There’s Absolutely No Reason To Spend More Than $3 on a Bottle of Wine

[The Minsky Moment]

Not so much here JR.  It is not uncommon for local producers to price their wine in the 30-40 dollar range.  Way overpriced.

My knowledge of Canadian wine basically begins and ends with the Ontario icewines. (and icewine tends to have higher production costs and lower yields for obvious reasons).  I am aware there is production in BC but I have never tried any.  There is a dynamic in some local wine markets whereby prices get bid up beyond what the quality level would normally support simply because of physical proximity to affluent consumers who are willing to pay premiums for a local, "artisanal" product - this can be seen with respect to wine production in Long Island (NY).

[Malthus]

Way I'd put it is that below a certain price theshold, chances are the wine will be inferior or very rough tasting ... but that threshold is not very high. A $12 bottle can easily be as good to the average idiot like myself as a $40 bottle or an $80 bottle, but chances are good on average I can tell the difference between a $12 bottle and a $6 one.

It's not even an indicator of "average idiotness". ( ) Some $40 wines are quite simply overpriced.

Heh, I was throwing in some self-deprication.  I make no pretence to having a cultivated palate, so to my taste indeed some of the $40 product is likely to be overpriced ... perhaps some real expert can tell the difference, but I can't. Hence, except for odd products like icewine, I'm reluctant to spend more than (say) $18 for a bottle. 

[viper37]

Way I'd put it is that below a certain price theshold, chances are the wine will be inferior or very rough tasting ... but that threshold is not very high. A $12 bottle can easily be as good to the average idiot like myself as a $40 bottle or an $80 bottle, but chances are good on average I can tell the difference between a $12 bottle and a $6 one.

Never gone above 50$ myself, but with wines, it really depends on what type of wines you like more than the price.  I like poutine as much as the next guy, but 12$ wine is over-rated for this kind of meal

[grumbler]

I know the US is cheaper than the UK - a good rule of thumb is just to assume parity between sterling and the dollar, but I can't imagine the average weekly supermarket shop is $77 for a family (assuming that means a couple and at lease one kid).

We are talking "household" here, so it does not average even three people.  It was 2.6 some years ago; might be 2.5 by now.

[viper37]

Heh, I was throwing in some self-deprication.  I make no pretence to having a cultivated palate, so to my taste indeed some of the $40 product is likely to be overpriced ... perhaps some real expert can tell the difference, but I can't. Hence, except for odd products like icewine, I'm reluctant to spend more than (say) $18 for a bottle. 

2000$ strollers, 12$ wine.  Something is wrong here. 

Seriously, you've hilighted what is most important here: your tastes, not those of an expert. 
Of course, I'm considered a wine snob by my friends because I refuse to drink some products of inferior quality.  I just don't like being sick.  But I know what I like, and it ain't about price.

[Razgovory]

I know the US is cheaper than the UK - a good rule of thumb is just to assume parity between sterling and the dollar, but I can't imagine the average weekly supermarket shop is $77 for a family (assuming that means a couple and at lease one kid).

We are talking "household" here, so it does not average even three people.  It was 2.6 some years ago; might be 2.5 by now.

Most people don't live with one other person and a torso.

[crazy canuck]

I am aware there is production in BC but I have never tried any.  There is a dynamic in some local wine markets whereby prices get bid up beyond what the quality level would normally support simply because of physical proximity to affluent consumers who are willing to pay premiums for a local, "artisanal" product - this can be seen with respect to wine production in Long Island (NY).

That is effectively what has happened here.  The local restaurant industry makes a point of serving BC wines and it has become a status symbol to have a good private supply on hand.   As a result some of my favourites have become quite pricey.

If you ever want to try a BC wine I recommend you start with a bottle of Notte Bene http://www.notabenewine.com/ although it might be hard to impossible to get.

[crazy canuck]

I'm considered a wine snob by my friends because I refuse to drink some products of inferior quality.  I just don't like being sick.  But I know what I like, and it ain't about price.

[fhdz]

Most people don't live with one other person and a torso.

Sigh.

[MadImmortalMan]

Been going to wineries in California for years. One distinct trend I have seen is that places I used to go years ago that had been making great wine become more popular and then get more expensive. As that happens, the quality of the wine either plateaus or declines. Having to pay for a tasting is a big warning sign. Almost all of Napa and Sonoma have gone that way. You can still get great wine there, but it's not as cost effective as finding great wine in lesser known wineries in Placerville, Lodi, San Luis Obispo or Livermore. The trick is finding them as they are getting really good at making the product but before they blow up.

[crazy canuck]

I agree MiM.  The difficulty here is that the number of producers is quite low (the viable land area for producing good wine here is limited) and so it is almost impossible to find good small inexpensive producers.

If I lived in California I would make it my weekend sport to go out and find such places.

[The Brain]

If your income/consumption ratio is so poor that you have to worry about finding a good price then maybe you are an alcoholic or worse working class.

[Jacob]

So how about some tips on good, relatively inexpensive wines?

[crazy canuck]

If your income/consumption ratio is so poor that you have to worry about finding a good price then maybe you are an alcoholic or worse working class.

Its all about finding good quality.  If I could be assured that price scaled with in direct relation with quality then I wouldnt worry about it.

[The Brain]

If your income/consumption ratio is so poor that you have to worry about finding a good price then maybe you are an alcoholic or worse working class.

Its all about finding good quality.  If I could be assured that price scaled with in direct relation with quality then I wouldnt worry about it.

Sounds to me that it's about finding good value. Are you sure you're not a poor?