Caliente: translation ‘hot’; as in hot-sellers. Thanks to the popularity and our current love affair with Malbec, it has opened us up to other tremendous wine values from South America. Here is a list of some South American wines I’ve tried with budget friendly pricing!
1. Catena Malbec Argentina | $15
Found on many wine lists and well stocked in wine shops; this is a less expensive offering than their Alta line.
2. Catena Chardonnay Argentina | $14
A well made Chardonnay at this price point is a steal!
3. Casillero Del Diablo Carménère Chile | $10
Carménère is a member of the Cabernet family of grapes, a medium body wine with fruity flavors and smoky essences.
4. La Posta Cocina Blanco de Blancos Argentina | $14
An unoaked blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Torrontes medium body and refreshing.
5. Casa Lapostolle Cuve Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon Chile | $23
Slightly higher priced than the others in this list, and requires a bit of decanting to reach
is fullness.
6. Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes Argentina | $11
A bargain Torrontes you’ll want to take along on picnics!
7. Zuccardi Q Malbec Argentina | $20
The Q stands for Quality. The Zuccardi wines are outstanding and a great value.
8. Santa Julia [+] Viognier Argentina | $10
A refreshing delicious wine with peach aromas is a staple at my house.
9. Santa Rita 120 Cabernet Sauvignon Chile | $10
Named to honor the 120 patriots who battled for Chile’s independence in 1814; it’s a great crowd pleasing wine. I’ve served this and their Sauvignon Blanc at large parties at my home.
10. Clos De Los Siete Argentina Blend of Malbec, Merlot, Syrah & Cab Sauvignon | $15
Let this decant for an hour or two, a bold blend earthy wine.
11. Tierra de Luna Syrah-Malbec Argentina | $10
I first tried this wine as a happy hour offering at Mediterraneo in Hermosa Beach, CA. I thought I’d move on to other wines as the night progressed but stayed with it, it was that good! I was thrilled to see it offered at my local wine shop in Annapolis, MD for way under $10
12. Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc Chile | $15
Available pretty much everywhere and at bargain prices even lower than $15, not a complex wine, but certainly keep on hand for summer barbeques.
Let me know if you’ve enjoyed any of these wines, or if you’d like to propose a #13 to this list. Cheers!
Wine Everyday 
Awesome wine list! And I just love how some of these are so inexpensive!
To help identify, the Catenas you referenced are actually Bodega Catena Zapata.
There are a few imitators around, Zapata is always on the label. Forgive me, if I had your wine wrong.
In any case, A fantastic list. Thank you for sharing it!
Yes, it is. I choose to use the wine as described on the label, as Bodega Catena Zapata has several labels, so my readers could better identify it on the wine shelves.
Thank you for stopping by, and let me know if you have any South American favorites you care to share!
Cheers!
Great list! Lots of “hot” wines to try. Thanks for sharing and adding to my never ending wine shopping list.
Thank you! South America has been pumping out a tremendous amount of quality wines at everyday pricing! You know my readers love EveryDay Pricing!! Cheers Renee!