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There are those South African wines that are overtly cheapskate, like the old classic ‘Tassies’ or Tassenberg, which someone on the 2OV team referred to as “university awesome juice”.

I won’t mention names. We’ve all split bills (and heads the next day) over the cheapest wine on the shelf as a pre-dop before a night out.

But then we grow up, and the cheap wine no longer cuts it – often because the hangover the next day is simply not worth the money saved.

That’s where we need to take some time to make the distinction between cheap wine and value wine, because my dear adult friend who has not been totally scarred by your student-day bad decisions, there is certainly a difference.

CNET puts it plainly by describing cheap wines as “those that may only set you back a few bucks, but whose quality is… well… questionable”.

On the other hand, value wines often range from far-too inexpensive to a touch pricey, but always end up over-delivering in taste and quality.

Tara Patricia, a sommelier from San Francisco, has a few wine-buying tips, starting with: “If (the price) seems too good to be true, it is,” she said. “Wine can be cheap, but it has a cost.”

She advises being really open and honest about what you can afford and what you enjoy:

“If I’ve learned one thing from being a restaurant sommelier and shop owner, it is: cut to the chase and be honest with what you’re looking for,” Patricia said.

“Be upfront with what you want,” especially if you’re working with a tight budget.

Don’t worry, you’re not supposed to know everything, but a conversation never hurt anyone.

There are also a number of free wine apps that can help you make a more discerning choice based on your budget, without so much as seeing another person face-to-face.

The other major tip for buying value wine is to avoid the trendy bottles:

“Be wary of fads, Instagram darlings or egregious marketing,” Patricia said.

“There is often a premium upcharge on the coolest or hottest wines,” Patricia said, “and you can tell when a lot of the money is going into the marketing instead of the product.”

On our doorstep, those at Anthonij Rupert Wine are serious about keeping their money where their mouth is, allowing their award-winning wines to speak for themselves:

 

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The sommeliers, tasting room, and wine store staff come equipped with a wide range of knowledge about the wines on offer from the main farm and its fringe farms, providing customers with a genuine enjoyment of the whole sipping experience.

Speaking of local wines, Patricia also advises keeping things close to home:

“You’re not going to get a wine expert at a big box store,” Patricia said. “Shop at boutique stores where the experts are,” and you’ll have access to a wealth of knowledge honed over many years of studying, evaluating, and most importantly, drinking wine.

If a boutique wine store isn’t anywhere close to you, websites are a great way to price compare and ensure you’re not overpaying.

Some wine stores even offer membership deals that are worth looking into for their discounted rates and special offers.

Members of the Anthonij Rupert Wine Club, for example, can enjoy several exciting perks such as discounts on purchases, exclusive member offers, complimentary tastings, complimentary entry to the motor museum, and invitations to exciting seasonal wine club events, among other benefits.

All you have to do is register an account and purchase wine to the value of R1 000 or more once a year.

Patricia’s other time-honoured, money-saving strategy is about buying in bulk. “Buy more, save more,” she says.

Wine farms often offer seasonal boxes packed with quality offerings and discounted accordingly.

If you buy in bulk, consider how you might also save on petrol – we can all do with a lot of that – as you won’t be heading out every time your vino craving strikes.

If staying at home and drinking value wine means saving, then hey, sign me up.

[source:cnet]