Where to Look for Good Values in Wine

Some unexpected regions are now producing some very good wines. (Andriiii/Shutterstock)

As popular as wine is today, it’s still seen as fairly pricey by regular consumers, so daily consumers are always seeking strategies to find good values. And now is a perfect time to stock up.

Wildfires in California over the past few years have negatively impacted stocks of domestic red wines, which has made them slightly less available than they had been. But white wines and rosé are more available than they’ve ever been, and better than ever.

Moreover, currencies around the world are relatively weak in relation to the U.S. dollar, which makes for soft prices for many imports. And although it may seem a little risky buying wine from unknown, faraway places, wines from certain countries have never been better or more fairly priced.

Start with the fine wines of Australia and New Zealand. Both countries’ currencies are presently at lower levels than they have been. The Aussie dollar is worth only 69 U.S. cents (down from parity only a decade ago), and the Kiwi dollar is at 61 cents.

Add to that the fact that, three weeks ago, China announced that it would block all imports from Australia and New Zealand, including the important commodities of dairy, beef, agricultural products, and wines.

This is a major escalation of tensions between China and its Pacific neighbors, and means that both Australia and New Zealand will imminently have more wines to sell to other countries, including the United States.

And they will be coming in at prices that are undermined by their weak down-under currencies.

Similarly, Chile’s economy has been rocked over the past two years by a collapsed worldwide market for its most important export commodity: copper.

That has hurt the Chilean economy. In July, the Chilean peso reached a decade low in value. As a result, its wines are being sold here at soft-currency prices.

Buying these wines might seem daunting to some who previously remained with branded domestics. But there’s little to fear. All three countries now make exemplary, reasonably priced wines. Here’s a brief primer.

Australia

The Australian wine industry has been making wine since the 1830s, more than 100 years longer than the United States, which had to go through a nearly 50-year hiatus that included Prohibition and its aftermath. That was an arduous period that Australia never faced.

Moreover, the Aussies have spent more money on research into making quality wines than any other country, and today their country represents the pinnacle of reasonably priced excellence.

Australian chardonnays and shiraz can be found here at very fair prices. Seek out wines carrying the designation “South Eastern Australia” for wines at less than $10 a bottle.

New Zealand

This small, two-island democracy has made enormous strides in wine quality over the past 20 years, and today represents the pinnacle of excellence in sauvignon blanc and quality pinot noir values.

The sauvignon blancs and chardonnays of Marlborough, in particular, are usually found here at about $20 a bottle, representing the peak of quality. However, excellent versions can easily be found at half that price or even less by shopping around.

Chile

For red wine lovers, it’s difficult to beat the values we’re seeing today from this longtime wine-producing nation.

Although cabernet sauvignon probably is the most widely seen red wine from Chile, excellent values can be had from wines made of merlot, as well as a local favorite, carménère. At around the $10 price point, numerous Chilean examples are widely available.

Wine of the Week

2021 Tercos Sangiovese, Mendoza (Ricardo Santos) ($15): Argentina is best known for its rich, flavorful malbec red wines. But this Italian variety does nicely there too, and this wine has ample plum fruit and richness along with moderate tannins. Often seen for about $11.