Article in today’s WSJ describing how consumers of wine are focusing on “mid-priced” price which is defined as price per bottle of $9 to $12. Spending time on boards like WB can quickly skew the concept of “value”. Curious to know what your own definition of “mid-priced” wine is.
BTW: according to the 2010 data cited in the article, only 1.1% of total volume was for wines that cost more than $20.
I’m in the $20-$30 camp as well. I always try to be careful when I discuss wine prices with non-geek friends because what I consider a “no-brainer” price point might be their special occasion wine.
I was discussing a particular wine with a fellow wine geek and we were agreeing that it was very reasonably priced at $40. His boyfriend was there and immediately asked “How can you possibly describe a $40 wine as reasonably priced?!”
And I, too, have to be careful around friends. I started a wine club with people who were curious, but not knowledgable about wine. I set the limit at around $30-40 per wine and they are consistently the most expensive wines these friends have ever tasted. If I had to guess at what they would respond if polled, they’d probably consider an $8 wine “cheap,” a $30 wine “expensive,” and a $12-15 wine “mid-priced.”
I think you need to add in some more answers above the $40-50 range. I know several people whose mid-priced wines are $100-200 or $200-300. Unfortunately I’m not one of those people, but there are a lot of them out there.
I voted $30-40 but I’d really say $25-$50. Under $20 is everyday stuff. Over $50 it needs to be special… amazing out of the bottle and/or worthy of aging with the idea it could be special.
I’m around this level, too, say $15-$25. Boundaries are fuzzy, though. Once you get towards $40 and up, usually (not always) that signifies a point where producers have few constraints in terms of being able to make wine the way they want. That’s what I’d consider more high end. In the $20 range, usually (not always) there are some limitations when it comes to hitting the price point, but not so severe the corners cut compromise integrity.
Interesting thread. My average price has certainly crept up. I buy a lot of premium Zinfandel (which holds my average down), but also a lot of premium Syrah and Pinot (which does the average no favors).
After much searching, I’ve discovered a couple of really great local QPRs in the the $20 range (Coastview and Madeleine).
My thought before opening this thread was $15-$25 so it was a toss-up for me between the $12-20 or $20-30 range. I consider under $15 low-priced/everyday wines and $35 the beginning of high-priced/special occasion wines, so given the choices it’s $20-30, and most of my drinking I’d guess falls between $25-35.
My understanding is that civilians consider anthing over $15 to be ultra-luxury.
edit to add: I just ran a cellar tracker report to see if I’m FOS on my estimates, my average cost/bottle consumed is $25.30. I guess I’m drinking smack in the middle of the road. Gotta love CT - it knows things about me I only have a vague idea of myself.
I was trying to convince a friend of mine to split some discounted wine with me, and I noted I thought the wine was a steal at $15/bottle. He responded that he wouldn’t spend $15 for a bottle of wine. Wasn’t snobby about it, just said he’s not a huge wine fan and since he couldn’t tell the difference, he wasn’t going to spend over the minimum he could. He also spent $1500 on an air purifier for his house, the effects of which I’ve yet to notice. Eh, different strokes.
My relationship to wine economics is a strange one. I don’t think twice about placing a $500 order for wine but Id never in a million years spend that much money on say a jacket. Or even a bike. Not sure what it is about wine that makes money seem to have less value for me.