I think I’ll take that bottle right there…
Judging from some of the feedback I am getting, I am inclined to write a small riff here in which I ask for your comments–as many I can get to get a sense of your thinking about wine. It’s not a survey, per se–no science involved, nothing like that.
I am going to assume that if you’re reading this, you like to drink wine and you purchase it more than just occasionally. If that is so, please tell me what you look for when you buy a bottle? Are you looking solely at price? Do you consider where the wine comes from, whether Europe, Australia, South America, North America, South Africa or points in between? Do you consider whether the vineyard is sustainable, etc? I’d like to get a sense for what folks look for when buying wine.
Please comment freely…
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I think of the grape variety; then move onto a price range; then a region of the world; then, perhaps sadly, the label can affect my decision.
Thanks, Coates. You may consider yourself a true American–and while many say that with some sarcasm and ridicule, I don’t. We’ve been sort of weaned on grape variety here in the States and that’s where we turn. There are downsides to that, of course–because we think less about where the grape was grown, which does count for something. But then–even if you buy organic vegetables, do you say, “I wonder if that was grown in Coastal California or in Nebraska?” Most don’t.
As for choosing by label, well–we’ll work on that.
Am I preemptively disqualified if I buy my wine at Trader Joe’s?
No indeed! Trader Joe’s is a great place to buy wine on a budget. The only complaint I have there is that it can be “hit and miss.” Right now, for instance, at most stores, you can get a “Nero d’Avolo” which is an Italian grape varietal. It’s nothing to write home about, but at $3.99 a bottle, it’s a nice and simple table wine with a lot more character than the other Trader Joe’s wine that must not be named.
I’ve been looking into Argentine wines lately, but stuff that fits my major goal: Finding the near-perfect $12 to $15 bottle; a wine that’s delicious, but not expensive. A lot of South American stuff is satisfying that right now.
After that, going local: Unionville Winery, in Ringoes, NJ.
I too think Argentinian wines represent value. This is also true for Spanish wines and I tend toward those more, though a good Malbec from Argentina can do wonders.