This is a guest post by Matthew Delaney, from The Wine’dUp Wine Blog
Are you someone who loves expanding your enjoyment without shrinking your wallet, always in search of innovative ways to save money? Well, we thought we might find you here. When MoneySupermarket.com first asked us to write this post, they knew you would drink up any advice we could give about saving money on enjoyable wine. The staff at The Wine’dUp Blog (where I hang my glass) has spent countless hours and thousands of dollars finding mouth-watering wine at manageable prices, and so we’ve been asked to share our experience with you today.
There are several methods, some of which we recommend, and others not-so-much, for getting great wine without drowning your life savings. The first of which is the method we have taken so far… buy a ton of wine and write down what you enjoy. This method, while costly and time consuming, is probably the most honest path to becoming a true wine connoisseur. Wait, aren’t I here to give you shortcuts? Yes! That’s why we don’t recommend this method very often (unless you are okay accepting the fact that you may get stuck with a lot of bad wine.. like we did last night for example).
So what do we recommend? Two things to be exact- The first is to research before going to the store (or at the store if you have a smart phone). 99.9% of wine bottles are bought based upon how much a person likes or dislikes the look of the bottle. Don’t let that be you! Browse the wine aisle at your local store next time you are there and write down three to five bottles in your price range that you think look good. Then, whilst in the comfort of your home, do a few Google searches to discover what the general feeling is for this wine online. You can type in, for example, 2010 14 Hands Hot to Trot Wine Review (which just so happens to be one of our most recommended wines at £5 a bottle, found in most major supermarkets). Then, next time you need wine, you’ll know exactly which wine is actually good based upon your research, not just what wine looks good.
Method number two, which can turn a good wine like 14 Hands into a great wine, is to purchase a wine refrigerator in your price range and purchase economical wine to age. Have you ever really looked at the years (also known as vintages) on the bottles at the grocery store? The vast majority of wine is only one to two years old. Letting a young wine grow and develop can turn it into something special. Sure, it might cost you a little bit of money up front, but the value added to the wine itself will more than compensate for what is spent up front. Which wine cooler you buy depends on your goals, your drinking habits, and your budget.
Drinking great wine doesn’t mean you have to pour your money down the drain. Take these practical money saving tips and start your wine journey today without feeling guilty about spending too much. Start today with two of our favorite best-value wines, 14 Hands Hot To Trot Red Blend (£5 per bottle) and Badger Mountain Pure Red Organic Wine (£14 for a 4 bottle box).
