Wine on a Budget: Five Hot Spots

Wine is about grapes, and grapes are about real estate. It’s not that different than renting an apartment. You get more home for your money in Port Richmond than in Rittenhouse. The trade-off is a bit less curb appeal.

The same goes for wine. Most wineries purchase grapes from grape growers. In fact, they often rent specific blocks in a vineyard. The more popular a wine region, the higher the costs to make the wine. And those costs get passed onto you.

When renting the perfect apartment, the trick is finding a great neighborhood that isn’t too popular yet. When I moved to Philly in 2001, that neighborhood was Queen Village. Then, it was the Graduate Hospital. Then, it was Fishtown.

Just like in Philly, wine regions have become popular, and costs have increased. And when that happens, you have to keep an eye out for the next new great place. Here are some of my favorite wine regions that offer great value.

One of the best ways to understand how to buy wine and where to buy it is to become a sommelier. Earning your wine credentials isn’t just about working in the wine trade. If you like to learn and love wine, then taking wine classes is a reward in itself!

Casablanca Valley, Chile

While Chile has long been known to produce great wines, the Casablanca Valley is a rising star. Very few people know of its existence: it’s a relatively new wine region that’s slowly established itself and has been increasing its output over the last decade.

This cool-climate region on the coast focuses on several grapes, including Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. However, where it really shines is in its production of Pinot Noir. There is a widely held belief that Pinot Noir is one of the most difficult grapes to grow. The work here in Casablanca is a testament to that belief.

For the first five years, I tasted wines from this region. The wines were good attempts that mostly missed their marks. A few years ago, things started to come together. Winemakers began to master growing and making Pinot Noir in Casablanca; for the last few years, it’s been my go-to place for high-quality Pinot at discount prices.

Yecla, Spain

This is one of the oldest wine regions, growing one of the most ancient grape varieties. How is it that great wine can still cost under a ten-spot? That’s the magic of Spain. For every Rioja, there are a hundred other wine regions unknown to the outside world. The region of Yecla is near the Mediterranean coast of Valencia. The main grape here is Monastrell (also known as Mourvedre in France). This is a big, juicy bit of round and bitter-edged deliciousness.

When I show wines from Yecla during a class, people freak out over how much they love them. They freak out again when I tell them how little they cost. That scenario has been happening for over 20 years, so I think it’s fair to say this little secret will stay with us.

Cahors, France

Cahors was one of the most famous wine regions in France in the 17^th Century. It still grows one of the most famous grapes, Malbec. The region is just south of Bordeaux and was often considered to be of higher quality.

These days, Cahors and its Malbec are fantastic deals, some of the best you can find in France. The reason for this is a long and interesting story that includes nefarious plots, real-life wine police, a grape plague, and crooked aristocrats. The end result was that Bordeaux wines were promoted at the expense of Cahors, which was pretty much forgotten to history.

The wines, however, are unforgettable once you try them.

Columbia Valley, USA

Washington State doesn’t have the sex appearance of California, but if you want great wine at a lower price point, this is the spot. This valley is a near-perfect spot to grow grapes and offers excellent value. For whites, rieslings and chardonnays are exceptional. For reds, there is a wide range of impressive wines. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot excel here, as to Syrah and Grenache. I’ve also had world-class Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese here. It’s hard to go wrong in Columbia Valley.

Scansano, Italy

Italian wine is all the rage; that enthusiasm has long been priced into the sticker price. =No place is that more evident than under the Tuscan sun. Whether you buy a Brunello, Vino Nobile, Chianti Classico Reserva, or a Super Tuscan, you get what you pay for.

However, one wine region has been widely overlooked, in the far south and near the coast. Like almost all of Tuscany, Scansano makes its wines from the Sangiovese grape, which is here called Morellino. Here on the warm coast, the wines are more lush and extracted, with a note that often comes across as chocolate-covered strawberries.

You can find top-notch Morellino di Scansano for under $2 and sometimes for $10.