Wine for Everyone

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Wine for Everyone

You don't have to be a billionaire to appreciate and enjoy fine wine! Appreciating fine wine can be
intimidating at first. With the weak dollar and the world popularity of wine skyrocketing, it seems like
wine is becoming more and more inaccessible. And for those of you who are new to the world of
wine, you may think "what is the point?" If you can't afford the high end wines that "wine snobs" rave
about, then how will you ever build an appreciation for fire wine?

Well nothing could be further from the truth! Yes, many top wines have become more and more
unreasonable to purchase and afford. Does that mean we should give up on wine? That there are no
good, inexpensive wine options out there anymore? No, absolutely not! In fact, the wine world is
filled with wonderful wines that are just waiting to be discovered. Most people, even billionaires,
don't drink the only rare and highly rated wines every day. There is a place for wines which are
simply good and don't have to be the best wine you have ever tasted. And you don't have to stop
there...there are wines of very high caliber which can be had for affordable prices if you know where
to look. Unfortunately, in many of the most famous wine producing regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy
and even California, it has become harder and harder to find great wines at an affordable price. But if
you think outside the box a bit, exploring regions and producers that may be unfamiliar to the average
wine drinker, there are a slew of wines out there that deserve your time and attention and will not cost
you an arm and a leg.

Here are a few tips about some regions and types of wines that are capable of greatness and which so
far can still be found at prices that mere mortals can afford. Whether it is an everyday pizza wine you
are looking for or a world class wine with complexity you can get lost in, there are affordable options
out there.

The Loire Valley<br>

The Loire Valley, or Val de Loire, is a large wine producing region in France that ranges from nearly
the center of the country, west of Burgundy, all the way to the west coast. It is a vast area
encompassing many different appellations which produce all types of wines, from light-bodied whites
to full-bodied reds. For some reason, besides a few notable producers this region has remained
relatively invisible to the great majority of the wine world. While well versed wine enthusiasts know
and love the Loire well, your average wine drinker in the United States knows little of the region.

Muscadet: From the west of the Loire, these wines are usually very inexpensive. Made from the
Melon de Bourgogne grape, they are light, fresh and crisp. They are great summer wines, refreshing
and cold. Excellent with light seafood like shellfish.

Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé: These both produce primarily white wine from the Sauvignon Blanc
grape. With more depth and body than Muscadet, these are intense mineral-imbued wines which pair
well with a number of richer seafood dishes.

Savennières: This small region which produces 100% Chenin Blanc makes some of the worlds best
white wines. While many years ago they were as sought after as the best white Burgundy, they are
largely unknown to many wine drinkers today. In general, their prices are still very reasonable but the
best producers are capable of producing a truly great dry white wine which is both intense and filled
with minerals as well as full-bodied with layers of flavor. These age beautifully, intense and tight
when young, they blossom into a rich, complex, honeyed goodness!

Vouvray: Also 100% Chenin Blanc, these wines can vary from dry to sweet dessert wines. While the
best producers' sweet wines can fetch a hefty price, the sec (dry) and demi-sec (off-dry) wines, even

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from the best producers, are still quite reasonable. Outstanding food wines, the slight sweetness of the
demi-sec wines pairs nicely with some spicy Asian dishes. There are even some excellent,
inexpensive sparkling wines made here which are an excellent option if you don't want to spend the
kind of money that Champagne sets you back.

Chinon, Saumur-Champigny and Bourgueil: Looking for red wine alternatives to expensive Bordeaux
and California Cabernet? These villages in the Loire produce wine from primarily Cabernet Franc, a
cousin of Cabernet Sauvignon. These can vary from fruity, simple wines for easy sipping to dark,
rich, age-worthy, full-bodied wines. While the best producers' prices have risen somewhat, they are
still several times cheaper than their Bordeaux and California counterparts.

Languedoc-Roussillon<br>

The Languedoc-Roussillon region is a large region in the south of France, west of Provence along the
Mediterranean coast and up to the Spanish border. The region encompasses several appellations
producing a large range of wines. While historically the Languedoc produced only inexpensive and
largely mediocre wine, in the last few decades quality has soared here! Many small producers have
taken advantage of the warm, beautiful climate to produce many wonderful wines. Because many still
remain largely unknown and do not have the prestige of the better known wine producing regions,
prices for the most part have stayed low. Wines vary from white to red and even great dessert wines.
Many of the red wines are based on Provençal and Rhone grape varietals like Grenache, Syrah, and
Mourvedre, but some producers blend in Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet as well.

Provence<br>

Provence is in the south of France, along the Mediterranean coast. While the eastern most part, up to
the Italian border, is the French Riviera, the west is still a large wine producing region. Most widely
known for the excellent Rosé wines produced, the red wines of Bandol are where quality really hits a
high. Made from at least 50% Mourvedre, the wines of Bandol are rich, dark, meaty and complex.
They are also capable of long-aging. Again, while the best producers prices have risen somewhat,
many inexpensive options are available. These are great wines for pairing with the rich, rustic cuisine
of Provence.

German Riesling<br>

German wines are often overlooked by English-speaking wine drinkers because of their confusing
names and labels. The long German names, often printed in confusing medieval fonts, can confuse
even the most open-minded and cause them to go elsewhere. Additionally, many people think of
German wines as being sweet and not good food wines. Part of that misconception comes from the
fact that cheap German wines like Liebfraumilch and "Blue Nun" is a slightly sweet, poorly made
wine. Great German wines, particularly those made by the noble grape Riesling, are a whole other
story. Yes, they can be sweet, but the sweetness is well balanced by intense acidity and minerality
which prevents the wine from being cloying. These can be truly great wines! While the best producers
and particularly the dessert wines can be very expensive, lower Pradikat wines like Kabinett and
Spätlese wines and even the QbA (Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete) can be delicious, less
expensive options. And these wines are great with food! German Riesling is one of the best wine
pairings I know of for spicy Asian cuisine, such as Thai, Indian and Vietnamese dishes.

Italy<br>

Italy is way too big a region to sum up in one brief article. However, I include it because it produces
a bevy of great, inexpensive wines. While it is most famous for the wines from Tuscany and
Piedmont, these wines can be quite expensive. But there are dozens of other appellations throughout
Italy which produce outstanding wines which can be quite inexpensive. Regions like le Marche,
Emilia-Romagna, Friuli, Umbria, Abruzzo, Campania, and others all produce dozens of excellent
wines that won't cost you an arm and a leg. Don't get stuck in a Chianti rut, explore the lesser known
regions in Italy and you won't be disappointed!

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Find a local wine retailer that carries a good selection. Ask a knowledgeable salesperson to
recommend some inexpensive wines from some of these regions. Don't be afraid to experiment with
producers and regions you don't have experience with, there is only way to learn. And you may find
that almost everyone can afford to drink well!

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