Wine-Buying Tips
How to Find a Great-Tasting, Inexpensive Bottle of Wine

Nothing enhances the flavor of wild game like a good bottle of wine. Even people who don’t think they like wine often discover—much to their delight—that a glass of an appropriate wine is the perfect accompaniment for roast duck, braised pheasant or fried fish.

Wine is pretty much a matter of personal preferance, and that means that shopper may have to try several different wines to find one that tickles their taste buds.

Neophytes may be intimidated by the seemingly endless assortment of wines available in most bottle shops. As a rule, reds like Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon go well with duck and goose, while whites like Chardonnay and Riesling are good choices with pheasant, ruffed grouse and fish. Chardonnays tend to be fruity and dry while Rieslings and Gewarztraminers are sweet and fruity and may be better choices for newcomers to wine.

Thanks to the plethora of vineyards that have sprung up across the US, finding an affordable bottle of wine is easier than it’s ever been. There are any number of highly rated wines available for under $10 and many more in the $10 to $20 range for those very special occassions. Here are some tips for finding a wine that will have your dinner guests smiling.

First, find a good bottle shop with a staff that knows wine and has a good assortment. Tell the expert what’s on the menu, give him or her a price range and have them make recommendations.

If you find a wine you like, write down the name and vintage on the bottle. Just because a vineyard’s 2000 Chardonnay was great doesn’t guarantee its ’99 was good.

Some bottle shops list ratings with some of the better bottles. Wine Spectator magazine is an oft-quoted source. A wine that recieves a rating of between 85 and 89 is of high quality, a 90 or above indicates an excellent wine.

Another way to find a good wine is to order a bottle at a good restaurant. Ask the waiter or wine steward for a suggestion. If you like the wine, write down the name and vintage so you’ll remember it.

If you have friends who are wine enthusiasts, ask them for recommendations. Here’s a list of some affordable, highly rated wines.