If you are into very fruit forward wines, you may prefer a rather inexpensive, young Australian Shiraz to a much more expensive, aged Hermitage.  Same varietal, but vastly different styles. That’s subjectivity.

So let’s talk about “cheap”.  I have my own opinion of what cheap is in relation to wine, but I also tweeted the question as well as asked many fellow wine drinkers. And as you might expect, cheap is also subjective - what a surprise!

While those with a six figure income see $25 as a cheap bottle of wine, those with a more modest income see $10 as cheap. I can say that for the most part, the definition of cheap is different based on the “color” with red commanding the highest “cheap”, white following at about 50% of the red, and rose falling slightly below the white. (Which says that rose is suffering from a bad reputation based those brought up on sweetened pink  jug wines that do not at all represent what a well made, bone dry Rose should be.)

Of course, it does make sense that the level of “cheap” for red would be higher assuming you are familiar with the winemaking process for red versus white or rose. The red will require more costs in handling and processing, as well as  time in storage (oak)  before bottling. (With the cost of a new French oak barrel approaching $1200, it is not hard to see why red is normally more expensive – keeping in mind that some whites will see oak as well). Therefore, by default the cost of a bottle of red would logically be higher.

With the above in mind,  I have found some good wines – red, whites and roses under $10. Now mind you I am not suggesting wines at this price point are going to “wow” you, but I will say there are many wines from Chile, Argentina, Australia, Southern France, Germany, … and yes, even California, that are well made wines at the $10 price point (keeping in mind discounts and sales). I won’t list wines here since I mentioned four or five sites that focus on good cheap wine in Good Cheap Wine: Fact or Myth Part I.

However, other than getting very lucky and finding a great deal, I find few wines that I can say are well beyond the every day quaffer level for under $20 retail. This is the level where you open the bottle, pour or decant, and immediately you know you have something  really wonderful to look forward to!

Keeping in mind the proportion of the money from any bottle to the grower, vintner, distributor, and retailer, and oh yes, the state, local, and federal government, you can see why it is hard to make a really good or an outstanding bottle of wine for $10 or under. At that price point it is nearly impossible to source outstanding grapes let alone recoup the cost of processing and storage.

What are a few that make you sit up and take notice at around the $20 price point?  Lincourt Syrah, Sebastiani Alexander Merlot (both Foley Wine properties), Four Vines Sophistocate, Clos de los Siete Malbec, Torbreck Woodcutter’s Red, Chateau St. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon, and many, many more. (Note: These came to mind first..there are countless French, Spanish, Italian, etc. wines that will also “wow you”. There are great winemakers and great vineyards across the globe and I do not want to suggest one region makes better wine over the other… remember that issue of subjectivity )

The bottomline is that although I greatly respect all wine makers that put there energy, their talent and their money into making the best wine they can, it isn’t necessary to pay $100 or even $50 to find a bottle of wine that will make you sit up and take notice.

My advice: Open your palate to as many wines as you can, by tasting as many varietals and blends as you can, from as many countries and regions as you can. That’s when you start to realize the diversity and pleasure of that thing we call wine!

(Sorry … talkin up the grapes again!)