GrapeSmart.net

“What is happening is American wine companies are buying bulk wine in France, Chile, Australia or wherever, shipping it back here and bottling it here under their own brand,” says Lewis Perdue, the author of wineindustryinsight.com.

“People have no idea the wine they are drinking is cheap bulk import,” Perdue says.

Read the full article here

I guess my question is… does it really matter? My philosophy has always been, “Cheap wine is fine, as long as it tastes good.” I’m not partial to where it comes from. If I’m looking for a bargain, and you can get me cheaper wine from France or Chile where macroeconomics have more to do with wine pricing than brand recognition, I’m all for it!

I do care if the wineries are labeling it as coming from somewhere other than where they bought it, but I highly doubt they are since it would probably put them out of business.

What do you think?

P.S. Thanks to Julie Brosterman of @womenwine for the heads-up on this piece!

Are you searching for something cheap, easy and delicious? Nope, this isn’t an ad for an online sex site; it’s a genuine endorsement for a bottle (or two or three) of 2007 La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux.

Hailing from the Cotes du Ventoux AOC in France (a region in the southeastern Rhone), this wine is a blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan and 15% Cinsault – all grapes that grow well in the area’s limestone-rich terroir.

Lovely, lively red in the glass, with a bouquet and mouthfuls of juicy red fruit and just enough spice, this wine has a smooth, supple body and goes down easy (no really, I promise, I’m only talking about wine).

La Vieille Ferme is owned by Perrin & Fils (of Château de Beaucastel fame (”Beaucastel is regarded by many as one of the top estates, if not the top estate, of Châteauneuf du Pape, in the Southern Rhône Valley” – thewinedoctor.com). Much less powerful than it’s big sister wines (step-sisters? half-sisters?), however, this wine is a terrific value and is great for summer. Take it to picnics, concerts in the park, sunset walks on the beach… you get the idea.

And the best part? At less than $10 per bottle, you can enjoy this wine all you want – as often as you want – without any kind of commitment. That’s a small price to pay for a really good time. Salut!