Fine wine needn't break the budget
Nicolas Souffrant and Jasmine McDonald attended a wine tasting in Brookline last week. It's a good way to figure out what you like, for free.
The economy is in the dumps. You may lose your job. Your friends have already lost theirs. And you can't afford a vacation to escape from this brutal winter.
Today's story is part of a monthlong series. Every day, you will see the Spending Smart logo on the front page directing you to that day's story. Also, at boston.com/spendingsmart, you will find more stories, tips, videos, a place for readers to share their own ideas to save, and details on a contest in search of the most frugal New Englander.
You've never needed a good bottle of wine more than now.
And you're not alone. During tough economic times, research shows, Americans cling to their smallest, most indulgent pleasures, such as chocolate, cigarettes, and their favorite alcoholic beverage. So the only question is how to scale back on your wine costs without sacrificing quality.
A taste for free
First, there are amazing bargain wines for under $10. There are also great options if you want to trade down from a $40 bottle to a $20 vintage.
Figure out what you like - and what you can afford - by trying some for free. Wine classes and free tastings abound at liquor stores. Most shops offer samples on weekends, and some stores give daily tastings. The Wine Gallery in Brookline features a "Wine Jukebox" with 48 wines you can taste for free (up to six per visit) all week long. Blanchards Wine & Spirits in West Roxbury is hosting a tasting on Feb. 11 with samples of over 100 vintages - all for free. Featured wines are available for 20 percent off regular prices.
Price busters
When you find a wine you like, buy in bulk. It brings down the cost. Many liquor stores offer discounts when you purchase several bottles, and up to 20 percent off for a case.
At Bin Ends, an off-price wine retailer that opened last year in Braintree, every day is a sale. It's the Filene's Basement of wines, with 20 percent off of various individual bottles and an automatic markdown system that marks down other wines every three weeks. The ultimate 50 percent discounts are found in the "Bin End Bottle Bin." We scored a delectable Riesling from Scharzhofberg, one of Germany's premier vineyards in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region. The 2004 Von Hovel, one of the last few bottles from the distributor, typically retails for $50. We paid $25.
The road less traveled
You'll get a better bottle for your buck if you stick with wines from smaller estates whose owners aren't spending a lot of money on marketing. Do you love Brunello di Montalcino but can no longer swallow the $60 price tag (at a minimum) for this Tuscan red? Steven Chevalier, an expert in Italian wines from Ideal Wine & Spirits, had us taste Campi Nuovi Montecucco, made from grapes grown in a village close to Montalcino. The Brunello is 100 percent Sangiovese grapes, while Campi Nuovi is a blend, 95 percent Sangiovese and 5 percent Cabernet. But the smooth tannins and bold fruity flavor of the Campi Nuovi make it a tasty alternative. And at $16.99 a bottle, it's hard to argue.
Even in a recession, there is still the occasional reason to celebrate. But instead of grabbing the $40 Veuve Clicquot, a prestige Champagne known for its crisp full flavor, try the Westport Brut Cuvee RJR, a sparkling wine made in Massachusetts. The Westport, with aromas of apple blossom and ripe pear, is nearly half the price. My wine buddies - graduates of Cornell's Wines 101 course, with resumes full of drinking experience - all preferred the $22 Westport in a blind taste test.
Go to the source
It's all about staycations these days. So why not hop into your car for a day trip to local wineries. The coastal wine trail winds through Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with about seven wineries.
Must-sees include Westport Rivers, best known for sparkling wines, and Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton, RI., which makes a fine Gewurztraminer. You often can find cheaper bottles at wineries by cutting out the middleman.
Make friends
Head to your favorite liquor store and introduce yourself to the wine buyer. Be honest. If you like sweet white wines and want to spend under $10, speak up. The wine buyer won't judge. If he does, move on to another store. Usually, the buyer will find several options and sometimes offer samples for you to taste. If you feel comfortable, give your phone number and ask the store to call when new vintages come in that you might like. It's not sketchy. It's their job.
Or, check out Twitter Taste LIVE, a social-networking service featuring online wine tastings that bring the world's top winemakers, importers, and bloggers directly to consumers all over the world; it's at http://twittertastelive.com.
Don't skimp on taste
You're buying wine because you like it. Shop for bargains, but don't skimp on quality. "It doesn't matter how inexpensive a bottle of a wine is," says John Haggerty, managing partner of Bin Ends. "If it's not good, it's not a value."