It is absolutely not the case that cheaper wines are inferior to more expensive ones. A €20 bottle will usually taste better than a €10 wine, and if you spend €30 it will probably taste better still. The difference thereafter is marginal, and once you go over €100, you are probably paying for the name and the rarity – otherwise known as snob value. We may think it tastes better, but as many blind tastings prove, much of the time we cannot tell the difference.
It takes time, money and effort to grow grapes and make wine, and buying a vineyard in some regions can be an expensive business. But there are limits to how much a producer can spend tending vines, excluding all but the finest grapes, and cosseting the wine in the cellar before bottling.
Price and value are relative. On the internet, I found one website including a €125 bottle in their great value section. It was a fine Bordeaux, which is often expensive, so I guess it offers value to some wine drinkers. But what areas outperform the others when it comes to value? Real value to me generally means €10-€20 for very good everyday wines and €20-€40 for high-quality wines.
Spain
Much of Spain offers great value for money. Tempranillo, especially from la Mancha, as well as Garnacha, and for white wines Rueda are all available at very good prices. There are plenty of other bargains in Valencia, Manchuela, Murcia and other parts of southeast Spain. And of course, Sherry offers some of the greatest wine value of all.
Portugal
Just over the border from Spain in Portugal, Dāo, Alentejo, and the Douro region can offer spectacular value for money. As with other countries, you have to move beyond the well-known grape varieties, but Portugal has plenty of its own indigenous gems.
France
As well as producing some of the world’s most expensive wines, France also offers some of the best value of all. Leave the well-known names and look to the Languedoc and southwest France for some wines that offer real personality and value. Both regions are large and produce huge amounts of wine. There are great red, white and rosé wines usually made from local grapes but some good sauvignon, chardonnay, pinot, and cabernet too. I would certainly also include the Rhône Valley – both red and white wines – in any list of bargains.
Muscadet is always a favourite of mine. The multiples all sell the inexpensive stuff for €10-€15, and there are stunning wines at €20-€30. I am also a big fan of Beaujolais. While prices are rising, there is still great value to be had at similar prices to Muscadet. Don’t ignore Bordeaux completely. The posh Châteaux are extremely expensive, but cheap Bordeaux abounds and some of it can be very good.
Italy
Italy produces vast amounts of wine. Instead of the ubiquitous Pinot Grigio and appassimento, try Soave or Valpolicella, both much improved. And Sicily is home to a host of fantastic, underpriced wines. I am also a big fan of the red and white wines from the Marches.
Chile
We buy more wine from Chile than anywhere else, possibly recognising that the well-known varietals are sold at very low prices. I am a fan of inexpensive Chilean cabernet. But spend €15-€20 on a Chilean wine and you will be very pleasantly surprised.
Elsewhere in the southern hemisphere, look to South Africa for Chenin Blanc, New Zealand for pinot noir, and of course to Argentina for Malbec, all of which can offer incredible value for money.
Sparkling wine
With our double duty on sparkling wine, value is less easy to find. However, look out for Crémant, French quality fizz from regions other than Champagne, and Cava, which is Spanish (almost exclusively Catalan) sparkling wine. Both offer great value for money, as do some Australian and South African wines.
