March Wine Madness

Who says wine appreciation has to cost a fortune. The game plan, be adventurous by exploring wines that might not yet be in your wine vocabulary. Wines often cost more when they come from a well-known wine making region or are made from a popular grape variety so rather then heading straight for the same wine, expand your horizons and beat the budget crunch!

Get to Know the Other Grapes
There is life after Chardonnay and Cabernet. Instead of seeking out the familiar try something unusual made from a grape you've never heard of. For starters, try to learn the names of less popular grapes like Gewürztraminer or Malbec. It seems the more difficult a grape is to pronounce, the better of a value the wine is likely to be. Let me introduce you to some of my favorite wines, Nero D'Avola, Dolcetto, Barbera and Viognier to name a few.

Look for Lesser-Known Regions
Major wine growing regions are reliable sources but often expensive as well. Lesser-known appellations are home to some of the best bargain bottles. No single country seems to have a lock on producing good value wines so have fun traveling the globe in search of top values.
Southern Italy - For delicious, unfussy wines at reasonable prices, one of the best sources is southern Italy, which is home to notable wine regions such as Apulia, Campania, and Sicily.
Southern France -This part of France produces lots of delicious wines, but there are also a number of not-so-good bottles. Bargain hunters must tread carefully. The red blends of Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages offer some of the best buys.
California Central Coast - Bargain hunters gave up on Napa years ago so look to the Central Coast for bargains. With its state-of-the-art winemaking techniques and nearly ideal weather, it's easy to understand how this expansive region continues to pump out bargains.
South Australia - No place in the world produces more consistently good inexpensive wines than South Australia. The best value wines are typically labeled South Australia or South Eastern Australia.
Chile Central Valley - Chile offers some of the best value wines yet unfortunately, the quality of Chilean wines can vary considerably. Most of the Chilean wines from the Valle Central, or Central Valley, come from the country's best-known regions, Maipo and Rapel valleys.

Shop the Deals
Often retailers will offer additional discounts on case purchases so take advantage. When you find a wine that's special stock up and save.

With a little bit of know how, seeking out wines that fit the bill without breaking the bank can be easier then you think. You may even find that your new favorite is a tournament Cinderella.