Ever wondered how much you should spend on a bottle of wine? Or how to get the best value bottle of wine you can which both tastes good and won’t break the bank? Considering the fixed costs of packaging, logistics, VAT, margins, and excise duty, premium wine will often offer better value for money, giving you more for what you spend.

How much should I spend on a bottle of wine?

It’s a given that spending more will guarantee better quality, but not only this, the proportion of your money that goes toward the wine itself increases exponentially with the price — giving you much better value with every step up. Here’s what we mean by this:

  • When you spend £6.31 on a bottle of wine, only 29p pays for the wine itself.
  • By trading up to a £10 bottle, you get £2.10 worth of wine – around seven times more.
  • And when you are spending £20 on a bottle you get 6.33 worth of wine – that’s 22 times more!

Of course, when you shop at an independent wine store such as Shenfield Wine Co, there are a wide variety of benefits of shopping local: one of which is that we will be able to advise on the best possible bottles of wine for your budget. Read on for further tips to make your money go further:

Tips for getting the best value for your money when it comes to wine

Choosing the best value wine doesn’t mean picking the cheapest bottle; it means finding quality at a great price. Here are five tips to help you get the most bang for your buck:

  1. Explore Lesser-Known Regions: instead of Bordeaux or Napa, try wines from Portugal, Chile, Argentina, or lesser-known French regions like Languedoc. These areas often produce high-quality wines but at lower prices.
  2. Look for Second Labels: many prestigious wineries produce “second-label” wines from the same vineyards but at a fraction of the price. For example, Château Margaux has “Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux” which has a cheaper price point.
  3. Avoid Massive Discounts: heavily discounted wines in supermarkets often start with inflated prices. This is a common marketing tactic known as “price anchoring” or “false discounting”, which means that you’re often not getting as much of a bargain as you might think.
  4. Buy in bulk: many wine shops will offer discounts when you buy multiple bottles of the same wine or as a mixed case.
  5. Read Reviews…but trust your taste and recommendations from your local wine shop who can help you find hidden gems!
A close up of the Bila-Hau wine bottle label.
Domaine de Bila-Haut from France’s lesser known Côtes du Roussillon.

How can we help you to get the best value for money bottle of wine?

Our best advice is that by spending just a bit more, you can significantly improve the quality of what’s in your glass. As they say, you get what you pay for!

However, in addition this, the advice and expertise of our friendly wine buffs is invaluable. Our team can assist with picking a bottle of wine to suit both your taste and your budget, guaranteeing the best value for money bottle of wine within your price range and flavour profile. Pop in store today to see how we can make your money go further when it comes to good value wine.