Value Wine Buying Strategy #1: Low Profile Wine Regions
Location, location, location – sage advice in real estate and it’s equally pertinent to buying well-priced wines in the international wine market these days. When searching for the best value wines consider checking out wines from regions and countries that are not as well known, but still up the ante in quality and distribution. You’ll be able to grab some stellar wines at bargain prices if you know where to look. Consider places like Spain, Argentina and Chile for red wines that pack some serious palate power, but tend to go easy on the wallet. For example, opt for a Spanish Rioja Crianza ($10) or Reserva ($15-30+) classifications and you’ll not only save money on the bottle, but with the Reserva you'll gain a few years of aging to boot. Or go for an Argentinean Malbec to shake things up on the varietal front, but keep costs down.
Value Wine Buying Strategy #2: Grape Adventures
Just as “new” countries can provide better values over higher profile wine producing countries and regions, the same holds true for "new" grape varietals. By branching out and experimenting with lesser known grape varietals you’ll not only have a more well-rounded palate, but you’re likely to save some cash by opting for a change in your routine wine selections. While, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay enjoy worldwide varietal recognition, grapes like Germany’s Kerner or Chile’s Carménère are still waiting for their time to shine in the international spotlight. They may not offer the fame and immediate name recognition that the big eight varietals do, but they do offer some consistent savings and may well surprise you with their versatility and immediate value.
Value Wine Buying Strategy #3: Wine and Restaurants
Everybody knows that buying wine in a restaurant is not the best way to save money on wine. When you can often buy the whole bottle at the price you pay per glass on some of the most popular wines on the typical restaurant menu, you know something crazy is going on in the “mark up” world. However, more and more restaurants are allowing for restaurant patrons to bring their own bottle (BYOB), and are even lowering or slashing their corkage fees altogether. Check out restaurant websites or give your favorite restaurant a call to check their BYOB policy.
Value Wine Buying Strategy #4: Wine for Home
Of course, you could always forego the restaurant experience altogether if wine is your priority and buy a bottle for dinner at home. Many local wine merchants have moved their bargain wine bins to the front of the store and have dedicated a decent percentage of their buying volume to lower-priced wines that still hold their mark on the “good value” spectrum. Local wine shops are there to help you find a wine that fits both your palate and your price, creating a “win-win” for both your wallet and theirs.
Value Wine Buying Strategy #5: Wine Online
Buying wine online is one way to save some serious cash. Often the prices are very competitive and if you look for consumer deals you can even get discounted shipping. It is easy to buy in bulk on a case by case scenario and save even more. Wine Clubs are also a fairly low risk starting point. They tend to offer better deals on good value wines, knowing that their best marketing is your word of mouth. If you are interested in buying wine online, then check out vendors such as www.wine.com, and keep your eye out for their 1 cent shipping promotionals – a first step in the right direction for saving some serious cash in your wine wallet.
Whether you are a serious wine enthusiast or just enjoy an occasional glass of wine, it is worth looking for ways to stretch your wine dollar. If it’s as simple a strategy as finding a “new” country or just a “new” grape, having wine at home or opting for BYOB at your local restaurant, stopping by your favorite wine shop or clicking on your preferred online wine retailer – there are plenty of avenues for saving money on good wine, without having to sacrifice quality.
