Previously an annual tradition, it’s been a few years since we’ve released our yearly list of the best red wines. So, without further ado, here is our list of The Best Red Wines of 2026!
For the 2026 list, which is a combination of both the absolute best tasting wines we had this year as well as those with the most extreme value, we haven’t strictly limited ourselves to wines under $20, although almost all of our selections land there with a few just barely over. (Since we’re all savvy shoppers that’s based on the best prices for each wine, not the SRP.)
And once again, we tasted so much great wine the past year that it is extremely hard to narrow this list of the best red wines down. For the 2026 list we have chosen our top 15. That means there are LOTS of great wines that didn’t make this list — check out our other “Best Of” lists for those.
Covering a number of different varieties, styles and retailers, there’s something for everyone on our list of The Best Red Wines of 2026. Let’s get to it!
15) 2023 Trader Joe’s Diamond Reserve Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 11
Probably one of the biggest surprises (and disappointments) on this year’s list is the lack of wines from Trader Joe’s. Normally a huge part of these year end lists, Trader Joe’s really let us down this year. This very nice example of Rutherford Cabernet is the ONLY TJ’s wine to make our list this year – and it barely did that coming in at #15. We’re hoping for better things from Trader Joe’s in 2027.
14) 2023 Cecchi Chianti Classico Storia di Famiglia – Quite Impressive
A favorite for many vintages now, this Chianti pairs well with good food and good company! 90% Sangiovese, the wine spends 12 months in wooden casks and can be found for around $16-$20. You can also check out the rest of our favorite wines from Italy here.
13) 2020 Elkhorn Peak Napa Valley Pinot Noir
Complex, silky smooth and just lovely, we loved this Perfect 10, 94-Point beauty from a true, independent, family-run farm in Napa Valley. And as part of our Insider Deal, the price couldn’t be beat!
12 – TIE) 2024 Kirkland Signature Vacqueyras
A delightful $12.99 French red in the Kirkland Signature line at Costco. It comes from Vacqueyras in the southern Rhone Valley of France.
12 – TIE) 2024 Kirkland Signature Series Columbia Valley Red Wine
A $14.99 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah from Columbia Valley, Washington State. It’s just a pleasure to drink and has shown up on previous editions of our best red wines list.
11) 94+ Point 2023 Scott Harvey Barbera – AUTOBUY!
Another fabulous Insider Deal. This Bulk Buy rated beauty with a perfect 10 Taste Rating spends 31 months in French oak. 2023 was a top 5 vintage among Scott’s 50 years making wine in Amador County. An easy pick for our list of the best red wines.
10) 2019 and 2021 Desert Wind Heritage Series Merlot
Washington State is one of our very favorite spots for Merlot in the entire world, and these are two of the best examples from reader favorite Desert Wind Winery. We offered both as part of our Insider Deals this year but you are most likely to find the 2021 in the wild.
9) 2018 Vina Bujanda Rioja Reserva
100% Tempranillo from vineyards at 1,485 feet of elevation in the Alta and Alavesa areas of Rioja, Spain. The wine spends 20 months in 225L French and American oak barriques plus another 20 months in bottle before release. The result is a fantastic example of Rioja Reserva that can be found for as low as $15.
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8) 2022 Member’s Mark Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Sam’s Club makes the list of best red wines for the first time! They had a number of nice Napa Valley Cab offerings this year from places like Howell Mountain, Stags Leap and Oak Knoll but we think this one labeled as just Napa Valley (and retailing for $14.98) offers the most bang for the buck.
7) 2021 13 Rams Red (Petite Sirah)
Our incredible Insider Deal discount on this $55 wine, brought it well under $25. It was an amazing price on this BIG, chewy and delicious Petite Sirah (with a splash of Sangiovese and Zinfandel). You can’t have a best red wines list without one Petite Sirah!
6 – TIE) 2022 Kirkland Signature Barolo – Big Name Little Price
92-93 points! Costco’s take on an iconic wine rarely found under $20 ($19.99). Plus we once again track down the true producer behind the label. Another repeat entry on our best red wines list.
6 – TIE) 2021 Kirkland Signature Brunello di Montalcino – True To Form
After a disappointing 2020 vintage, this Kirkland Signature wine is back and it might be better than ever! This is no bargain basement Brunello. 92-93 points.
5) 2023 Handley Kazmet Vineyard Syrah
A slam dunk Perfect 10 Taste Rating (94+ Points). This rarely discounted (except as part of our Insider Deal), small production wine is smooth, lush, deep, complex, chewy, dusty and more. It comes from the organically and dry farmed Kazmet Vineyard in the Redwood Valley in the northern part of Mendocino in the North Coast of California. We absolutely love it.
4) 2022 Lava Cap Reserve Zinfandel – Lovely
High elevation, old vine Zinfandel from vines averaging 45 years of age in the El Dorado AVA of the Sierra Foothills. Aged in François Frères French oak barrels for 24 months. We give it a perfect 10 Taste Rating (94+ points) and a spot in the top 5 of our list of best red wines.
3) Peterson Winery Il Granaio Super Tuscan Style Sangiovese
25 months in oak does a Sangiovese good! A blend of 84% Sangiovese from the Teldeschi and Spadoni vineyards plus 10% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot both from the Bradford Mountain Estate Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley and just a tiny 130 cases were produced. If you follow our Insider Deals you might have been lucky enough to get some!
2) 2020 Vinedos de Alcohuaz Grus
At #2 on our list of the best red wines comes a beauty from winemaker Marcelo Retamal (Reta) with multiple 94-95 point scores. Another Insider Deal, this amazingly complex blend of 42% Syrah, 25% Garnacha, 20% Petit Verdot, 8% Touriga Nacional, and 5% Petite Sirah was brought to us by importer Eric Solomon. It comes from some of the highest vineyards in the southern hemisphere in the Elqui Valley of Chile.
1) 2021 Gard Reverence
Our #1 Wine Of The Year on our list of the best red wines!
The 2021 Gard Reverence is a beautiful Grenache and Syrah blend from the high elevations of the Royal Slope in Washington State. Gard Vintners is one of our favorite producers and this glorious blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, which has multiple 96-point scores, absolutely knocks it out of the park. Our favorite wine of the year, especially when it was available at our Insider Deal price!
And that’s it for the 2026 list of the Best Red Wines!
Cheers,
Jon
