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May 12, 2008 6:12 pm US/Pacific
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Getting Great Value for Your Wine Dollar
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ―
Buying wine can be a sobering proposition, since more expensive bottles don't necessarily hold the best glasses of wine. Here in the Bay Area, you don't have to break the bank to buy a decent bottle of vino. A little knowledge can save you a lot of money.
Choosing the right store is one of the easiest ways to save. Wine enthusiast Barry Snyder says he frequents stores where the owners are passionate about good wine and good prices.
The Wine Mine in Oakland is that kind of store. Owner David Sharp can advise customers on every bottle of wine he sells, which can help customers avoid expensive mistakes.
"I price the wines here aggressively, and I know the wines I am selling," Sharp told CBS5.
In the world of wine, a handful of vintages and labels carry the heavy duty price tags. Among them, Napa Valley Cabs, and French Bordeaux.
"If you can learn from the region and from the style of the grape that you would like to drink, and buy a wine that's similar, but simply grown just two miles down the road, you're getting a wine with the same characteristics as Chateauneuf du Pape for half the price," Snyder said.
This is another instance where a little knowledge pays off at the cash register. While Snyder likes the fancy Bordeaux, it can cost $100 or more, but Cotes du Rhone, which is produced nearby, costs $10 or less. It's not Chateauneuf, but it has similar qualities and is quite enjoyable.
Instead of white burgundies from Sancerre at $30-60, Snyder and Sharp suggest Quincy, grown next door for $10-15.
Another money saving tip comes from knowing about "second labels". Some of the best wineries have more than one label. For instance, Stags leap -- a renowned Napa winery -- has cabernets that cost $150 a bottle. Its second label, Hawk's Crest costs more than 10 times less, at $10.
"It's made from similar grapes, at the same winery, and by the same winemaker, so you get all his knowledge and expertise at a fraction of the price," Sharp says.
Sometimes the best buys are from new wine growing countries. Look for Pinot Noirs from Chile, Australian Sauvigion Blancs, and South African Rieslings. There's no rule that a wine has to be a cabernet or a chardonnay.
"Expand your horizons. Have fun!", David Sharp has no problem taking his own advice on both counts at the Wine Mine.
A short list of Value Wine Shops:
The Wine Mine
5427 Telegraph Ave
Ste D1
(at 55th St)
Oakland, CA 94609 (510) 547-9463
www.winemineco.com
Odd Lots
1025 San Pablo Avenue
(between Buchanan St & Marin Ave)
Albany, CA 94706 (510) 526-0522
Wine Thieves
3401 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Lafayette , CA 94549
925-299-9070
Grocery Outlet, all locations
The wine department has a large selection of marked down bottles, some are great values.
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