#value wine

Best Value Wines in California

California wine is popular and prices are rising, but we look to Wine Searcher to give us their list of the best value wines in the state.

Most of the wines that made the value list are easily available in stores, although consumers in East Coast states may have to search a bit harder to find them.

The most popular variety is Petite Sirah, followed by Syrah, Chardonnay, and red blends. Wines from…

If you find you’re not enjoying the wines you buy quite as much as you might like, I’ve got news for you: you’re not alone! Today I want to talk a bit about a few common mistakes people make when serving wine, and easy fixes to these problems that will have you enjoying a more delicious and fulfilling experience that exceeds your expectations.

We’ve all been there – that moment, when after great anticipation, enthusiasm and excitement – whether it be following a recommendation from a trusted local store employee, a glowing review from an important wine critic, tasting while traveling through wine country, a must-try endorsement from a wine-loving friend, or worst yet, through your own research and shopping experience – you finally sit down to try a wine you’ve been dying to taste. You pull the cork, pour yourself a glass and take a sip.

And, well… it’s ok.

Or worse yet, it’s less than ok.

But it’s not exciting or delicious or creating a sensational desire to take another sip – or the any of the other wonderful things you expected or wanted or had been hoping for. This result can be one of the most disappointing wine experiences you can have; approaching a wine with enthusiasm and excitement and a desire to fall in love at first sip, and it just doesn’t live up to your lofty expectations. More often than not, we chalk experiences like this up to faulty advice from the referring party.

But is this really the answer?

Or are there other reasons why wines just don’t taste as good as we’d like them to?

The short answer is yes. Wine is a living and breathing product that is made from natural organic materials. Not only can the way we handle and serve wine impact our enjoyment, but the wine itself can change and taste differently based on a myriad of considerations. The jumping off point in this conversation is to shift perspective; let’s think about wine less as just another beverage – and personify it to a certain extent, and in turn look at how we handle and serve wine with a focus on its “living, breathing” qualities.

My experience is that there are a handful of reasons why sometimes wines underwhelm, so allow me to walk you through the 5 most common reasons why you might not be enjoying wines you buy, quite as much as you’d like to. More importantly, I’ve got some simple and easy fixes you can employ to make sure the wines you’re drinking deliver the amazing, astonishing, delicious brag-worthy WOW-factor you’re after.

Jellybean, California, Merlot, CSPC76190

Authentic Wine and Spirits

  I was so impressed with the smart packaging! I can see this one flying off the shelves. The merlot is very good since it tastes like merlot; all plummy and round. What a fun wine.