Wine Blog

August 21, 2008

When is a $10 wine better than a $30 wine?

Answer: A lot more often than you may think!  A lot of people stick by the saying, "You get what you pay for", but this is definitely not true in all cases. There are more than a handful of so-called 'fine', 'luxury' products that rest solely on marketing or a recognizable brand name to justify a high price. This is unfortunately also true in the wine market. Conversely, there are GREAT wines made by lesser known producers or made on a large scale but made well that can be sold at a great price.

I experienced a classic example of this last night: Mike and I bought two wines to try with our latest Steak recipe - one from a well-known producer in the $30 range and one from a large-scale Central Valley California producer that was only $10. The $30 wine was so disappointing that not only did it not get recommended for Easy Food & Wine, it just didn't even get drunk. It was overripe, flabby and deeply flawed. On the other hand, the $10 wine - the Mirassou Pinot Noir - we finished and thoroughly enjoyed.

The lesson here is that you shouldn't JUST buy on price or on brand. Some producers and high price points do earn their positions, but it isn't true for all. Trust your taste buds over a price tag, and when in doubt - go for a recommendation from someone you trust and who shares your taste in wine. At Easy Food & Wine, we certainly hope to be a trusted resource for our readers, but it's always a great thing to have a relationship with a wine store that has a knowledgeable staff and can guide you as well. After all, who doesn't want to spend their hard-earned money wisely?

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