CHEAP AND EASY! (PART ONE)
When traveling, try not to end up at a ‘dry’ place on #nationaldrinkwineday! Please. Although, let’s be honest, what day isn’t #nationaldrinkwineday? Especially for this mother! Magic kingdom would earn the title ‘happiest place on earth’ if it actually had wine!
Actually, the bigger challenge while on vacation with the family was where to find some good wine. Because, can I just say, big chain restaurants don’t exactly have the best wine to choose from. Jokingly, my friends were texting me, asking me how my Target wine was tasting. Yeah, they’re funny.
They also wanted to know this: Is there any good cheap wine? I think that was sarcasm, but honestly, my short answer is yes!
Wine that is made to sell at a lower price point is generally not going to have the complexity that a higher priced/quality wine possesses, but it can sure be tasty!
In general, quality is not determined by price. There is a lot of overpriced wine on the market, as well as a slew of under-valued bottles. Also, a wine that is aged and/or expensive will have different depths than a young, cheaper wine, which doesn’t make it better (per se) – just different.
There are some wines (and this is true of some grape varieties too) that are difficult to make at a cheaper price, lets say under $15.00 would define a cheaper bracket. For instance, would I drink a cheap Pinot Noir – or cheap Burgundy? Not generally, but I have found some good ones out there. Drouhin makes an entry level Burgundy wine, as well as reasonably priced Pinot Noir in Orgeon and Burgundy, France which are both delicious (note: Drouhin also makes more expensive wines that are simply divine). This is a family that has been making quality wine for a long time.
Meiomi makes a $20 bargain Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; they aren’t trying to make anything other than a good quality, lower-priced wine, and it’s working. Pinot Noir is like a kid throwing a temper tantrum: it’s difficult and thin skinned, and has a myriad of issues, but it can make gorgeous wines when handled correctly – it just needs care and attention, which tends to reflect in the price. A shout out to some supermarket wines that were great: Decoy Duckhorn cabernet sauvignon; Meiomi Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; Etude Pinot noir and Coppola Claret!
To me, the key to wines cheap or expensive is winemakers. The amazing ones out there care a lot, and make good wine at every price point in every vintage. They can turn out a good wine under any circumstance! I love wine-makers – they are like brilliant parents who make it work!
Look for Part 2 monday and I’ll explain what affects the price of wine!