Bakersfield Life

A fine value

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     The current economy has changed the wine market, and consumers are looking for wines that are less expensive. As the days of the $50-plus bottles are over for most of us, I would like to suggest some great value wines, which are widely available and can often be purchased for $15 or less. Value wines are usually meant to be entry-level wines, but some of them are equals to wines that cost two to three times as much. 
     Columbia Crest, a large winery located in Washington, produces consistently good wine across its entire line. Its Grand Estates wines — including chardonnay, merlot and cabernet — can be purchased in most stores for around $10 a bottle, and I can recommend these without reservation. This winery has won a multitude of awards for producing wines of merit, such as its 2005 Reserve cabernet sauvignon, which was chosen as the top wine this year by Wine Spectator magazine. I know I have stated in the past that one should make their own decisions regarding a wine, but when you see the same winery mentioned over and over in the trade magazines it is definitely worth a try.
     McManis, located in Ripon at the north part of the San Joaquin Valley, is another winery worth investigating. I have been impressed by the quality of their wines, especially the zinfandel and petite sirah.
     In my opinion, Bogle Vineyards is easily the best producer of wines that fall into the category of value wines. I have never been disappointed by any of their wines. This family-owned winery located in the Sacramento Delta region is consistently mentioned in the wine press for its fine wines, and it is amazing that this winery makes a top-quality product across the board year after year.  
      When I visited J. Lohr winery in Paso Robles, I had low expectations when I arrived, but was I ever wrong about them! I have to admire a winery that produces the volume of wine that they do, and yet still makes a fantastic product. It offers a good lineup of wine that is very well made and is reasonable in price. For a change, try their Wildflower Valdigue, a medium-bodied red wine that pairs well with salmon or pork.
      I can also recommend Au Bon Climat as a top producer of chardonnay and pinot noir. The Santa Maria winery is one of my favorites and its wines are a personal choice as an everyday “house wine.”
     South America also produces wines that are delicious and fall into this category. Malbecs from Argentina, such as Alamos and Norton, are big, full-bodied red wines worth trying, and you should sample some wines from Chile. There are also good buys in German and French wines. Seek the advice of your local wine merchant when choosing these wines, as there is a lot of variability in the European wine available today.
     Another suggestion is to visit a tasting room; there are often special buys on wine by the case that are only available at the winery. Take a chance and try something new that does not break your budget; you may discover a new favorite that can become an everyday wine for your own home!