Getting Value in Wine

I love finding great bottles of wine for as little money as possible. Duh!

Here is a very good article with great tips on how to do just that. It has some information specific to the Bay Area, but a lot of it applies everywhere.

This is another instance where a little knowledge pays off at the cash register. While Snyder likes the fancy Bordeaux, it can cost $100 or more, but Cotes du Rhone, which is produced nearby, costs $10 or less. It’s not Chateauneuf, but it has similar qualities and is quite enjoyable.

Instead of white burgundies from Sancerre at $30-60, Snyder and Sharp suggest Quincy, grown next door for $10-15.

Another money saving tip comes from knowing about “second labels”. Some of the best wineries have more than one label. For instance, Stags leap — a renowned Napa winery — has cabernets that cost $150 a bottle. Its second label, Hawk’s Crest costs more than 10 times less, at $10.