Wine Academy: How to choose a great cheap red wine

With wine passing beer last year in US sales for the first time combined with the influx of new world wines challenging the old world standards for shelf space at your local beverage store or wine shop, choosing a wine can be more challenging than ever. A very good thing, however, is that wines are more affordable than ever as well!

If you are looking for an inexpensive, or "value," wine of any style, you can do what my wife and I have been doing successfully for more than 5 years now. We define a value wine as one that is less than $20, though you can change that to $8, 10 or whatever to suit your desires. When we are out shopping for groceries or driving by the local beverage store on the way home from work, we'll stop in and grab one, maybe two, bottles of a value wine we haven't tried before. Beyond price, the decision may not go much further than choosing based on a region we have had good selections from before, or maybe the same varietal, or grape, we like the most (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, etc.). Of course, this may be too much of a risk for some, so how can you narrow down the choices beyond just the price?

Chances are you've probably had a glass or two of wine in your past and you can probably define some basic traits, in your own words, of what you liked or didn't like about that wine. Perhaps is tasted too sweet, or "burnt", or too spicy. In our opinion a "great" wine is only going to be a wine that you are going to enjoy and everybody has their own sense of taste. Now, go to the store with your personal tastes in mind and ask for help with finding a wine that matches or has similar characteristics that you like. With the increasing popularity of wine, more every-day grocery stores and beverage shops have someone on staff who has a decent understanding of wine that can help you with your decision. If you want a little more pedigree with your sommelier to increase your odds even more try going to the local wine shop or high-end grocery store.

Finally, take a few notes when you are drinking your fabulous value wine so that you can learn a little more and determine what great value wine you may want to try next. Cheers!

Learn more about this author, Ed Thralls.