Let's be real: prices have gone up across the board, and there's no exception when it comes to wine. That said, we keep finding exceptional values to share with you. How do we do it? Find out our top three hacks below.
Follow the Winemaker
It's not uncommon for a young winemaker to hone their craft at a acclaimed winery before setting out to make their mark on the world—leaving behind the high price tags. Take Vermonter Matt Dees, formerly of sought-after winery The Paring, who has been making waves with his electric Chardonnay from The Hilt in the Santa Maria Valley.
Maxime Magnon also comes to mind. Before making his own wine in the Corbières A.O.C. of the Languedoc, he studied under Jean Foillard in Beajolais.
Aubert de Villaine is still a co-owner of the famed Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, and was its co-director until 2021, but now has his own eponymous estate and makes top-notch Burgundy for way less than DRC prices.
Guillaume Gilles staged with Jean Louis Chave before setting out on his own. While his Cornas command upward of $100 a bottle, it's still a bargain compared to his mentor!
If You Haven't Heard Of It, Try It
We've found some of our favorite wines in the least talked about places. Just recently, we featured a wine from Onteniente, Spain in our Dirt Wine Club. While Rioja and Ribera del Duero might be well-known regions, not many people are seeking out wines from Onteniente. Less prestige and demand can radically reduce the pricetag of a wine—even if the winemaking is on par with a top tier estate in Burgundy, Chianti, or other well known regions.
Here are a few less-travelled regions and appellations to look out for:
- Adelaide Hills in South Australia
- Alto Adige in Italy
- Friuli in Italy
- Languedoc in France
- Kakheti in Georgia
- Savoie in France
"Less-travelled" is all relative. Georgia is the birthplace of wine, and Friuli has been getting a lot more attention from sommeliers and other wine professionals recently. But in the grand scheme of things, these places are not as well known—or esteemed—as regions like Napa Valley or Burgundy, which means you'll find greater value for your money.
If you're looking to discover great wines, consider our Dirt Club, which is available for pickup in Stowe and Burlington Vermont and features minimal intervention, classically-styled wines from both established and lesser-known regions.
Rejects or Renegades?
You decide. From where we stand, Vin de France (VdF) wines can be some of the most exciting French wines. Many of these wines are crafted by rebel winemakers working outside appellation guidelines. Plus, they’re often more affordable, offering incredible value for premium French wine.
Take impressive winemakers like Jean Charles Abbatucci in Corsica. Almost all of his wines are classified as Vin de France rather than Ajaccio, the appellation he works in. He farms organically and vinifies with minimal intervention—and even goes so far as to play Corsican polyphonic music to his vines. But he believes that adhering to the strictures of the appellation system would hurt the quality of his wines, so he classifies as Vin de France instead.
Explore our collection of Vin de France wines.
There it is. Our three hacks for finding great deals. The fourth secret hack? Don't be shy. Our team of knowledge-hungry wine nerds have put in countless hours learning about the wine regions, winemakers, and wine styles on our shelves. And we're not about gatekeeping. Stop by our Burlington and Stowe shops or drop us a line at winestory@dedaluswine.com if you want help finding great values.
