11 Best Cheap Sweet Red Wines Under $30| $20| $10
Introduce your taste buds to these affordable sweet red wines, each of which represent amazing value for money!
Whether you have sweeter taste buds or you’re simply looking for a bargain red that will match your dinner party dessert, a sweet red wine can be a popular choice for wine-lovers and newcomers alike.
Sweet red wines are a wonderful way to introduce non-wine drinkers to the world of wine.
In this guide I recommend some of my favorite sweet red wines at a variety of price points.
Whether you're looking to spend a bit of money or you're looking for a cheaper sweet red wine under $20, I guarantee you'll find something amazing to try down below!
My Cheap Sweet Red Wine Recommendations
In my eyes, these are the best inexpensive sweet red wines to try.
I'll start with my recommendations for under $30 and work down to the really cheap sweet red wines for less than $10.
Recommended Sweet Red Wines Under $30
These are the affordable sweet red wines that are on the higher end of the budget scale.
If you're looking to spend a bit less then keep scrolling!
11. Marenco Brachetto d'Acqui Pineto 2019
I'll kick things off with an amazing sparkling red (well rosé actually) that's as bubbly as it is sweet. It's a beautiful summer drink or equally well suited to a special occasion.
If you can imagine a Moscato with the aromas of strawberry and raspberry then that's how this is best described!
At just 5.5% it's very light. Ending the fermentation early is key to retaining all the natural sugars of the grapes, and here we have a wine that's not too sweet and remains refreshing too.
It also goes amazingly well with chocolate and tiramisu! It's light, bubbly and goes down very, very easily!
You can find it now at wine.com
10. Dashe Late Harvest Zinfandel 2018
This sweet red dessert wine retains a nice acidity giving it a lovely balance.
You are greeted with wonderful aromas of pomegranate, cranberry and cherry. The intense red berry remains on the taste and is bolstered with hints of vanilla and chocolate. It finishes with a spicy and sweet note
At 14.1%, it's stronger than most affordable sweet red wines on this list but remains beautifully sweet without being cloying.
9. Noval Black Port
Port often suffers from a post-seasonal slump. That is, it’s popular during the festive season and sales drop afterwards.
Which is sad when you consider that port is such a wonderful fortified wine. It really is an amazing drink to end a dinner party.
Well, Noval Black Port is seeking to bring back the year-round appeal with its modern and sophisticated bottle branding.
Not only will this look decadent sitting on a dining room table during dessert, but it also looks ideal for a gift.
Branding aside, Noval Black Port is also delicious, which is what really matters. This Port, which isn’t as sweetly syrupy as others on the market, instead packs a dense and spicy punch.
Yes, there is the fruity note of raspberry but this comes alongside the rich taste of raisin and intense dark chocolate.
For something different, chill this Port and serve it before dinner. Your guests will adore the sweetness and novel way to drink Port.
My Recommended Sweet Red Wines Under $20
In my opinion, these are the best sweet red wines under $20.
Twenty dollars is plenty money to get a great bottle these days and you'll be surprised at just how far your money goes.
8. Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto 2020
This sweet sparkling red wine is best paired with vanilla ice cream and red berries.
Made with 100% Brachetto grapes, it is bubbly like Prosecco (the bubbles are produced using the same method).
Black cherry, caramel, and raspberry notes can be tasted, with the caramel lasting after the bubbles disappear.
It's sweet but not overbearingly so. It has a nice balance about it that makes it very easy to drink.
Check out the latest price now.
7. 2021 Meiomi Pinot Noir
I reviewed this wine very recently and while I found the sweetness slightly off-putting (Pinot Noir shouldn't be like this in my opinion), it sells by the case load and people absolutely love it!
It's got lots of jammy fruit and a luscious, rich density due to the sugar. Black cherry and plum are lifted by a strawberry candy note with some light acidity and smooth tannins making it incredibly easy to drink. It's a real crowd pleaser!
6. Venturini Baldini Lambrusco Emilia
This could well be my favorite wine on this list of recommendations.
Certified organic, it's made from 100% Salamino grapes that are harvested during the first 10 days of September.
At 16% g/l of residual sugar, it's not overly sweet and has enough structure in the way of bright acidity and tannin to bring it to life.
Grape, raspberry, cherry, and cranberry come through on the nose, making way for gentle bubbles and a fresh acidity.
If you're a regular Lambrusco drinker then you simply can't miss this one! Though it's probably a bit drier than what you're used to.
5. Apothic Cab
It's been hard to avoid this large wine brand over the last few years thanks to a clever marketing and branding campaign.
While, I wouldn't call it strictly a sweet wine, its fruity nature combined with just a little extra sugar, make it extremely approachable. Considering it only costs around $10, it punches well above its weight when it comes to depth and character..
It's Cabernet Sauvignon by name but it actually contains Zinfandel grapes too. The Zinfandel adds some extra jammy dark berry notes and softens those tannins up beautifully.
I described this as smelling like black forrest gateaux in my review, with big dark fruit and vanilla notes just leaping out of the glass. It's a really fun wine that's impossible not to enjoy.
4. Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro Amabile
This semi-sweet Lambrusco is made by the oldest producer of wine in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, Cleto Chiarli.
Aromas of black cherry, blackberry and plum dominate the nose, making way to strawberry on the tongue alongside tickling bubbles.
It's not overly sweet and has a lovely watermelon finish, which is where the sweetness is really felt.
It always goes down really well when we serve it to guests on summer evenings!
Recommended Sweet Red Wines Under $10
These are the best cheap sweet red wines that I'm aware of.
I think you'll be surprised just how good a sub-ten dollar bottle tasted these days. Though they are few and far between!
3. Barefoot Wineries Red Blend
If you like the idea of a chilled sweet red wine, but you would prefer something lighter than a port, then the Barefoot Wineries sweet red blend could be ideal.
This sweet red is created using a grape combination of grenache, pinot noir, zinfandel, barbera and petite sirah, which combined create a wine that really packs a fruity punch.
Perfect on a warm summer’s eve when chilled, this wine has distinctive fruity notes of plum, cherry and raspberry.
This smooth flavour makes it a great starter red wine for those who normally prefer white or rose.
Also delicious at room temperature, the jam-like sweetness of this wine makes it a wonderful accompaniment to desserts like berry cheesecakes and fruit sponges.
2. Riunite Raspberry
The wonderful thing about Riunite Raspberry is that it combines all my favourite aspects of other wines into one sweet red wine.
This is a Lambrusco wine, meaning it’s a fizzy wine, which is ideal for those people who like the idea of Prosecco, but would prefer something a little less dry.
Unlike a port, this sparkling wine is much lighter, which makes it more attractive as an every day wine.
With the addition of the fizz, though, this wine is also versatile for being a fancy occasion wine without the hefty price tag.
You could easily buy multiple bottles of this and serve as a birthday toast for a party, all for the fraction of the price of premium sparkling wines.
Taste wise, like the name suggests, the Riunite Raspberry has a strong taste of ripe raspberries.
This isn’t overpowering, though, as you’re left with a more floral afternote on your tongue. This wine isn’t overly sweet either, so will suit a multitude of different tastes.
Best served chilled, this wine is ideal for a summer BBQ party with friends. This wine also has an attractive colour, which is almost pink.
There’s no denying the popularity of pink drinks at the moment, with even a pink port being manufactured to appeal to a larger audience.
Serve your Riunite Raspberry in a long flute with a few fresh raspberries and some pink sugar around the rim to create an Instagram worthy drink.
1. Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz 2020
I know many people that are new to wine that just adore the Jam Jar series of quality but inexpensive sweet red wines.
The Shiraz is my favourite but their sweet red blend is another winner.
It's a great starting place for those just starting their wine journey as it's very approachable but still with a little bit of nuance to the nose and flavor.
A bit sweeter than your typical Shiraz but with enough acidity to remain fresh. Berry aromas of blueberry and blackberry are complimented by lovely chocolate notes.
What Types of Sweet Red Wine Should I Try?
If you love sweet reds then here are some varieties that you should try next!
Lambrusco
An Italian fizzy and sweet wine, this might not be the sweetest red wine you’ll find at your local merchant; however, the fizziness makes it ideal for a party setting.
Incredibly fruity, Lambrusco is the prefect addition to a summer BBQ party.
If you like the idea of prosecco, but you would prefer something sweeter and prettier looking, Lambrusco is a wonderful choice.
This also has a lower alcohol content, so your party won’t get too rowdy!
Don't miss my recommended Lambrusco: Cantina Paltrinieri Radice Lambrusco di Sorbara, 2020
Brachetto
Very similar to Lambrusco, Brachetto is another sweet and sparkling wine hailing from Italy.
This wine has more of a Moscato vibe, especially with its sweet flavours of orange blossom and peaches.
This wine can be bought in two variates – spumante (sparkling) and frizzante (slightly sparkling) versions.
This is ideal for those who prefer their red wine less fizzy.
Don't miss my recommended Brachetto: Marenco Brachetto d'Acqui Pineto, 2019
Ruby Port
Far from the fizzy delights of Lambrusco and Brachetto, ruby port is a fortified wine from Portugal.
This means that the alcohol content of the wine is higher as a distilled grape spirit is added. During the process of fermentation, ruby port is heated.
This process will kill the yeast, which leaves a large proportion of residual sugar left in the wine.
Ruby port is so called because of the deep red color, and it is thick and syrupy compared to a regular red wine.
This wine is often enjoyed as an after-dinner treat accompanied by a cheese and grape board.
Don't miss my recommended Ruby Port: Graham's Six Grapes Reserve Ruby Port
Tawny Port
Unlike ruby port, which is a dark syrupy red, a tawny port is aged for a longer period in wood. During this period the port is oxidised by the wood.
This result is the lighter, slightly copper, color of the port as well as adding a nutty and caramel taste.
Don't miss my recommended Tawny Port: Graham's 20 Year Old Tawny Port
Maury
Another fortified wine, this time Maury is manufactured in an area of France called Roussillon.
The process of making Maury is similar to port, as the yeast is killed off during the process of fermentation. This leaves behind residual sugar, which makes the red wine sweet to taste.
A Maury wine needs to be made from 75 percent of grenache grapes to be a true Maury wine. The remaining grapes tend to be a mix of Syrah, Muscat, Macabeu or other local grapes.
Chocolate goes particularly well with a glass of Maury.
Don't miss my recommended Maury: Department 66 Others, 2015
Banyuls
Banyuls, like Maury, is a fortified wine that comes from the region of Roussillon in the south of France.
The wine is fortified by killing the yeast during the fermentation process, again leaving the residual sugar that makes Banyuls sweet.
Although the process is similar to the processes used to make port, Banyuls doesn’t have as long of an ageing process.
This means that the final alcohol content is smaller than port – a difference or around 16 percent for Banyuls compared with 20 percent for port.
Similar to Maury, a small glass of Banyuls goes perfectly with dark chocolate.
Do you agree with my selections? Think there's something I've missed?
I'd love to hear what you think in the comments section. Especially if you have an awesome wine to add!
