Mo's Wine & Spirits

In the broadly weakened economy that the U.S. is going through, you might find it more difficult to shell out that $40 or $50 for a favorite wine, even for special occasions. But tough times and budgetary constraints don’t mean that you need to downgrade your wine enjoyment. Look at it as an opportunity to open up a new appreciation for modestly priced wines that still show real character and finesse. A wine doesn’t have to have a steep price to make it worth the climb. There are literally thousands of choices out there that are priced less, and show as well, as some wines that cost two or three times as much. Wine magazines are a good source for value ratings - Wine Spectator or Wine and Spirit Magazine . They outline hundreds of well reviewed and value priced wines for under $15 and $20 And in addition there are many web sites dedicated to value wine searches, try Good Wine Under $20 or  Wine Lovers Page.

In a recent National Public Radio interview, wine expert Gary Vaynerchuk of the Wine Library TV Online reminds us repeatedly that price has no bearing on quality - but he recognizes that it is a hard perception to break. Many wine shops are feeling a backlash from the sagging U.S. economy, says Vaynerchuk, and his business has also slowed unnecessarily when there are so many less expensive options available. In the NPR interview he states “When you spend $100 on a bottle of wine, it’s very possible to not be as good as the $20 wine”. Wine makers concede that some issues that impact wine costs for the consumer do not have as much to do with the taste of the wine, as with name recognition, scarcity of the vintage or cases produced. These issues can add costs, without necessarily adding quality.

So wine lovers need not suffer with the current state of the economy. Live a little! Look for selections for dinner tonight that won’t break your budget and increase your wine savvy. It all fits in to the goal of breaking down the barriers that prevent people from enjoying all the amazing wines the world has to offer.