Cheap vs Expensive Wines: Can you taste the difference? (2024)

🚫1. SWEET wines don’t always = cheap wines⁣⁣
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Some of the most sought-after, age-worthy, expensive wines are sweet! ⁣⁣
$$$ Examples: Sauternes, Tokaji, German Riesling⁣⁣
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What leads to this misconception is many bulk wines are made with lesser quality grapes that don’t have as much flavor concentration, so producers may add sweeteners such as RCGM (rectified concentrated grape must) to make the wine feel “fuller” and appear “richer” ⁣⁣
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🚫2. SCREW CAP wines don’t always = cheap wines⁣⁣
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There is a fair share of high-end screwcap bottles that are finally starting to circulate the globe and appear on restaurant lists! ⁣⁣
$$$ Examples: Australian (Shiraz, Cabernet, Riesling), New Zealand Pinot Noir, German Riesling, Austrian wines⁣⁣
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What leads to this misconception is the majority of cheap mass-produced wines that you will see in US grocery stores are often screwcap …which gives the illusion that all wines under screw cap must, in fact, be less quality⁣⁣
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🚫3. BLENDS don’t always = cheap wines
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Blending varieties creates consistency and reliability which has led to some of the finest, balanced and most age-worthy wines in the world! Some famous regions in France such as Bordeaux produce blends almost exclusively!⁣⁣
$$$ Examples: Bordeaux, Rhone Valley, Tuscany (Super Tuscans), Rioja⁣⁣
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What leads to this misconception is that in years past, “jug wines” made up a majority of blends sold in the U.S. giving the impression that most blends must be less quality⁣⁣
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Even though many inexpensive wines are not typically age-worthy, they can STILL be quality for that particular style.⁣⁣ The general pointers above don’t necessarily mean a wine is good or bad (that’s subjective)!