How To Enjoy Good Wine On A Tight Budget

People seem to always think that having wine is almost a luxury–something that only those who are well-off can afford. However, you can actually enjoy good wine on a tight budget. There’s nothing wrong with wanting the good stuff, especially if you know you’ve been working hard most days. 

A good bottle of wine may not be cheap, but it doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to enjoy it if you’re in a financial bind. You’re surely getting more and more curious if this is indeed possible. Read on to find out for yourself.

Know Where To Shop For Good Wine

Fancy wine stores are nice to look at until you painstakingly check your wallet and realize that you don’t have enough money to buy a single bottle. If you must know, you don’t really need to go to expensive wine shops just to score a bottle of your favorite wine. 

Have you tried searching online for stores that offer wines at a discounted price? Online businesses are exponentially growing lately and wine stores won’t be easily left behind. If you need a good starting point, visit usualwines.com for recommendations of good yet affordable wines.

If you already have a list of your go-to wines, it’s better to buy them in bulk so you can get them at discounted prices. You can sign up for membership and newsletters from online wine stores so you’ll be updated whenever there’s an upcoming sale event or special offers.

Don’t Hesitate To Experiment And Try Something New

Even when you already have your favorite wines, you can always experiment and try a new bottle when you have the chance. You’ll never know when there’s a good bottle lying around somewhere, just waiting to get discovered by your delicate tongue. Sometimes, you can score good wines that are more affordable than your usual ones.

When it comes to wine, keep in mind that price isn’t always an indication of good quality. With the vast selection of wine varieties, winemakers, and distributors–both online and offline–you’ll find yourself swamped with several choices. If you’re on a tight budget, you won’t need to shell out $30-$40 per bottle if you can find a cheaper yet equally tasty option.

Keep A List Of The Wines You’ve Tasted So Far

For future reference, it’s a good idea to keep a list of the wines you’ve tasted (and liked) in the past. This will make it easier for you to hunt those that you liked so much and prepare a budget for them. It’ll also help you compare prices, flavor, and varieties of wines that you can choose from.

Keeping a list will help you avoid making a repeat purchase of wines that you didn’t like, preventing you from wasting money. 

Join A Warehouse Club

If you plan on buying a few bottles of wine every now and then, joining a warehouse club allows you to save more money. Having a membership in warehouse clubs has its own perks and advantages. They usually offer exclusive prices to their members, as well as discounts to loyal customers.

You may need to pay a yearly membership fee but if you’re to analyze your spending, you can save more when you shop at warehouse clubs, especially if they offer bulk prices. Stay updated on the warehouse’s sale cycles so you’ll know when’s the best time to shop. Plan your shopping habits if you want to save money, such as going for a monthly shopping schedule instead of a weekly grocery trip.

Wait For The Wines To Go On Sale

Wines are just like any other products in the market–they also go on sale from time to time. If you don’t have an urgent need for good wine, might as well wait for them to go on sale before purchasing. That way, you can store several bottles at home and enjoy them at your most convenient time. 

This is also a good tip to follow if you have an upcoming event or celebration that requires good wine. Plan ahead and buy wines on sale at least a few weeks or months before the event. This way, you’ll be able to prepare your budget and allow for more room for preparation for food and other essentials that you need to buy.

Ask To Taste The Wine First Before Purchasing

There are wine retailers that offer wine tasting to their customers. Whenever you’d visit wine stores, don’t forget to ask the retailer or store attendants if you could taste the wine first so you’ll know if it’ll be to your liking. 

You can also ask the retailer if they have wine recommendations that you can consider. Since they’re already considered experts, they’ll surely have best sellers according to wine varieties and styles. If you want to get better recommendations and references, you may provide the retailer with a particular price range that you’re leaning toward. They’ll then be able to give you several wine suggestions based on your price range or budget.

Know The Right Way To Serve Affordable Wine

One secret that you can experiment with is knowing how to serve affordable wine. If you think about it, buying the wine is only the initial step. The crucial part is to know how to serve it right to enhance its flavor, especially if the wine isn’t so expensive or not your usual fancy bottle.

Here are some tips to serve your not-so-expensive wine:

• Serve the wine at the right temperature: A general rule of the thumb is to serve white wines at a cooler temperature, while red ones are best served when they’re a little warmer. 
• Decant your wine: Decanting wine is another way to serve it better. Simply pour the wine from the bottle into another container that has a wide opening. After pouring, let it sit for at least 20 minutes before drinking it. Decanting or aerating the wine helps enhances the flavor and it’s usually done if you want a less expensive wine to taste older and better.
• Choose food pairings more delicately: Wines tend to taste better when served with flavorful foods like red meat, cheese, and some fresh fruits and vegetables. You can also pair it with pasta, nuts, and appetizers.

Conclusion

There’s always a way to enjoy good wine on a tight budget. For starters, you can join a warehouse club, wait for sale events, or shop online for wines that you can afford and enjoy at the same time. Don’t easily settle for low-quality wines because it’s possible to score good ones without having to spend too much money.