How to Spot a Great Bottle of Wine for Cheap, According to an Expert
Despite its reputation, wine is not just for the wealthy. Even fine wines can be found at affordable prices, but being able to pick a good bargain from the myriad of options is a learned skill.
To help you develop a keen eye for great wines without breaking the bank, I turned to Carla Patricia, a sommelier and co-owner of a San Francisco winery. DecantSF. Patricia assures me real No need for good wine real Expensive. If you know where to look, how to look, and who to talk to, you can open new and interesting red, white, and sparkling bottles.
First, let’s explore why a good value bottle of wine differs from a “cheap” bottle.
Cheap wine vs. value wine
Cheap wines may only cost you a few bucks, but their quality is questionable. Premium wines, on the other hand, range in price from really cheap to a bit pricey, but no matter the price, they more than deliver. “If (the price) seems too good to be true, it is,” Patricia told me. “wine able Although it is cheap, it comes at a price. “
Even for educated wine consumers, identifying those wines that represent outstanding value can be challenging, which is why people like Patricia have jobs they love. (Pro tip: A cork on a screw cap doesn’t necessarily mean a better wine.) Wine is a huge category that sommeliers and other wine professionals alike are devoted to.
Buying wine can be intimidating for many reasons, but Patricia’s wine motto is “drink for yourself” and DecantSF is known for its effortless way of connecting people to the wines they love without even having to Anyone help. Suspect of pretentiousness. As a woman- and queer-owned business, DecantSF’s top priority is inclusivity, including budgetary concerns.
Drawing on Patricia’s wine expertise and consumer-friendly attitude, here are seven strategies on how to buy the best value wine.
(We also have Tips on how to find delicious cheese on the cheap and The Best Budget-Friendly Beef Substitutes for Expensive Ribeye Steaks.)
1. Shop local
“You won’t find a wine expert at a big box store,” Patricia said. “Shop in boutiques where the experts work” and you’ll gain access to a wealth of knowledge honed through years of study, evaluation and, most importantly, drink wine. Wine professionals often have a budget, too. “Go to a store and ask the staff about products that fit your budget,” advises Patricia. “If you’re looking for wines under $25, ask your employees for their favorite wines, as that’s probably what they drink most at home.”
“At DecantSF, we blind taste everything before we bring it into the store, and the hardest part to blind taste is our cheapest wines,” says Patricia. “us real We want the wines to be great value and delicious, so we are very picky about the wines we bring in. We have these wines in our own house too, so they have to be good quality! “
A good local wine shop will provide expertise. Many stores also host curated tasting events on a weekly or monthly basis, allowing you to try before you buy.
Local is not always an option. If there are no reputable wine shops in your area, you can peruse our list The best online wine clubs and The Best Alcohol Delivery Services of 2024.
2. Know your price point
You have every right to control your budget and never feel uncomfortable with how much you want to spend. Wine professionals work every day with people with budgets in the tens of dollars as well as those with budgets in the tens of thousands of dollars. Either way, they’re ready to play matchmaker and take great professional pride in connecting people with the right bottle, regardless of budgetary considerations.
Some local wine shops, such as DecantSF, offer wine deals and discounts if you join a membership program.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time as a restaurant sommelier and owner, it’s this: cut to the chase and be honest about what you want,” says Patricia. “Say what you want upfront,” especially if you’re on a tight budget. For example, she suggests starting like this: “I’m looking for a red wine under $30. I used to like wines like You’re more likely to have a positive wine shopping experience.
Wine apps and websites are a great way to do price comparisons and make sure you’re not overpaying. try one of these Three free wine apps To ensure you don’t get holes dug.
3. Avoid wine trends
“Be wary of fads, Instagram favorites or bad marketing,” says Patricia. A disproportionate amount of marketing dollars is spent on a small percentage of the world’s wines. (Looking at you, Whispering Angels.) Most fine wine producers prefer to keep their money in the vineyards and wineries, making fine wines. They rely on their own tasting rooms, sommeliers and wine shop staff to do their marketing for them, based on genuine enjoyment of the wine rather than expensive advertising and influencer sponsorships. “The coolest or most popular wines often come with a premium,” says Patricia, “and you can tell when a lot of money is going into marketing rather than product.”
orange or amber wine Are wine trends worth researching to find some great value options?
Fashionable wines can cost you more, especially in the throes of fashion. This doesn’t mean you have to avoid them entirely.
4. Take out the world map
Being a sommelier has a lot to do with location, which is another good reason to have them find great value wines for you. You don’t need to know every minor wine region, or even every major wine region, but you can learn about your favorite styles or grapes by learning about a few important wine regions, and then learning where they are grown , thereby helping yourself. Neighbor.
“Look for areas outside of the well-known areas,” says Patricia. “Maybe Sancerre is a little too expensive, but Touraine has a lot of lovely Sauvignon Blancs to try. The prices in Napa Valley are crazy! Let’s try some wines from the El Dorado Foothills.”
Madronha is just one of many great wine producers in the El Dorado foothills.
It’s also valuable to know that the New World or other emerging regions are producing wines in a similar style to some of the heavyweights, since prices in these places are often off the mark. If you like a grand cabernet sauvignon from Bordeaux or Napa Valley, look for a grand red wine from Bordeaux or Napa Valley Chile or washington state Save money without sacrificing quality. Gorgeous Chardonnay wines aren’t just limited to France and California either; their gorgeous, affordable looks also come from Australia and South Africa.
5. Explore entry-level wines
The world’s most famous wine producers are so because they make some of the world’s most legendary wines, which command the highest prices. These are rarely the only wines they produce, and most of the wines on offer come from a wider and less expensive wine region than their top cuvées.
“Like a dry Grosses Gewächs Riesling but can’t spend $100? Try the dry Trocken Riesling from the same estate for a quarter of the price,” says Patricia. “Wish you could splurge on Puligny-Montrachet? Try your favorite producer’s Bourgogne Blanc, which is often decoded from young vines Fruit mixture.”
Trocken Riesling is similar to Dry Grosses Gewächs Riesling, but at a fraction of the cost.
In addition to looking more broadly at the wine map, trying lesser-known grapes from well-known producers is also a savvy financial strategy. “Try different grape varieties from legendary producers,” says Patricia. “Like a specific Barolo? Try their Barbera d’Asti, which uses different grapes to make an equally great wine, but costs a lot less to make.”
6. Consider joining a wine club
Some wine stores offer membership deals worth considering. “Members often get discounts, and each period you get more variety than winery club members,” says Patricia. “For example, members of the DecantSF Wine Club receive a 10 percent discount on reorders of club specialty wines. , waived corkage fees for in-store wine consumption, free wine flights, class discounts, pre-sales and other benefits.”
As for online wine memberships or subscriptions, she recommends maintaining a healthy dose of skepticism. “Stay away from online wine clubs that want you to be an ‘investor,’ or use algorithmic quizzes instead of sommeliers to match your preferences, or guarantee a case of wine at a price that’s too cheap,” says Patricia. “These are often are the lowest quality wines, blended and bottled under fantasy names using mass-produced fruit and exploited labor. You can also buy them from the bottom shelf of Walmart.”
There’s nothing better than a great local wine shop, but if wine is lacking in your area, a sophisticated online wine club will suffice.
If you don’t have a reputable wine store in your area, we’ve reviewed some online wine clubs for you CNET’s Best Wine Clubs of 2024. Some online wine retailers, e.g. wine networkalso offering introductory offers for first-time homebuyers, and last bottle Marathon weekend shopping events are regularly offered, all of which are great ways to stock up.
7. Buy wine in bulk
Buying in bulk is a time-honored, money-saving strategy, and it’s certainly not limited to just wine. “Buy more, save more,” Patricia said. “For example, DecantSF offers 5% off 6 bottles, or 10% off 12+ bottles.” You can also save on shipping or delivery costs by stocking up on wine multiple times throughout the year, rather than each time you need it. Go buy a bottle every now and then. Larger format bottles from reputable producers, such as magnums or even boxed wines – yes, I said it – can save you some money.
