9 Winning West Coast Value Wines Priced $30 or Less

New reviews of impressive and affordable Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet and more from Oregon's Willamette Valley, California's Russian River Valley and beyond, up to 92 points

Del Rio's vineyards and copper-colored facilities in Rogue Valley, Oregon — Del Rio Vineyards farms 530 acres in southern Oregon, resulting in a range of noteworthy wines, including Pinot Gris. (Courtesy of Del Rio Vineyards)

Aaron Romano

Mar 25, 2024

As wine fans know, sometimes it can be difficult keeping purchases within a budget. But the recently reviewed wines in this lineup deliver fantastic value, along with all the quality you could want from a bottle. The average price here is about $24, and all of these bottlings are made in sizable volumes, which should make for easier shopping.

Among the top-scoring wines is a spry and sleek Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Argyle, a sparkling-wine pioneer in Willamette Valley; but Argyle also makes a range of still wines, including reds from Willamette Valley's signature grape variety: Pinot Noir. For its 2022 bottling, Argyle tapped four estate vineyards within the Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity Hills subappellations.

Pinot Noir isn’t the only wine Willamette Valley does well. Chardonnay from Oregon has seen its stock rise in recent years, and Soléna’s rich yet graceful bottling fits the regional style with lemon tart and pear flavors. There’s also a small amount of Riesling grown in Willamette Valley. The region’s cool weather is well-suited to the grape, offering just enough sun for ripening, yet with cool evenings that help preserve acidity in the resulting wines. Elk Cove grows Riesling on three of its estate vineyards, with some vines dating to 1975, and the winery's 2021 bottling is refreshing with green apple, honeysuckle and petrol notes.

Another top-scoring wine in this lineup is Purple Hands' Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Lone Oak Ranch 2022, a broad-shouldered red with cherry, tea and spice notes. Read on and get our score and full tasting note for this wine and eight others.

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