Higher Price Means Better.......Right?

In a word.........NO!

Most people think if a bottle of wine is expensive then you are guaranteed a great wine. Nothing could be farther from the truth. There is a lot more to quality than price.

What I always tell people is to first look at the vintage year on the bottle. This will tell you about the growing season for that particular year. Because you don't know what the wine tastes like without first purchasing then opening, the seasoned veteran looks to the year as an indication of what lurks within the bottle. Look its rating up on a Vintage Chart for that country and region. The chart will also help you determine how long you should lay your bottles down for.

Think if you will what happens to the crop of oranges that come from Florida in winter to us here in the great white north when they have terrible weather, perhaps a frost. The fruit is sub-standard. The oranges can be sour, bitter, small, unripe or just down right rotten. This is the importance of a vintage year in wine. If it is rainy, cold, or insufficient sunlight throughout the growing season, all will play a part in determining the final product.

Secondly, look to the producers name. Well established vintners have the monetary wherewithal to be able to be able to be selective should a less than stellar growing season happen. In other words they can afford to withstand the costs incurred to eliminate rotted grapes for instance by hand picking only the best.

Lastly, then look at the price. After analyzing the first two qualities the price should correlate with the other two assessments. This does not always happen I must admit. Sometimes a brands marketing power has the cache and the cash (eh) to garner exorbitant prices regardless.

So now that you know the secrets of the trade go out and by yourself a great bottle of wine.

Cheers!