A List of Recommendations for Under $10
A Toast To Bargain Wines
We all have our favorite standby wines that we go to on a regular basis because we know they are both good and reasonably priced. I have often thought it would be nice to expand that list of standbys but don’t always feel like experimenting. Mike Veseth over at the Wine Economist has done some of the work for the rest of us with his review of A Toast To Bargain Wines by George Taber.
“The first half of the book makes the case that maybe you should take bargain wines more seriously (and not just because of the current economic situation). Taber sets out to undermine the conventional wisdom about wine. Maybe wine judges are as confused as the rest of us. Maybe taste is so subjective that your opinion really is all that matters. Maybe (gasp!) bottles and corks are a pointless anachronism when it comes to everyday wines and you should reconsider your prejudice against “box wines,” which have changed a lot since you tried them in college.
My favorite chapters are the profiles of the iconoclasts who are leading the wine revolution. Taber’s reporting skills are put to good use in telling the tales of Fred Franzia (the godfather of Two Buck Chuck) and John Casella (the father of Yellow Tail wine). Both wines changed the world in important ways and it is interesting to have their stories told so effectively and to be able to see these two phenomena side-by-side.
I wonder if wine snobs will be annoyed by George Taber’s book? After all, with this book Taber seems to suggest that democratic wines deserve the same respect as those Judgment of Paris aristocrats. Me? I’m just grateful that he’s done the dirty work of tasting and sorting all those really inexpensive wines so that I don’t have to! Bottoms up!”
I agree with Mike that Taber has done a lot of the hard lifting and has some excellent selections. Definitely worth a read if you are, like me, looking to add some new wines to your standby list especially without having to do all the experimenting on your own.
Photo credit A Toast To Bargain Wines
Like this Article? Please Share!
Like our Site? Follow Chris!
Subscribe via RSS Today’s Most Popular Articles
Laguiole Wine Opener – Which Laguiole Wine Opener Mistakes Will You Make? You just found an unbelievable Laguiole Wine Opener deal. Just one quick question – Did it come from Pakistan or China? Find out how to know the difference.