5 Steps: How to Buy Good Wine

Just because a bottle of wine has a fancy label or a high price tag doesn't mean that it's a good wine. And vice versa –- just because a bottle of wine is lower in price doesn't mean that it's a bad wine. You can buy a good wine in a variety of different price ranges. And exactly what makes a good wine varies from person to person. This article offers several suggestions as to how you can find and buy good wine.

Steps
  1. Consider the price of the wine, but do not solely base your decision on this factor. A bottle of wine that is decades old and from a well-known reserve may be worth the high price tag. However, it is not uncommon for wines today to be priced higher based on factors not related to taste.
    • The business costs of the winery, including start-up costs and investment amounts, can be factored into the price of a wine.
    • The location of the winery can affect the cost as well. A bottle from a traditional wine region may cost more than one from somewhere lesser known, even if the taste is not as good.
    • Some established wineries sell their wines under a different label, or a second label, and at a cheaper price.
  2. Complete your research and learn about wines, in general, before you make a purchase.
    • Magazines, books and brochures contain useful information about specific vintages and wine producers.
    • Differences between one wine producer or vintage that is considered excellent and another that is considered only average could also be the difference between a good wine and an OK wine.
    • While books, magazines and other sources might not give a wine a high rating, keep in mind that it is still an opinion. A wine that isn't highly rated does not mean that it isn't a good wine.
  3. Locate a good wine store. Every wine store is different than the next, and you will find that each store offers different selections, different price ranges and different styles of business.
    • Stores with organized wine tastings, or those that allow you to buy a glass of wine in order to try it, can lead you in your quest to purchase good wine.
  4. Ignore the idea that bottles of wine with screw caps are not considered to be good wines.
    • An increasing number of great wine producers are forgoing corks.
    • The use of screw caps can prevent corkiness, which is when the natural corks produce a smell similar to wet cardboard.
  5. Match your wine with the type of food you'll be eating. You may think you did not buy a good wine because of how it tasted when combined with your meal menu. But, you might have purchased a good wine that just didn't go with what you were eating at the time.
    • Large holiday meals typically contain a wide range of side dishes, which also means a number of flavors on the table that compete with each other.
    • When there are a number of different flavors in foods, a good wine to buy is one that is well-balanced and not too extreme in taste, such as too sweet or too dry.
Tips
  • Once you do find a good wine, purchase a case of it, which typically consists of 12 bottles. This can save you money because stores that specialize in wine will often give a discount of 10 to 15 percent for such a purchase.

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