There is nothing fake about that either. You don't have to pass a blind test, you usually see the wine. It's the same with food - the presentation counts, too.

There is nothing fake about that either. You don't have to pass a blind test, you usually see the wine. It's the same with food - the presentation counts, too. Or with almost any kind of luxury good. Almost any brand is more expensive than "no name" products even though the production costs are the same. Of course, people can be against luxury goods but the point is they're not getting it. People pay for brand and prestige, including some wine affiocionados (though not me). That's perfectly normal for luxury markets. By the way, beer is way less complex than wine. It's not even remotely comparable, primarily because beers are "designed" by professional brewers for specific target markets. You can't do that as easily with wine, it depends more on the grapes, weather, and location.