And can you discern the difference between a $30 bottle and a $200 one?
When weighing up what to spend on wine, for most people it probably comes down to a couple of factors:
• is the bottle worth the price?
• does the occasion warrant the expense?
So if you're proposing marriage you'll probably justify splashing out on a bottle of Bollinger; likewise you'll spend a little extra on something special for a magical dinner on a Roman holiday. Whereas for Tuesday night at your local bistro you're happy to restrict yourself to a modest BYO.
For wine lovers, it comes down to the difference between drinking a great bottle and an ordinary one. Pricier wines have nuance, length, and ageing potential (or "bloodlines") and are definitely more enjoyable. But how much is that experience worth?
A wine educator, Peter Bourne, reckons the best-value drinking in Australia is in the $30 to $50 bottle range and I tend to agree. Wine, for the most part, is fairly priced in Australia – unlike some countries like France where a lot of what you are paying for is land value and legacy. Coveted parcels of land in the Bordeaux region, protected by the French appellation system, is just one of the factors contributing to the $1000 plus price tag.
The average Australian wine drinker doesn't know much about the pricier imports so is justifiably reluctant to take a gamble – for the price of a top local wine you could well end up with a mediocre French one. For less than $50 you can get a Stonier Reserve Pinot Noir or a Henschke Keyneton Estate – Australian experiences that won't leave you wanting.
I can't help but wonder if the fetishising of fine wine raises expectations so high as to take all of fun out of the actual drinking.
How high will you spend for a special occasion? What is your usual price range? And can you discern the difference between a $30 bottle and a $200 one?
This post originally appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald.
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