Life on the Cheap: The Wine of Gladness Comes to America

Somewhere along the way, wine stopped being “Every man’s drink” to “Rich man’s drink”. 

Beer commercials tend to feature groups of middle class people toasting each other, enjoying food and beer, and enjoying “the high life”.

Meanwhile, it’s only been in recent years that wineries have begun reaching out to the more common consumer via television and internet advertising.  I remember how, back in the 1980’s, the Riunite company had ads featuring their products juxtaposed with fried chicken, tacos and other “common” foods.   Now, you’ll find many vintners reaching out with classy, entertaining commercials.

Here are three of my favorite everyday wines:

Charles Shaw – also known by its many afficionados as “Two Buck Chuck”.  These are nice, smooth, palatable wines.  Trader Joe’s is the place to find the best selection – from Charonnay to Shiraz, and the reason for the nickname is found in the price:  A paltry $1.99 per bottle before taxes.

Barefoot – Barefoot Wines also come in many varieties.  Of course, just like the two buck chuck, the vintner sticks to the basics.  This being said, Barefoot’s wines can be found for $3-$10 depending on where you’re buying your wine and whether it’s on sale.

Banrock Station – Banrock Station wines come from Australia.  I’m a fan of Shiraz, so I love the fact that I can often get a bottle of Banrock Station’s Shiraz for $5.99 or so. 

Some tips for enjoying “everyday” wine:

Red wines are best served a little under room temperature.  You can even heat them gently with mulling spices and enjoy a holiday treat.  Reds go best with grilled, stewed, and hearty tomato based dishes.  Sweeter reds are excellent with mellower dishes and with good cheese.  If you’re not willing to experiment, do your homework!

Be sure to let red wines breathe for a while before serving them.  I find that the flavor of wine mellows slightly and is more enjoyable about ten to thirty minutes after opening.

Whites and blushes (roses) are best lightly chilled and tend to go well with lightly flavored or spicy dishes.

The flavor of most wine does not benefit from being opened, reclosed, and then refrigerated.  If you can’t drink all the wine the first day it’s opened, you can use it in a recipe.  Whites are easier to recap and save than reds, simply because reds don’t normally taste good after being opened and chilled.

Keep track of which wines you really enjoy and watch for them to go on sale.  Save the labels in a small file or notebook and write down how much you paid for the wine.   

Never be afraid to try something new!  If you’re wondering about a wine you’re considering, you can always find reviews on the internet.  Keep in mind that some reviews will come from serious wine folks who make a living via reporting on the various nuances of wines.  I myself enjoy the reviews that come from everyday people who like to talk about their daily wine encounters.

Try a new wine from an inexpensive winemaker.  Wines from Australia, New Zealand, and Africa tend to be ripe and delicious.  Check out local wineries…many states have local wineries who host tasting events and who often have wine on sale for bargain prices.  Get a feel for food pairing, and every so often do splurge on a more expensive, nicely aged red.  If you like wine, and you like saving money, a superb wine can make a superb treat for your thrift.  Cheers!