zinfandel and Riesling with a few ice cubes.

No we don't.

OP's budget is $20 a bottle or less, it's clearly a casual get-together, not a wine-centric event. Anyone so far up their own butt that they care which $20 a bottle wine they're served can choke on it.

Boone's Farm. The Strawberry Hill is lovely.

Malbac

Anything people had more recently?

I haven’t had a bottle from 90+ cellars that was bad…

We need to know more about your guests- your choices for a dinner party with friends that are fairly sophisticated regular wine drinkers will be very different from those of family members who don’t like dry wines and enjoy White Zinfandel and Riesling with a few ice cubes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White: oyster bay
Red: j vineyards pinot

Get them both at costco

In Montgomery County Costco doesn’t sell wine.
Do they sell it in Virginia ?

Yes, that's why I go to Costco Virginia once a month --- or Trader Joe's

I don’t like Meomi ether. It’s too sweet to be Pinot.

For reds, Merlots are smoother and less expensive than Cabernet Sauvignon but Can drinkers will still enjoy a Merlot.

Zinfandel or Syrah is jammier and slightly sweeter so tend to be popular. Zinfandel is less expensive than Merlot.

For whites..

I personally do not like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris. Someone nice described these as cat piss and I can’t get it out of my mind. If you go this routes, the sweeter ones with apple or pear rather than herbal or grassy notes tend to be more popular.

If you do want a sweet white, Riesling from Oregon is a good option. Chateau St Michelle makes one that’s pretty inexpensive . Costco sometimes has Dr Loosen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meomi Pinot Noir from Costco

+1

Anything but this sweet syrupy pinot! Not sure if I got a bad bottle but ugh.

Yes, Costco sells wine in VA