It seems that every day, the news is loaded with stories about mounting home foreclosures, banks failing, record-high consumer prices and an overall bleak outlook for the U.S. economy. I’m sorry to bring up the “doom and gloom,” but it appears we’re all in a financial bind of some sorts nowadays.

For wine drinkers like me, the pain in the pocket is unpalatable. That’s because vino prices have risen too and it’s become harder and harder to find great selections at reasonable prices.

My wife and I love to have a nice bottle of wine just about every night with dinner; but lately I noticed our cellar inventory was getting low. I have been lax on restocking it as frequently and I bet you can guess why. Have you visited a wine store recently and checked out the prices of your favorites?

Across the board, wine prices have skyrocketed. As for the reason, it’s easy to defer to the famous quote of the 1992 presidential campaign, “it’s the economy, stupid.” We can even throw in some blame on the conversion of the Euro. But even combined, they do not quite explain away the gouging.

In many parts of the world, the 2005 vintage produced record high quality and record high prices. Pre-sales of Bordeaux wines and certain selections from Burgundy were up over 500%. California cult wines also jumped on the big dollar bandwagon, as did big Aussie reds.

I realize the quality of these wines increased … but by enough to merit their price tag? Let’s use an example. Do you think a bottle of 2005 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is really worth $20,000? Yes, that’s four zeros for just 750 milliliters; the wine’s average price as listed on Wine-Searcher.com (a website that displays prices from wine shops and auction houses around the world).

I’ve been monitoring the increases for close to a year … and they just keep going. Kind of like the cost of living. (Whoops! There I go painting my protest signs!)

Wineries, importers and distributors all have their hands in the “scandal,” but we – the consumers – can fight back! How? Just by being better and smarter shoppers. And you’re in luck, because this happens to be my area of expertise.

On a daily basis, I sample wines from all around the world in search of the best tasting and the best deal. Trust me, it may sound glamorous, but think about it. Even though I try over 100 wines a month, only about eight to 10 are worth drinking. (I have to spit the rest out; an act my wife calls my “occupational hazard.”)

Anyway … so here’s my advice. Just as you do, I like to drink good wine for less money and from my experience there’s no better place to find great value than in lesser-known wine regions. Begin looking for wines produced in such southern regions of France as Provence, Languedoc and Roussillon. Poised along the coast of the southeastern part of the country, their vineyards are full of grapes that produce world-class wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Syrah. These light and fruity beverages are very well made and provide easy drinking. They’re also easy on the wallet, generally running from $6 to $15 a bottle.

 

Another of my favorite places for vino is central Italy’s Umbria region. Nestled between the province of Lazio (where Rome resides) and the famous Tuscany, Umbria – to me – is a true gem. Sangiovese and Montepulciano are its main red grapes, while Trebbiano and Grechetto are its key whites.

Wines produced in Umbria are fresh, light and lively. They’re also fun, meant to be drunk right away, and perfect for an everyday meal or for sipping before bedtime. You can practically steal them at the wine store for under $20 a bottle and I strongly urge you to seek them out.

Before I go, I have one more piece of advice to aid you in your quest to drink well and on the cheap; and that advice is to learn. Take some wine classes, go to area tastings, buy a wine book and above all, please try different wines. Go ahead. Be adventurous and throw caution to the wind every now and then. There are so many wonderful wines to be discovered that it would be a shame for you to spend the rest of your life drinking Chardonnay.

 

Feel free to ask your local wine store to recommend selections from unusual varietals or lesser-known regions. Also, when dining out, skip to the wine list’s last page and scan the “Other Wines” section – then pick something new that appeals to your senses.

There is a whole world of great wines we’ve all yet to explore. And with money tight and the prices of the most popular wines on the rise, a little change is exactly what we need.

Salute a tutti!!!

About the Author:

Mark Laskyhas more than 15 years of experience in the wine industry and is currently the store manager and resident Italian wine specialist for Ybor City’s West Palm Wines. Mark is also a member of the Guild of Sommeliers and is a wine educator at the Tampa Wine Institute in Ybor City. For more information visit the UC Buyer's Guide.