Reply to Expensive wine is gross and overrated

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Many of the $50+ wines are small production, with less consistency due to growing conditions (primarily due to weather, but also changes in vineyard management practices) and experimentation in the wine making process (barrel selection and blending approach). A lot of people who enjoy wine appreciate and look forward to experiencing the variation across vintages. It’s what makes the hobby interesting! Also keep in mind that in Napa and Sonoma, the cost of goods will be much higher, driven by more manual processes (fruit is hand harvested and for some really $$ bottles, extensively hand sorted), high labor costs (at least $18/hr and increasingly offering more benefits in a competitive labor market), sustainability efforts, and small scale ordering. Your $10 Argentinian wine pays laborers significantly less; the $10 CA Central Valley wine was harvested by machine and is less nuanced because the mass market craves consistency.

It’s fine for you not to prioritize spending on this type of wine; but just as it would be narrow-minded to criticize the artists and collectors who support art beyond IKEA prints, don’t knock those of us who support, engage, and create within the wine community! Consider it potable art. :)[/quote]

I think this is a really good point.   Up in the $50 + realm its probably not so much about consistency quality, as artistry, with efforts that can succeed or fail.

I think the reality is that most people who do like and appreciate good wine though, are more interested in a good bottle than in the hobbyist afficianado ('snob')  aspect.  And depending on the varietal they can do pretty well from $10 to $40.

Of course as a market reality, IIRC most bottles of wine sold in the USA are under $10.   Not $20 Pinots, or $15 Cabs or $10 bottle of some newly hot south american varietal  - but bottles of mass produced bland stuff with animals on the label.  To those folks people drinking a $15 Sauvignon Blanc are "wine snobs". [/quote]

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