Expensive vs Cheap Wine – The Differences And Benefits

We all know the difference between a cheap and a bottle of expensive wine. We have all experienced both in our lives, whether we wanted to or not. 

Wine happens to give us the booze and also the necessary punch to spruce up our spirit. However, each wine’s purpose is different, from flavor to how cheap or costly it is.

Sometimes the longer you keep the wine, the better it becomes. Sometimes the fresher wines are extremely luring and would be costly. Both types of these wines will differ in flavor and have an indigenous quality to separate them from the rest. 

The difference can be visible with a region or even from the continent it is purchased. There are quite a few quality aspects that will go in for a compromise when the wine is cheap. Here we will see the differences and the benefits of expensive vs. cheap wine.

1. The Price

Expensive wines are usually better than cheap wines. This is because the grapes are grown more naturally. Their vines are left to mature for longer; they have less use of chemicals, and, generally speaking, the best winemakers tend to produce expensive wine.

It should be said that some good quality wines are being made cheaply, so this rule should not be taken as gospel, but if you want an insight into what “good” tastes like, it’s probably best to pay up.

When reviewing Scout cellar wines, we can see that there are also clean wines that taste good but for a slightly less expensive price tag. Scout cellar wines are both clean and organic wines.

2. Tannins 

Tannins are the taste of dry red wine and the higher quality of the wine. This is because high-quality wines are high in polyphenols, which help give red wine its bitter taste and astringent feel on the tongue. 

High-quality wines contain many of these phenolics, which can actually be good for you: they have been linked to all kinds of benefits, such as protecting against cancer and cardiovascular diseases. 

While we can get dried fruit, spice, and chocolate tasting notes from high-quality wines, we will get cheaper vegetable/leaf flavors. 

Of course, there are always exceptions to this rule, but if you want something that will be very smooth with soft tannins, go for the expensive option.

3. Alcohol 

Higher-quality wines usually have higher alcohol content. This is because they are often fermented for longer at lower temperatures, extracting more sugar from the fruit and converting it to alcohol.

If you like sweeter wines, look out for them on the wine list; spending a bit more money could get you exactly what you want.

Similarly, if you prefer your wine to be more acidic, then opt for something that tastes tart rather than sweet, as there is less sugar in these types of wine. 

With cheap wines, the opposite would generally be true; since they are made quickly with little time allowed for fermentation, there will be fewer phenolics, so sweeter-tasting fruits such as peach or apricot will predominate.

 Alcohol levels are also lower in cheap wines, so you will likely feel the effects more quickly.

4. Grape Variety

The price can also be affected by the grape variety. If you like Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon wines try looking at the most expensive wines in your wine list; these are usually made from premium grapes with higher margins per bottle. 

If you are more of a Pinot Noir or Merlot fan, cheaper bottles can still taste good, but you may have to search among the more modestly-priced ones like [Portuguese wine, which has a distinctive wine taste from Portuguese grape varietals.]

5. Region 

Some regions are known for making very specific styles of grapes.

For example, in France, they produce predominantly Burgundy, which has high-quality standards set by French law, so if it says “Bourgogne” on the bottle, then you know what you’re getting is automatically going to be good quality. 

The price range will also vary according to the region — some regions are more expensive to produce wine. For example, Nerello Mascalese grapes are expensive to grow compared with Merlot or Pinot Noir because they are both difficult and labor-intensive.

6. Wine Taxes 

If your wine comes with a hefty price tag, then you can be sure that it is of good quality and value for the producer. This is often due to high wine taxes in the US, which can add a significant portion to a bottle’s price tag. 

The situation in Europe is different, with some countries imposing tariffs on imported wines while others do not (Spain and Portugal levy import duties, for example). 

Generally, it will be the most expensive region in these countries that is excluded from tax; this means you can get something of great quality at an affordable price.

7. Time And Aging

Expensive wines are allowed to age perfectly and properly to become extremely rich in quality and flavor. The fermentation is done for a long time in a well-preserved barrel for a long time before it is ready for consumption. 

Storing barrels of wine is an expensive process that eventually makes the wine richer and extremely favorable. The complexity and intensity of the grapes also see progress in this type of exclusive and tasty wine. 

8. Adding Sugar

Some expensive wines are said to be extra sweet due to the addition of sweetness. Rarely the sweetness in the grapes is preserved, and it is not allowed to be fermented. 

This residual sweetness is added to the wine to give it a sweet taste. This rarely happens in expensive wines as opposed to cheap wines. The sweetness is the cheap wines turn into alcohol, offering booze, whereas the expensive wines retain that flavor. 

Conclusion

Many factors determine whether a wine is expensive or cheap, but if you want the best-tasting experience, it’s probably worth paying up. 

This is because cheaper wines do not benefit from long maturation and better winemaking techniques that can really make a difference in the taste of a wine. 

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