Wine´s Price

[Blue]

My answer would be yes and no.

There are many things that go into the price of a bottle of wine. The most important is probably demand. Demand is somewhat correlated with quality but it is also affected by other things. I once read an article that said that a number of large wine companies have found that investing in advertising raised demand more than investing in improving the wine's quality. I don't believe that that is the rule however in wine, but it does help explain Ecco Domani selling for $10!

Demand is also very much correlated with fads (especially ratings in magazines and newspapers). It also is influenced by how easy it is for people to determine the true quality of the wine

Generaly speaking, for any given wine region, there is a good chance that a wine that is priced at $50 is going to be better than another bottle in the same store priced $15. To my friends who aren't interested in exploring the world of wine, I generaly reccomend that they remember some simple indicators of quality - appelation in the old world for example.

On my end however, I find great joy in finding wines for $8-30 that are in many cases supperior to the average wine priced at double the price I paid for. For example, as much as I loved opening a bottle of Beausejour Becot ($)50, a 98 CDP ($25), and a bottle of Meursault grand cru ($55), I recently got distinct pleasure in discovering Chateau Poujeaux ($17), Bobby Kacher's Mas Carlot syrah-Grenache ($8), and a Macon-Charnay ($5.60). Each was delicious and distinctive.

What I am trying to say is that while generaly price will follow demand, and quality in some ways, the great variations that exist are what yield the wonderful pleasure I find in tasting wines.

My suggestion is that you find a GOOD retailer, make a relationship with him or her and embard on the journey of discovery. I promise you it will not be boring!

-Blue

[This message has been edited by Blue (edited 11-21-2001).]