3 ms·

When in Australasia, I tend to agree with you on the quality compared to price however I do find that if you go to a decent boutique wine shop and have a chat,

When in Australasia, I tend to agree with you on the quality compared to price however I do find that if you go to a decent boutique wine shop and have a chat, they'll have good european bottles around the $15-30 mark that, in my opinion, are extremely good for value (i.e. something I might pay €6/7 in France from a wine sellers). Avoid NZ/AU supermarket prices and selection at all cost!

jpatokal 9y ago
That's odd advice- the selection and prices at Dan Murphy's (liquor retailer owned by supermarket chain Woolworths) are far superior to any boutique I've seen, plus they have regular tastings so you can decide for yourself. I've found price and quality poorly correlated with Aussie wines: the big brands are cheap and unexciting but very dependable, while small producers tend to be expensive and wildly inconsistent.
- telesilla 9y ago
  >the big brands are cheap and unexciting I admit I'm an awful wine snob: I can't drink cheap, mass-produced wine and I love inconsistency - I'm happy to be disappointed on occasion when more often that not, with the guidance of an experienced wine shop owner, I'm going to get something exciting from a small producer. While Dan Murphy's range might on the surface seem comparable to say, Sydney's Oak Barrel: if you know you want a non-typical French red (say, not a Bordeaux blend or Bourgogne pinot noir), the latter has a truly wider selection away from the generic, sellable reds. Plus, the staff are crazy knowledgeable and I often walk in saying "I want something great for $20" and they'll honestly get me the best available in that price range. https://www.danmurphys.com.au/red-wine/Category-red-wine/country-france https://www.danmurphys.com.au/red-wine/Category-red-wine/cou... http://www.oakbarrel.com.au/shop/wine?price=50&country=france&sub_region=red http://www.oakbarrel.com.au/shop/wine?price=50&country=franc...

jpatokal 9y ago

That's odd advice- the selection and prices at Dan Murphy's (liquor retailer owned by supermarket chain Woolworths) are far superior to any boutique I've seen, plus they have regular tastings so you can decide for yourself. I've found price and quality poorly correlated with Aussie wines: the big brands are cheap and unexciting but very dependable, while small producers tend to be expensive and wildly inconsistent.

telesilla 9y ago
>the big brands are cheap and unexciting I admit I'm an awful wine snob: I can't drink cheap, mass-produced wine and I love inconsistency - I'm happy to be disappointed on occasion when more often that not, with the guidance of an experienced wine shop owner, I'm going to get something exciting from a small producer. While Dan Murphy's range might on the surface seem comparable to say, Sydney's Oak Barrel: if you know you want a non-typical French red (say, not a Bordeaux blend or Bourgogne pinot noir), the latter has a truly wider selection away from the generic, sellable reds. Plus, the staff are crazy knowledgeable and I often walk in saying "I want something great for $20" and they'll honestly get me the best available in that price range. https://www.danmurphys.com.au/red-wine/Category-red-wine/country-france https://www.danmurphys.com.au/red-wine/Category-red-wine/cou... http://www.oakbarrel.com.au/shop/wine?price=50&country=france&sub_region=red http://www.oakbarrel.com.au/shop/wine?price=50&country=franc...