The festive season is upon us and that means socialising is inevitable. Family dinners, gatherings with relatives or rounds of crazy fun with friends is to be expected, and booze, of course, becomes an integral part of our soirees.
While getting boozy with a glass of wine is classy, it could also be very heavy on our pockets. So, the question is – How do we pick up a decent bottle of wine that’s affordable? Here are four tricks to help you get a good wine on a budget:
1. Search for wines from lesser known countries or regions
We all know that countries like France, Italy or South Africa produce some of the best wines available. But, wines from these places could be expensive as they are mostly labelled as premium. Instead, don’t be afraid to be a little adventurous and look for wines from lesser known countries, such as Argentina, Portugal or Chile, as they can be significantly less pricy.
2. Find everyday wine from premium brands
The premium wine brands handpick their harvest and choose the finest grapes to produce their wines. Additionally, these brands would ensure that grapes from only certain ages are used in the production of their wines, hence the hefty price tags.
What you do not know is that these brands also produce everyday wines with their younger harvests, but declassify the wines from their premium selections. For that reason, the wines are sold at much lower prices, yet the quality is maintained.
3. Opt for whites over reds
Red wines go through a much more strenuous steps when made, from the oak barrels to the ageing processes, which is why reds are always on the pricier side. On the other hand, white wines spend lesser time from grapes to the glass, so the possibility of finding a good white wine that’s affordable is higher than that of a bottle of red.
4. Look for lesser known grape selection
There are some renown grape varieties out there, and the fame comes with a price. Pinot noir, chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon are definitely good, but uhh, we say scout for other wines made with less popular grape varieties that can come at a lower price point.
So, now you know how to impress your friends at parties without blowing too much moolah!
