A great glass of wine doesn't have to be expensive...

For the Wine Snob, the thought of any price consideration is gauche, however in this economy, price is not only a consideration, it should be.   

For some of my followers this statement may feel like betrayal.  However the truth is, the above has always been my moniker.  This is not to say that I won’t pay more for a cherished bottle of wine; I will and I have.   My point is that you really don’t have to.   If you can think of an expensive wine you love, chances are high, that you can find its equivalent for under 25 dollars.

My favorite Pinot Noir is Edna Valley, Pinot Noir from the San Luis Obispo region in California. SLO is taking names and kicking butt in Pinot.  I can generally find this bottle for anywhere from $17-20 a bottle.  However, Edna Valley has a contemporary that sells for as much as $11-15 a glass, and in my opinion does not hold a candle to Edna Valley.

Now, my favorite Chardonnay is Chateau Julien, SurLie, 2006 and beyond.  And this wine retails for about $10 more than my maximum. But the truth is, this wine is worth it.  You can’t get this wine from anywhere but direct from the vineyard and it will make you kick your mama.  I usually order several bottles a year for special occasions: hard day, need a lift day, ooh found something I thought I lost day.  It doesn’t matter when or why, what matters is, if you like it and willing to pay for it, go for it. Now for this particular wine, I’ve not found a buttery chardonnay that compares.  It doesn’t mean I haven’t tried.

Trader Joe’s, another of my favorite stores retails my favorite Vouvray at $6.99.  I recommend it all of the time and haven’t had a bad comment yet.  The label is beautiful.  The name is Lacheteau Vouvray and it is a fruit bomb of flavor, with layers, tone, color and aroma that compliments any spicy Indian dish, a dish layered in peppery spice or Sushi with Wasabi or just for sipping something fruity and light by the pool, on the beach or the Sauna. It is a great alternative to Moscato, Riesling or any sweet wine and it is a fabulous glass of French wine that is beyond its value in taste.

Lacheteau Vouvray phenomenal value!

I am not knocking the wine lover who can pay $300-3,000 dollars for Lafite.  Yes, 1982 auctions for about $3000dollars.  I am saying however that Baron De Rothschild also makes a Bordeaux '09; crisp, light-medium bodied blend (semillion, Sauvignon Blanc) pinotgrigio-like wine that retails for about $13dollars.

There are any number of wines that you can spend anywhere from $5-500 for, but on the high end you really don’t have to—unless you like it and you choose to…Cheers!

What are some of your favorite under twenty-fives?