As you may have heard, we’re in the middle of a recession. Which means that penny pinching isn’t just a smart idea–it’s a must. At the same time, I’d argue that you can’t get through a recession sanely without good wine. Luckily, it’s never been easier to find amazing deals. (In fact, two of my favorites-Protocolo Tinto and Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Noir-are downright steals).
As a follow-up to Monday’s interview, I asked Vinobite.com‘s Gretchen Roberts to share her thoughts on finding great wine at even better prices. Here’s what she had to say.
I’ve noticed that your site features a lot of bottles for under $20. Do you think it’s become easier to find affordable wine?
Yes! As a bona fide cheapskate, I think we’re living in one of the best times ever for wine consumption because there are so many values out there—wine that tastes like it costs twice the price. You can get so much good wine for under $15 that there’s really no reason to go higher unless you want to. That said, there’s a lot of swill under $15, too, and it’s hard to know the difference. With literally hundreds of thousands of wines released every year, it’s impossible to keep up on it all. That’s why I recommend turning to your local wine merchant for advice on what to buy.
Any recession-friendly favorites to recommend to our readers?
In general, some of the best values come from overseas. Even with our weak dollar, you can get incredible wine from Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina, and more. Some of my favorite reds right now are coming out of Spain. They’re the perfect balance between fruit-forward New World wines and fruit-reticent Old World wines, and you can get fantastic bottles for around $12. I also love Washington wine (my family lives in the Walla Walla wine region, and we visit as often as possible), but the good stuff is expensive. Luckily, the big Washington brands like Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Crest, and Hogue make some incredible value wines, red and white. I especially love Washington Riesling and Syrah.
-Camille
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Camille