There are wines that sound expensive. The kind people swirl very seriously while saying things like “notes of crushed limestone and wet spring mornings”. And then there are wines that taste expensive, but make you say, “Hang on… how is this only £X?”
At Simply Good Wine, we believe great wine doesn’t have to be reserved for special occasions, we’re here for the trusted and highly regarded brand name wine or a bottle that quietly over-delivers in equal measures. Yes, we stock premium and iconic labels (at genuinely sensible prices) and those bottles are absolutely worth it if they’re the wines you love. But we also enjoy shining a light on those standouts that feel a touch luxurious without stretching the budget.
Call it affordable luxury: wines you actually open on a Tuesday night, not the ones you save for a ‘meaningful moment’ and then forget about until 2031.
Below are five bottles we’re excited about right now, each one offering quality that goes well beyond its price tag. Take your pick. You can’t go wrong.
Sparkling
Roederer Estate ‘Quartet’ NV, California - £32
Champagne style, Californian ease.
(Roederer Estate Cali Fizz)
Roederer Estate is the Californian outpost of Louis Roederer, the legendary Champagne house behind Cristal. They brought their old-world craft to the cool coastal vineyards of Mendocino, where the climate naturally produces bright, elegant sparkling wine.
The result? Fine bubbles, crisp orchard fruit, a touch of creaminess and that unmistakable Champagne-like finesse. It’s everything you want from a premium bottle — without the premium markup.
If you enjoy: Louis Roederer Collection, Bollinger Special Cuvée, Taittinger Brut Réserve, this will feel right at home.
Perfect for: the impromptu celebration or just that ‘it’s Friday’ feeling.
White Wines
Ataraxia Chardonnay 2023, Hemel-en-Aarde, South Africa - £28.50
Burgundy attitude at a South African price.
(Ataraxia Chardonnay 2023)
Ataraxia is the personal obsession of winemaker Kevin Grant, who spent years mastering Chardonnay at the iconic Hamilton Russell before founding his own estate. He farms on dramatic, cool, stony slopes, ideal conditions for Chardonnay with elegance and tension.
This tastes like high-end Côte de Beaune (think Meursault or Puligny), but without the price stress. Silky in texture, with citrus brightness, subtle oak and perfect balance.
Perfect for: Roast chicken, creamy pasta, anything involving butter.
Yalumba Y Series Viognier 2022, South Australia - £12
Soft, floral, golden-fruit deliciousness.
(Yalumba wine terrace)
Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family-owned winery and one of the world’s most dedicated Viognier specialists. They champion this grape from everyday drinking to ultra-premium bottlings.
The Y Series is wild-fermented for extra texture and lift, resulting in peach, apricot and honeysuckle aromatics with a gentle creaminess. It’s relaxed luxury in a glass.
If you love Condrieu, but not the price, this is your weekday win.
Perfect for: Thai curry, roasted squash, or a glass while you cook.
Red Wines
Miguel Torres Cordillera Carménère 2021, Chile - £15.50
Smooth, dark fruit with a relaxed confidence.
(Miguel Torres Cordillera Carmenere 2021)
Miguel Torres helped revive Carménère as one of Chile’s signature grapes, focusing on finesse over heaviness. The fruit here is grown in the cooler Andean foothills to preserve freshness and character.
Deeply coloured and softly structured, it offers wonderful notes of dark berries, warm spice, a little cocoa and plush, satin-like tannins. On the satisfaction scale Cordillera is up there with Merlot dominant Bordeaux blends or a high-end Carménère like Montes Purple Angel, but with a much more approachable open-armed personality and price tag.
Perfect for: Hearty casseroles, steak, or a cosy evening in.
Le Clos du Caillou ‘Le Caillou’ Côtes du Rhône 2023 - £18
Châteauneuf warmth, without the Châteauneuf price.
(Le Clos du Caillou Estate)
Le Clos du Caillou is a bit of Rhône legend: their vineyards sit inside the borders of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but were never classified because the owners refused the original survey. Same soils, same sunlight, same attention to organic and biodynamic farming, just a friendlier price.
This cuvée is generous and silky, full of black cherry, warm spice and sun-soaked herbs, the kind of wine that disappears from the table faster than planned.
If you enjoy Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is your budget-friendly soulmate.
Perfect for: Pizza night, roast lamb, people-around-the-table evenings.
It ain’t just about the money, honey
Luxury isn’t about price. It’s about how the wine makes you feel. Relaxed. Delighted. Slightly smug in a nice, sociable way. These bottles bring that feeling without the guilt of opening something “too nice” on a Tuesday. Honestly, if your Tuesday survived itself, that’s special enough.
Here’s to enjoying the good stuff — without needing an occasion.
