14 Total Wine & More Finds Customers Should Stock Up On

Total Wine & More is like the Costco of beverage retailers, minus the membership requirement, operating hundreds of warehouse-sized stores across the country. As the name suggests, it offers plenty of wine of all styles and origins, while also boasting robust selections of spirits, beers, and even snacks and cigars.

With such an imposingly large and wide-ranging inventory, it can be tough to narrow down your options if you're not exactly sure what you're looking for. While Total Wine's knowledgeable employees are always on the floor to assist, it's good to go in with an initial plan. This list can help you do just that, whether it's a rare beer, a great bargain spirit, or a bottle of wine that's such good value it almost demands to be bought by the case. I'm a sommelier and former beverage manager, and these are some of the best finds I've come across at Total Wine that you'll want to keep an eye out for on your next shopping trip.

Sparkling wine is a vast and varied category, encompassing everything from wallet-busting elite Champagne to carbonated plonk best suited for juice-heavy mimosas. Somewhere in between those extremes is Prosecco, Italy's sparkling jewel. Prosecco is named for the region in which it's produced, primarily from the glera grape and using the tank method to create its effervescence. This technique is cheaper and faster than the in-bottle Champagne method, making these wines more affordable. Not all Prosecco is created equal, and there are a lot of disappointing bottles out there, but Jeio Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore from producer Bisol is not one of them.

Throughout Italy, if you see the initials DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) on the label, it's an indication that the wine is of the highest tier and held to the strictest quality standards. Bisol's Jeio carries this designation, as well as the geographically specific Valdobbiadene Superiore title, which means that all of the grapes in this wine come from one delineated prime vineyard area. Let Jeio disabuse you of the notion that all Prosecco is sweet, simple, and fruity. This wine, which you can get for under $20 at many Total Wine & More locations, overdelivers on quality while still bringing Prosecco's fun, fresh vibes to the party. 

If you've never had a wine from Lebanon, you can rectify that oversight by taking a trip to your local Total Wine & More and grabbing a bottle — at least one — of Chateau Musar's Cuvee Jeune red blend. Francophiles will recognize that the word jeune means "young," indicating that this wine is intended to be uncorked and enjoyed upon release. No need to let it gather dust in the cellar. The grapes here hail from the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon's premier area for vineyards, which is located along the country's western Mediterranean coast.

At just over $20, you can sip and savor (or gulp and guzzle, no judgment here) Musar's fabulous entry-level blend, which consists of cinsault, syrah, and cabernet sauvignon. Chateau Musar rests this wine in cement rather than oak, allowing you to smell and taste the true unwooded essence of the grapes. It's a lively, ebullient blend, reminiscent of the bright, spicy reds from the French Riviera. This wine is just as at home at a cookout as it is at a formal dinner party, so it wouldn't hurt to stock up to have some ready for any occasion. Try your hand at making Manakish, a Lebanese flatbread, and pour this wine alongside it for a fun alternative to pizza night.

One of the most consistent California cabernet sauvignons that you can find for under $20, Hillside from Juggernaut, lives up to its name with all of the body, tannic structure, and intensity you could ask for. This wine isn't some hard-to-find hidden gem or special occasion bottle to squirrel away, but it is a solid example of its style that you can get at Total Wine & More at a great price — especially as part of the chain's "Mix 6" deal, which puts each bottle at just $15.

Since it reigns supreme as the world's most popular grape to both grow and drink, having some extra cab on hand for unexpected visitors or last-minute gatherings is never a bad idea. This bottle manages to be crowd-pleasing without sacrificing complexity or balance, and outshines many similar wines in its price range (along with plenty that are much more expensive). Whether you entertain a lot or simply love to pour cab generously for yourself, this is one of the best options you can stock up on from Total Wine.

A lot of thoughtful, detailed care goes into the making of this Gran Reserva Carmenere from Chilean winery Carmen. That's apparent in this wine's complexity and balance, though not reflected by its price, coming in at under $20. Fans of full-bodied, spicy, and robust red wines, who haven't explored what Carmenere has to offer, thus have little to lose by plunking down some modest cash to give this variety a try.

Carmen is part of Total Wine's Winery Direct program, in which the store partners with winemakers to purchase their products directly, allowing for lower prices by cutting through middle steps that lead to higher markups. Not all of the wines offered through this program are going to be home runs, but the friendly prices make it easier to experiment and explore less popular styles of wine. You won't regret dipping your toe in the carmenere pool if you start with this bottle from Carmen.

If you love French rosé, you're likely most familiar with wines from the southern part of the country, namely Provence, which accounts for almost half of France's quality rosé production. Just northwest in the Loire Valley, though, you'll find a lesser-known pink wine lover's paradise. This region's rosés may not have the same level of international recognition as their southern brethren, but that makes them more fun to discover. One such gem is the rosé d'Anjou from Famille Bougrier, available at Total Wine & More for under $15 a bottle.

While southern French rosés are typically made from ripe, powerful, sun-loving grapes, the Loire can only sustain varieties suited to cool climates, which is a rarer quality for reds. Two grapes that thrive here, fruity Gamay and aromatic Grolleau, make up the blend for this rosé. The result is a crisp, lip-smackingly fresh, light-as-air rosé that's brought down to earth with a touch of sweetness to counterbalance its acidity. This rosé d'Anjou is a no-brainer to hoard for spring and summer, but considering the wine's quality and price, you may as well keep it around all year long.

While the grape vermentino grows in many spots around the Mediterranean, and as far as Australia and California, one could make the argument that it reaches its pinnacle on the island of Sardinia. It's hard to imagine a variety and landscape more suited to one another, and you can experience this alchemy with each sip of Argiolas' Costamolino. This expression of vermentino captures the synergy between grape and terroir with its lively, wild herbal and botanical notes, along with a crisp finish tinged with sea spray and salt. This is rustic island life in a bottle.

A versatile white, Costamolino is a great choice to have on hand for all kinds of occasions. A touch of richness on the palate gives it enough heft to make it a satisfying solo sipper, but it's also a fantastically food-friendly wine. It's a match made in heaven with seafood, of course, but sings just as beautifully alongside poultry, pork, cheeses, and, of course, pastas — Sardinia boasts its own unique pasta styles, like lorighittas. You can pick up a bottle at Total Wine for under $20.

Vodka doesn't necessarily have to be expensive to be good — there are plenty of inexpensive brands on the market that overdeliver, as well as many exorbitantly priced options that fall short. Firmly in the former category is French brand Summum, available at Total Wine through the store's Spirits Direct program. Crafted in the Charente region of France, which is where Cognac lies, this vodka starts with locally sourced wheat and spring water. 

For a sub-$20 vodka, you can't find a much smoother or better-crafted option. Summum is only distilled twice, granting it more character than many other brands that try to vaporize all the flavor out of existence. With a Double Gold Medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition under its belt, and close to a thousand five-star ratings, this vodka is well worth picking up the next time you're in the mood for a vodka martini, a cosmo, or a bloody mary.

There are a lot of competitors on the market gunning to outsell Baileys, the original Irish Cream. Ranging from artisanal high-end versions to inexpensive alternatives, you'll find plenty of them on the shelves of Total Wine & More. Irish Cream's sweet, rich blend of cream and whiskey is a versatile bar ingredient that should be on everyone's back bar. The one that you should reach for if you're looking for an affordable yet high-quality Irish cream is Kavanagh, which runs about $15 a bottle, yet is comparable in quality to brands that cost several dollars more.

Kavanagh Irish Cream is part of Total Wine's Spirits Direct program, which helps keep its price low. Recipient of a Double Gold Medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Kavanagh's not just a critical darling but a fan favorite, too. With almost 2,000 five-star reviews from Total Wine customers, this is one of the best buys for Irish Cream fans not just at Total Wine, but anywhere. 

Another offering from Total Wine's Spirits Direct program, this elderflower liqueur from Drillaud is a godsend to those of us trying to build a robust home bar on a budget. You can certainly splurge on something like St. Germain for your elderflower mixology needs, but it's not necessary when there are products like this one readily available at a much friendlier price point.

While Drillaud may not show the same complexity or intensity as some of the higher-end options, it does exhibit a clean, pure elderflower flavor that's perfect for mixing into cocktails. In some recipes, Drillaud's relative simplicity is actually preferable, as it doesn't add as many dimensions that could potentially muddy the drink's other flavors. Another bonus for bartenders is, at just under $20 a bottle, this brand is priced to encourage experimentation, as opposed to others which are prohibitively expensive in that regard. If you've got an elderflower cocktail idea brewing in your imagination — perhaps a play on Taylor Swift's favorite cocktail, the French blonde — head to Total Wine to pick up plenty of Drillaud to fuel your research.

Italy has contributed quite a lot to the culinary world, and there's perhaps no better example of that than amaro. A bittersweet concoction of local botanicals and distilled spirit, amaro is made in countless styles from a universe of different ingredients, each with its own distinct flavor profile and recipe. One of the best, for amaro experts and novices alike, is Amaro Nonino. Light on the bitterness, it's a great gateway amaro, with an inviting aromatic profile full of flowers, spices, and rich orange citrus, along with a silken texture and impeccable balance that give it universal appeal.

Whether you drink it straight or prefer something more indulgent, like a freshly mixed paper plane with a cheese platter, a bottle of Amaro Nonino always seems to disappear too quickly. It's also not cheap. Total Wine & More, however, offers this exceptional stuff at a terrific price — in my area, it's by far the best option, beating other retailers by quite a bit. If you're going to have one premium amaro on your home bar, Nonino is a top option, and you'll want to grab it from Total Wine.

The realm of tequila can be a difficult one to navigate. In recent decades, skirmishes between producers and government agencies have brought the issue of additives to the forefront of tequila conversation. According to industry regulations, up to one percent of any tequila can consist of additives, like caramel coloring or added sugar, without being disclosed on the label. In fact, these tequilas can still label themselves as 100% agave. To push back, a number of producers now proclaim themselves as additive-free, one of which is 3 Amigos, a Spirits Direct brand at Total Wine & More.

Like most tequila producers, 3 Amigos offers several styles, but the one that simply calls out to be bought in bulk is the organic blanco. While aged tequilas like reposado and añejo are better suited to sipping, blanco is the most versatile style for mixing, and it can be tricky trying to find just the right bottle. You want it to be high quality, but not so pricey you'll hesitate to use it, and this bottle from 3 Amigos fits into that mold perfectly. An organic, additive-free, and, most importantly, delicious tequila for under $40 is a deal that's too good to pass up.

With this whiskey from Total Wine & More, you get just about as much bang for your buck as it's possible to fit into one bottle. A Spirits Direct brand, Center Stave has several whiskies on the store's shelves, but the standout is its barrel-strength Kentucky straight bourbon aged in Port wine casks. Ranging from 50-60% alcohol by volume, depending on the batch, you certainly get rich body and a boozy kick. You also get smoothness, complexity, and layers of flavor and texture that are hard to find at this price — about $45 a bottle.

Earning a score of 94 from Wine Enthusiast is certainly a convincing point in Center Stave's favor, as is the nearly perfect rating from Total Wine customer reviews. This bottle makes a sophisticated addition to any home bar, offering a bourbon that can be sipped and savored or mixed into spirit-forward cocktails with equal success.

Founder's KBS, which stands for Kentucky Breakfast Stout, is probably not something you'll want to crack open first thing in the morning, despite its name. This is a hefty beer, 12% alcohol by volume, rich and dark and chocolatey, and aged in bourbon barrels for an even boozier profile. In short, it's over-the-top and delicious, and if you're a stout fan, it should be at the top of your bucket list if you haven't tried it already. Should that be the case, Total Wine & More has you covered. You can grab a four-pack of the stuff for under $20, which for a beer of this quality and pedigree is a good deal.

If that doesn't convince you to run out and buy some KBS right now, perhaps its 100-point perfect score on BeerAdvocate will. Another benefit of stocking up on a beer like this when you find it at a good price is that it's made in an ageable style. That's not to say you'll want to buy this by the pallet and shove it in a corner for ages — it's already been aged in oak for a year, so further development isn't necessary — but it's nice to know that it'll keep well no matter how slowly you sip each bottle.

By including The Alchemist's Heady Topper on this list, I'm not implying that you'll always be able to find this sought-after IPA on the store's shelves. If you do happen to see it available, though, grab as much of it as you can carry (or as much as you think you can drink while it's still fresh). This beloved beer boasts a perfect score of 100 on BeerAdvocate, and even as its popularity has grown, it's still produced in small quantities in Vermont, making it a challenge to track down. 

Even if you're not a hardcore IPA fan, this beer is so unique and such a trailblazing brew that it's worth experiencing at least once. It's hoppy, of course, but shows more subtlety and balance than most you'll find. Typical of the New England IPA style, it's hazy and tropical, with a soft texture despite its high alcohol content. It's no surprise that this beer is still considered legendary over 20 years after its initial release, and that it's still a prized rarity. Total Wine & More shoppers, be sure to keep your eyes peeled in case you're lucky enough to find some.

I'm a regular shopper at Total Wine & More, so I started putting this selection together based on products that I personally look for, which I think are great finds. I also checked around the web to find out what other customers' go-to buys are and took those into consideration. 

On the Total Wine & More website, I took a look at items that were the most highly rated in their categories by customers and included many of those as well, if I agreed that they were high-quality products at a good price. Speaking of price, all of the figures and estimates I included here were accurate at the time of this writing, for my local Total Wine & More store. These prices may vary by location and with various in-store deals.