Anyone who knows me knows that I love me some wine. There’s just something about a glass after work. Liquid relaxation, I tell ya.
In any case, I don’t love the price of it, and I think other Canadian winos will concur. I’ve learned some wine hacks, though, to keep me sane, and wanted to pass them on to you.
Go on Winery Tours
Not only are these fascinating, they are also a great experience and you usually get to sample wines. Sure, you end up leaving with a bottle more often than not, but that’s the cost of admission and it’s a lot of fun.
Plus, you won’t be wasting money on wines that you won’t appreciate, because you get to taste them first.
Try Promotional Brands
There’s always a new wine that is being featured, a new brand to be tried and a promotional price to be had. Check out your local wine or liquor store and ask the cashier what is on promotion.
You can also look it up online before leaving your home.
Go Cheap or Go Home
I don’t think there’s a huge difference between a $15 bottle of wine and a $30 bottle. I think the biggest differences between cheap and expensive wine is when it is $100/bottle and over – then you can taste the difference.
Unless you’re rolling in it (in which case, why are you reading this post?), I doubt you’re drinking $100 bottles of wine every week, so do your wallet a favor and just get the cheap stuff. There wont’ be much of a difference between that and the slightly more expensive kinds.
Boxed Wine
Yes, I said it. Boxed wine. Frankly, despite it’s bad rap, all boxed wine is, is a volume discount. Also, it’s cheaper for the distributor to put it in a box than a bottle, so they relay those lower prices to you (the consumer).
Get over the whole “boxed wine is for low class people” mentality and just buy the damn thing. It’s the same stuff, but not in glass.
Make it Yourself
I don’t do this, but I know some people that make their own wine. There are plenty of wine-making companies that you can check out. This is typically much less expensive than if you were to buy the same quantity at the liquor store.
There is hope when it comes to saving on wine!
I found a wine store with a really knowledgeable owner with the mantra, “Why pay $20 for a bottle when you can pay $10?” He constantly does taste tests to show off a cheap wine that tastes as good as the more expensive one. Because of that, people flock to him. Great business model for him and great find for me (but not my liver).
I have never gone to a winery even though we live so close to wine country. Need to go!
The problem with boxed wine is that it sours/spoils. You’d think being sealed in food grade plastic would make a difference, but it doesn’t. You may be getting a “volume discount” but unless you’re able to knock down a gallon of wine in a few days, then you’re better off buying a nice bottle that you can re-cork and finish in a short period of time (1-3 days at most).
Suggestion! (here’s where my cheapness really shines through) Next time you buy a bottle of wine, keep the bottle. Pour your extra boxed wine into the bottle and recork it! Everybody wins (your wallet and your wine.. and you!). Haha, good point though. I usually only buy it if I’m having guests – the quantity is too much for me.
I disagree that because a bottle of wine is $100 it tastes better than a $30 bottle of wine. There are very good (and even excellent) bottles of wine at pretty much any price point. Sometimes you are simply paying for the name on the bottle and their past reputation (many times correctly earned). I have had many many wonderful bottles of wine (that I had no business drinking) because I happened to be in the right place at the right time with the right people.
In the end, as long as you enjoy the bottle of wine it really doesn’t matter what price you paid for it. Find a type you like, learn about it and enjoy it, and if you have time and space collect and age a few bottles (we have a couple we purchased fairly inexpensively that have aged amazingly!)
We’ve discovered the Chilean wines. Everyone we’ve tried has been relatively inexpensive and pretty nice. Concha Y Torro seems to be the predominant producer from Chile. They also have a line of wines, Frontera, that are really inexpensive and pretty decent!
We’re actually going wine tasting tomorrow night to celebrate a belated Valentine’s Day. My wife turned me on to wine about two years ago and I am enjoying learning more about it. I am starting to brew my own beer, so wine could be in the future.
I like my wine too Daisy, just not to dry. As far as cost goes I’ve had the $100 a bottle stuff to the $10 bottle and I can’t really tell much a difference. I just prefer something great tasting.
I like using an aerator for our wine as well. We rarely get more than a $10 bottle, use our aerator and it really opens up a new wine. Also, no shame in 3 buck Chuck from Trader Joes 🙂
I love a good bottle of wine too. There really aren’t a wineries in LA but if you’re willing to drive a few hours you can definitely find some good wines at reasonable prices (we stock up!) I’m not a huge box wine fan, but I used to have an assistant who LOVED it. And you know – whatever makes you happy!
I still buy two-buck chuck and then I do the unthinkable…I refrigerate it so I can have a glass spread out throughout the week. Trust me when I say their Cab tastes better chilled after opened. Cost per glass? Oh about fifty cents. Yay!
bf is really great at picking out nice quality wines that are inexpensive. I’m not much of a connoisseur so I don’t really notice subtle differences the way he does. When I was in college I bought a ton of wine at trader joes. Love me some two-buck chuck!
Looks like a winery tour is quite exciting. I haven’t tried that one.
Haha, I have a soft spot in my heart for boxed wine. (Oh, college.) I really don’t think it’s as bad as people make it out to be, though. And I’m with you on spending $10-15 for a bottle of wine, although I’ve been known to spend… um. $4-5. But really, I’m not a wine connoisseur (as much as I would love to be!) and I can’t afford to be dropping huge amounts of money on legitimately good wines on a regular basis, so the cheap kind it is for me!
Hands down the best wine: CHOCOLATE WINE! They have it at Target and a few other places. Not only does it taste great (because it is chocolate), but it also has a decent alcohol content as well as being affordably priced.
I love white wine and my favourites are super cheap, but why should I care, as long as they taste good that`s the most important thing!
Wine…yummmmmmm….between pregnancy and breastfeeding It’s been over two years! When I’m done breastfeeding I’m going to have one glass and be completely trashed I think. I love me some red wine 🙂