A Wine's Country of Origin

Should the country of origin matter when selecting wine? Recently I pondered this thought because out of the last 5 French wines only 2 were completely satisfying to me. One of those choices I mentioned in an earlier post and consider it to a good one for the daily wine drinker: Georges Deboeuf Cabernet Sauvigon. It falls into the Vins de Pays classification which allows this French wine to characterize itself as a Cabernet Sauvignon (most of the time the region of France classifies the wine). The other pleasing French wine that I would certainly drink again: Paul Joubelet Parallel "45" Cotes du Rhone 2006 vintage(Rhone is the category and is a valley in France). You can purchase this within the 8 to $11 per 750 ml bottle range. The point is just because a wine comes from California, France, Italy etc. it doesn't make the wine. Though perhaps it could serve as a general starting point before getting more specific like region, varietal, vintner, importer, budget etc.



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The Most Important Factor

If you're buying wine for yourself there is nothing more important than pleasing your own tongue. Price doesn't always equal enjoyment. Why diminish the green in your wallet more for something you don't like. If you're just starting to drink wine its a good idea not to go overboard on the price. Perhaps start with trying a few value priced varietals to get to know what's pleasant in that regards. I find that you can get something decent to start for 9 to $11 for a 1.5 liter bottle. You could try some of the varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot etc) offered by some decent brands like Yellow Tail and Barefoot. Once you know what varietals you enjoy and don't mind spending a little more go ahead. The $10-20 dollar range for 750 ML has many choices that I find to be good. Recently I had Hayman and Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve 2006 for $13 that I found to very enjoyable. Of course tasting will give you the best idea of what you enjoy but so will knowing which wines pair with foods. Winedin has an interesting online pairing tool. As I drink wine daily I have my daily choices that I try to keep in the 9-$14 range for a 1.5 bottle. The 2 wine brands first mentioned for me fall into that category which also includes: Lindemans, Georges Deboeuf and Jacob's Creek. Usually once a week I'll part with a little more money for a bottle. Last Sunday it was Beringer III Century Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($12 for 750 ML). Recently my spouse and I took a bottle of William Hill Estate Chardonnay ($18 for 750 ML) to a byob Sushi restaurant. Less frequently but at times I don't mind spending a little more crisp green paper for liquid grape artwork. That's just me and remember you're the expert of your own preferences.

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Like Rare Wines and/or Collecting?

Vinfolio has quite a selection of rare wines including cult wines like Screaming Eagle. The have an advanced wine search tool that appears to be quite helpful. If you're interested in investing in wine they offer services like wine advisory that will help you make selections. Their investment services also provide value tracking. Vinfolio offers storage and personal cellar management as well.

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Cabernet Napa Wine

Wine Buying Tips

Here are some guidelines:

1. Know your budget: Before you open your wallet you should know what the maximum amount is that you're willing to spend. This is important because once you're in a store its easy to get distracted.



2. Know the reason you're buying the wine. If you're buying to go with a meal you should know what types of foods go with the different wine varietals. If you're buying the wine for someone else you should know their preferences. This could include wine color, country of origin, grape variety, specific wine region and brand.

3. Most wines are better young so if you're buying a wine to hold on to it for years please know what will last. Ask the proprietor of the store for help in this regards or better yet do some online research first. Two categories to start with to consider for the long term: the top growth Bordeauxs and many finer California Cabernets. Also there are German Rieslings and certain Chablis that age well too. That is just a starting point. Some specific research from there is necessary because much of it has to do with the wines body and how it is made.

4. If you drink wine often (I drink 2 glasses daily myself) think of buying in bulk. Many wines offer 1.5 L bottles which can offer savings. Also consider buying a case (12 bottles).

5. Vintage year can matter especially on the higher scale choices. The wine critics are a good resource for this like the highly respected Robert Parker . Many critic reviews note the subtleties the untrained tongue could miss. Parker also has a cool weekly wine list on his site.

6. Consider buying direct from a winery (unfortunately there may be restrictions if you're buying out of state or country). Many of the Napa Valley wineries offer online reviews and notes on their wines and ship to most states.

7. Consider a wine club. This could be a good option if you want someone to choose for you. With this you don't have to deal with store frustration either. Click here for a helpful list.

8. Consider buying online. You may be able to buy directly from the winery. There are also the online super wine stores like wine.com as well as specialty stores like Bounty Hunter Rare Wine.

9. Sam's Club and Costco warehouse stores give you another wine buying source. Many times you'll find some reasonable prices even on some more expensive wines. Bare in mind that some wineries won't sell to warehouses.

10. Coupons never hurt. Click here for a list of current wine related coupons. Sometimes you'll find them in the Money Mailers as well. I found one for 10% off at my local liquor store recently.

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Cabernet Napa