philemer

No reading reviews and research? Don't you have a "go to" wine that you buy often?

gfunkdave

I always have Beaux Freres and Freeman pinot noir on hand, but they are more than $25/bottle.

What research? The best research is a taste!

Kgmm77

I find buying wine by producer (rather then by grape or region) is a particularly US characteristic and not really a feature in Europe particularly in the cheaper price range on this thread (classed Bordeaux & to a lesser extent Burgundy excepted). I’m not sure whether it’s things like DOC & similar standards make variance less likely that is the reason.

gfunkdave

Interesting! I do usually pick based on varietal and region. I think you've hit on it: in this price range those are the big things; a $20 Bordeaux is probably going to be like most others in that price range. But I actually don't like the New World style of winemaking (too fruit forward in reds and too oaky in Chardonnay) so I go with producers I know I like.

I have found that Spanish wines are the best bang for the buck. Which is good for me because I love Rioja and albarino anyway.

work2fly

At $15, I'm quite pleased.

StartinSanDiego

I agree about Spanish wines. After lots of trial and error, when in doubt or faced with a vast amount of choices, I just buy an Italian, Portuguese or Spanish wine. My theory is that these wine producing areas, compared to France or Napa, are like the old Avis commercial... "We're #2, so we try harder." It seems like I'm more likely to enjoy a reasonably priced Iberian wine than one from California or France, where the price tag closely follows the quality.

My method is to buy a few bottles at the store, TJ's or the discount store, then, if I like it, I go back and buy a case and put it in the cellar. I bought a case of the Cavaliere d' Oro yesterday. They've been making wine since the Middle Ages. If they haven't gone out of business in 500 years, I figure they're doing something right. As an added bonus, they have a pretty label with a horse on it. SOLD!

Eastbay1K

I mostly agree with you. My theory is that it is more like buying the Kia or Hyundai - the wine performs just as good or better, but no one is going to point and stare when you drive down the street, even if your driving experience is better than a car with a "fancy" nameplate. I don't think those places "try harder," but rather, don't try "hard enough" to make their wines into an overpriced overblown, and highly manipulated product.

When in unkonwnlandia, I'm most likely to pick a European import from Spain, Italy (mostly south) and France (which has plenty of great and tasty value outside of the nameplate regions).

Gaucho100K

Dont forget the stuff from the RIGHT side of the Andes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

corky

Report back how it is....my last big trip before shutdown was 10 days in Puglia and I would like to have a wine from there just for the memories. Where did you buy it?

pinniped

I tend to buy by varietal/region for both US and Europe. For the US I've visited most of the primary west coast regions (at least the primary ones likely to distribute nationally) and found some things I like.

But if I'm looking for something new from a particular region, I'm not above being influenced by a cool-looking label.

FLYMSY

Cuatro Rayas Vendimia Nocturna, a Verdejo from Spain $10

AMflier

If I'm looking for a full bodied red for under $10

Breca Garnacha de Fuego Old Vines

Eastbay1K

Not who you're asking, but I did see this at Grocery Outlet, bought a bottle, and it was perfectly quaffable - even at double the $4 or so I paid. Maybe it was $5.

StartinSanDiego

Yeah, I got mine at Grocery Outlet. My favorite wine shop.

philemer

Readers Cab. by J. Bookwalter Winery, WA. Abt $12-13 $14 at Costco. Worth every penny.