Where to go for great value!

We are all guilty of sticking to what we know and there is nothing wrong with having our favourite wines to keep going back to, like a comfortable pair of slippers (especially at the moment!) There is a whole extra field out there with wines from off the beaten track, primarily in terms of country or region but also grape varieties, which provides some exceptional value and interest. Even amongst the team here at Wadebridge Wines we ask each other for suggestions to push us out of our comfort zones.

In France there are still less well explored areas, especially in the South West, creating some stunning wines. The same is true in the more established regions too: if you are a fan of Sancerre have you tried Menetou-Salon? Right next door, same grapes and very similar terroir. In the Rhone Chateauneuf du Pape is the big name but many of the neighbouring Villages have stunning wines too and often at better prices. Gigondas is another reliable wine from higher and rockier ground which can make it a little more rustic but doesn’t that add another layer of charm? Vacqueyras is also great value.

Spain is another country with some stunning wines at incredible price points too, just avoid the famous names again! There is so much more to Spanish wine than Rioja though we still like that too. One of my favourite areas is Montsant, just next door to Priorat up in the foothills around Barcelona: same grapes but a fraction of the price. Heading a little further south into Navarra and we have El Primero, a delicious blend of Graciano and Garnacha which gives an amazing hit of blueberry and blackberry flavours and comfortably under £10.

Heading into Eastern Europe and we are into the cradle of wine making – vines have been grown here for over a thousand years. With the adoption of modern techniques and influence of some French winemakers the quality and value are exploding. We have wines from Bulgaria and Romania at some intriguing price and quality points from the Calusari Pinot Noir at £8.25 through Cote du Danube Viognier at £11.50 to the Bordeaux blend Bessa Valley Enira at £14.95.

South America continues to open up further and there are some lovely wines coming out of Uruguay now to add to the range we have from Chile and Argentina. While some producers still concentrate on volume there are others who are really pushing the quality and properly give their European counterparts a run for their money. The Old Vine Carignan Vigno by Bouchon is wonderful and the Zuccardi Aluvional Tupungato Alto really is their top of the range Malbec at £69.95 – yes it really is very special!

North America is very much more boutique with prices to match from many of the Californian producers but do look around further, we have bought in a parcel of wines from the Yakima Valley in Washington State – the Cascadia Syrah and it is a beautiful wine at a really good price (£13.95) and is a favourite across the board with the team here.

Don’t forget South Africa too – their wine producers are having an even tougher time with their Covid-19 restrictions and are struggling. Just buying one more from their will certainly help them out!

While you cannot come in and browse we are here so do give us a call, drop us an e mail or message on our social channels and we will happily make suggestions and discuss what you can try next. Most of these wines are on the website but one or two are still to go on. If you cannot find what you are looking for please get in touch.


Andrew