What is Good Value Wine?

Who wouldn’t like to indulge in luxurious, quality wines, which are rare and priceless? The elite are privileged to spend a fortune on expensive wine; however, for the average consumer, affording simply a glass of Screaming Eagle or Romanée-Conti can weigh heavily on the wallet.  The truth is…many of the world’s most renowned wines are simply unaffordable. Yet, there are many affordable, high quality wines that still indulge the senses by providing rich textures in the glass, luscious aromas and complex flavours on the palette. 

Selecting a wine that is affordable, which also provides a fabulous sensory experience, is the key to identifying wines that are “good value.” Varied in nature, easily available, delicious to the taste and cost effective, good value wines are much sought after, to pair with food or simply enjoy over conversation with loved ones.

The term “value wine” is often misunderstood to mean “least expensive.”  This is simply not the case.  Being a good value wine does not always mean being the most affordable wine on the list.  Rather, it means having a high ratio of satisfaction to cost…a wine that under-promises and over-delivers at a price point that is acceptable to the consumer.  Restaurant owners and sommeliers have an opportunity to define value by maximizing this ratio, rather than simply selecting the cheapest brands and marking them up to levels that are virtually unacceptable to the savvy retail wine buyer. 

When dining out, I would much rather spend $13 on an elegant glass of Napa Valley Merlot with rich garnet colours,  soft tannins, balanced fruit and delicate acidity to complement my steak over a glass of $9 house red which lacks fruit and boasts acidity.  To me, there is clearly value in the additional $4 spent on a fabulous wine.

There is a level of personal satisfaction a waiter feels when discovering the next best value wine and introducing it to his/her guests.   Similarly, restaurant patrons often return with family or friends to share a new wine “find” that they love to enjoy alongside their favourite dishes.  Who knows, they may even want to take a couple of bottles home for everyday drinking and the next special occasion!