Great Value in White Wines

This is really a US-based problem. Most of the rest of the world seems to have avoided this somehow. But, Americans, particularly American casual wine drinkers, either hate what has become the traditional American Chardonnay or they gravitate toward. it. At least partially as a result, the prices of these wines have skyrocketed. If you want that is consistent and not an oak [chip] bomb, the prices are just higher than they have any need to be due to this amazing concept called supply and demand.

But, and again, this is US-centric because I just don't hang out living in other countries and needing to buy wines, your best values here in white wines are not in Chardonnay. In fact, they are anything but Chardonnay. 

Well, almost anything but Chardonnay. The other two white grapes that have gotten particularly popular in the US are Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris. In particular, pruchases of California-produced as well as Marlborough (New Zealand) Sauvignon Blanc and of Italian Pinot Grigio just keep growing and growing. So, do their prices.

There are so many great white grapes. And, even the grapes that we have already mentioned are grown in so many places outside of the areas we've just mentioned.

Do you love Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris? Have you ever tried the cooler climate versions? Remember, this is a highly aromatic grape. While it grows well in warmer weather than, for example, Gewurtzraminer, it is basically a cool weather grape. Those from Alsace (northeastern France) and Mosel (Germany) are, generally speaking, less expensive and, in my opinion, more complex and better. You love Sauvignon Blanc, but don't want to pay for it? What do you like about it? The acidity? The cleanness? Are you planning to drink it with seafood, for example? Try some other less known gems like Picpoul de Pinet or Assyrtiko, the first from the Loire Valley and the second from Greece. 

Grapes that are indigenous to other than France and therefore produced en masse in the US might be great buys. Find a large wine shop, big enough to carry wines from many countries of the world. FInd the sections that carry even Spanish wines, German and Austrian wines, wines from the former Soviet bloc. Try some of the grapes that you love, but produced in, for example, Chile. In South Africa, they produce many of the same very popular grapes that are grown in France. They are a slightly different style, but far less expensive. And, don't forget the Australian regions you've never heard of.

We have an advantage in the US. Buying power of the distributors is huge. They have their choices of bottles. So, they tend to import a lot of the best wines from obscure wine areas in the world. If a wine from Albania, for example, has made it to US wine shops, try it. If you're truly wallet-conscious, it's time to explore.


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