When to Splurge on Wine
There are times—anniversaries, promotions, holidays—when you want to put something truly special on the table. But does spending $100+ guarantee a better experience? Not always.
The Law of Diminishing Returns
In wine, quality does not scale linearly with price.
- $15 to $30: Massive jump in quality.
- $30 to $60: noticeable improvement in complexity and aging potential.
- $60 to $200: Smaller incremental gains. You are paying for scarcity, prestige, and nuance.
- $200+: You are paying for history, rarity, and investment value.
Where the Money Goes
When you splurge on the right bottles, you are paying for:
- Extreme Scarcity: Wines from tiny vineyards (like Grand Cru Burgundy) where supply is fixed and demand is global.
- Time: A winery holding back bottles for 10 years so you don't have to cellar them.
- Risk: Making wine in difficult climates where harvests are small and unpredictable.
Splurge 1: Champagne
True Champagne (from France) is expensive to make. The method requires a secondary fermentation in every individual bottle and years of aging.
Why it's worth it: The complexity of toast, brioche, and almond notes found in vintage Champagne is nearly impossible to replicate in cheaper sparkling wines.
Splurge 2: Top-Tier Reds
High-end Napa Cabernet and Classified Growth Bordeaux are the gold standards for collectors.
Why it's worth it: These wines are built to last 20, 30, or 40 years. If you plan to lay a bottle down for a child's 21st birthday, this is where you spend your money.
Splurge 3: Older Vintages
Buying a bottle that has already been aged 10+ years is a luxury service. You are paying for the winery (or merchant) to have stored it perfectly for a decade.
Why it's worth it: You get to drink a fully mature wine tonight without having to wait.
Advice for Buying Expensive Wine
If you're going to spend over $80 on a bottle:
- Go to a specialty shop: Do not buy expensive wine at a grocery store. It may have been stored improperly.
- Ask for help: Tell the merchant what you usually like.
- Serve it right: Decant it if it's young. Don't serve it too warm. Use good glassware. If you drink a $100 wine out of a plastic cup, it will taste like a $15 wine.
Track your cellar.
Whether it's a $10 pizza wine or a $200 collectible, track your tasting notes in Vine Savant.