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How to Get the Best Wine Values
The beauty of wine, as with art, music, as well as many other pursuits, often is in the eye of the beholder. However, in that same sense, getting a good value when buying the object of your desire tends to increase its attractiveness. Part of the fun—and challenge—of learning about wines is knowing how to spot the best values, finding good or possibly great wines that fit not only your tastes but also your budget. You can spend $7 or $107, and in each case come away with a quality bottle of wine at a great price. Sometimes, it’s as easy as asking a trusted wine merchant for his advice. Here are some buying strategies to consider.
Pick a Price RangeWine prices generally fall into a hierarchy of categories—under $10, $10-$15, $15-$25, $25-$50, $50-$75, $75-$125, $125, and above. In each category you can find values, so if you’re in an exploratory mood, simply choose a price range and begin sampling, one bottle at a time. Also look for special sales. You’re bound to come across some winners.
Beyond Cabernets and ChardonnaysBecause Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay remain the most popular grapes—with Merlot rapidly on the rise—the laws of supply and demand keep the prices of their wines high. This also means that some producers cut corners, adding inferior-quality grapes in order to lower their costs, while still being allowed to call them Cabernets and Chardonnays. So sample some other varieties, such as California Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Syrah in reds, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Riesling in whites.
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Follow Your TastesOf course, if you find a few wines that you absolutely adore, there’s nothing wrong with sticking with them, although venturing outside the lines every once in a while can lead to great discoveries. Let’s say you’ve become wed to a couple of full-bodied red Bordeaux. Try a few others in the same price range, or sample comparable reds from California or Oregon.
Explore the WorldBeyond the well-known vineyards of France, Italy, and California, there are so many other parts of the world where wine making is an emerging industry. To gain attention and entice wine lovers, they offer some terrific values. Spain, for instance, has advanced its technology and controls and is producing some excellent vintages at very reasonable prices. South American vintners can keep prices low because their costs of labor are lower. Other up-and-comers include South Africa, Australia, and Portugal.
Read ReviewsMany daily newspapers run a wine column at least once a week, often with an emphasis on good values. You might also want to subscribe to The Wine Advocate, The Wine Spectator, or other specialty magazines. There are, not surprisingly these days, a multitude of Web sites devoted to or including wine reviews and articles, including http://www.winespectator.com, http://www.wineloverspage.com, http://www.westcoastwine.net, and http://www.epicurious.com/run/winedictionary/home. (Also refer to the reviews in our own Rochambeau newsletters.)
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Choose a Wine Shop You Can TrustPerhaps best of all, find a wine merchant who gets to know your tastes and preferred price range, and who genuinely listens instead of pretends to listen. Be ready to tell a merchant the names of wines you have liked in the past, along with the meals you plan to serve. Be wary if the merchant tries to push you, however gently, out of your taste or price range, unless he or she makes a good case based on information you have provided.
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