These days it's all about saving money, and the world of wine is no different.
A few years back consumers had no problem spending $15 to $20 on a good bottle of wine. These days the rage is to find a good bottle for less than $10.
A few weeks ago a wine shopper told me she would never buy a wine for under $10 a bottle because it was sure to be an awful wine. She just needed a bit of guidance, and I suggested a few of my favourites.
A few days ago I saw her again and she told she me no longer thought bad things about an under-$10 selection and she could not believe the wine had tasted so good.
The trick to finding these picks is to know how wine companies operate. Large wineries tend to spend a lot of money on advertising and promotion to promote their brands, so the wine quality-to-price ratio is sometimes lacking.
There are exceptions to this rule, but for the most part the gems lie in wines and wineries you may have never heard of before.
Many wines that have a large inventory are now being discounted to move the wines out of the warehouse for a new vintage. This results in some wines that previously sold for $15 a bottle selling for less than $10 a bottle.
Wines that cost less than $10 a bottle come from regions all over the world including Chile, Australia, California, Spain and, recently, British Columbia. These wines from B.C. include ones made fro=m 100-per-cent B.C. grown grapes.
Here are a few of my favourite wines selling for less than $10 a bottle. Many are not available at BC Liquor stores, so check out private wine stores in your area.
Calona Vineyards, Pinot Blanc, 2007, B.C. This wine shows ripe fruit aromas of sweet apple and melon with a hint of clover honey on the finish. However, it is a dry wine with soft levels of acidity.
North 49, Sauvignon Blanc, B.C. This wine is a killer deal and shows fresh citrus infused with lemon, lime and apple notes. It has a good clean finish without high acid levels.
Fish Eye, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007, California. This red has red berry on the nose, mostly strawberry and cranberry with a hint of fresh leather. Soft tannins and medium body deliver easy drinking qualities to this wine.
Castillo de Liria, Bobal/Shiraz, 2008, Spain. Bobal is a grape native to Spain. It usually produces a plummy, Merlot type of wine and is used in many Spanish blends. It offers fresh earth, plum, cherry and a touch of oak in the glass with a juicy and ripe taste. On the finish it shows dark chocolate and dark roasted coffee notes.
Cellar Rat, Chardonnay, 2006, Australia. At well under $10, this clean fresh wine shows hints of tropical fruit, lemon and grapefruit. It is unoaked, dry and would be ideal for roasted chicken or turkey this Thanksgiving.
These wines are well worth trying, along with any new wines that come on the market for under $10. You can explore these at your local private wine shop to find your own favourite. After all, at worst you'll only be out $10.
