Wine on a Budget: Houghton Red Classic

By Brittany Asplin

Are you a poor peasant but dream of drinking classy?  You need to try this delicious red and get amazing quality for just a few bucks!

Australia has always been blessed with our wine regions, especially Western Australia.  On our doorstep we have Margaret River, Pemberton, and Swan Valley wineries (just to name a few) who are some of the highest rated wineries worldwide.

I like to believe that, like any other normal uni student, you tend to watch your budget. And with the heightened difficulty of getting a job nowadays you probably cling to it no matter how horrible it is.  Nevertheless, if you want a bottle of wine to celebrate the end of a busy week or if you are like me and just enjoy drinking wine while studying, my number one pick is Houghton's Red Classic.

Houghton's Red Classic is a $8 bottle of wine from Swan Valley and is one of Western Australia's best kept secrets. It won a gold medal at the 2012 National Wine Show Australia, and Ray Jordan, one of Australia's top wine critics, reviewed this wine as best value for money in 2017.

“It has a deliciously fruity palate with hints of blackberries. The fragrance is floral and musky which is incredibly inviting.”

It has a deliciously fruity palate with hints of blackberries. The fragrance is floral and musky which is incredibly inviting. It is an easy drinking wine with heaps of rich flavours including cherries, plums, and a touch of vanilla, and it marries beautifully with lamb, hard cheese and even dark chocolate. Even though the flavours are rich, it is not overpowering overall with a smooth medium body.

Now I am a little biased because I am a sucker for red wine.  I love the ruby colour, the light to heavy fruity taste and no, I do not like to share my wine. But I love this wine!  The fact that this wine was rated 93 out of 100 by Jordan and costs less than $10 a bottle?! To me, that’s amazing value for money.  And when you’re on a budget you don’t need to spend more than $20 on a bottle of wine if it comes from Western Australia; or just Australian wines in general.

This wine is delicious. It is wonderfully balanced and nice to enjoy with a scrummy platter of cheeses, cold meats and good crusty bread (dammit I’m hungry now) while catching up with friends. Or even just to have with yourself for a quiet night in.  

And no, you’re not lonely; you just don't want to share!