Save sip by sip: How good are bottles under 10 francs really?

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Wine production is and remains an important economic sector in our agricultural neighboring countries. Moreover, wine is a cultural asset. With the “pacification” of much of Europe by the Romans, an abundance of languages ​​and literature, architecture and medicine, and wine spread. Back then it was available at any time of the day or night. Soldiers were entitled to daily rations, and even slaves were allowed to drink from it.

wine instead of water

In the Middle Ages and even until the late 19th century, due to poor water quality, fermented grape juice was as much a part of daily life as daily bread. Of course, not only per capita consumption, but also the vineyard area in Europe’s most important wine-growing countries was much larger than today. It was also important in cooler regions. For example, in the canton of Zurich at the end of the 19th century, a total of close to 20,000 winegrowers were cultivating an impressive 5,600 hectares of land for wine production, sometimes in places so shady and inhospitable as to be unimaginable today. At that time, the taste of the drops was accordingly thin and sour. For comparison: Today the vineyard area covers approximately 650 hectares, mostly on south-facing slopes.

Wine of Kings

But it wasn’t just ordinary people who drank wine back then. Even in ancient times, it was the drink of choice for pharaohs, emperors, tsars and kings. That is why there is no prestigious wine region in the “old world” that does not boast of being served at the royal court. King Frederick I of Prussia and Tsar Peter the Great drank Tokaji, the Sun King Louis XIV. Louis favored “Vin de Champagne” and Napoleon showered his victories with champagne. This inevitably led to the upgrading of special and complex discounts. The infantry had to be content with light liquor.

Quality is offensive

Fortunately, today we no longer have to experience this. Modern technology in wineries and innovations in viticulture have led to a quality revolution. Simple wines produced in large quantities can no longer be dismissed as cheap booze, but it is often the perfectly produced wines that generate most of the profits. Of course there are still incredibly expensive wines for the top ten thousand. But to be honest it’s a niche product. The vast majority of customers do not want to spend thirty francs or more on a bottle of wine, especially in economically uncertain times. In periods when wine consumption decreases, major producers make every effort to deliver professionally produced everyday wines to customers.

Of course, you can buy a lot of wine for little money with the “Prix Garantie” label in Coop’s wide range of wines. But you’ll also find plenty of other discounts in the lower price segment that are worth trying.

Inspire yourself!

I’ve been tasting a variety of low-budget wines lately and trying to ignore my preferences for complex drops. These simple but honest wines surprised me.

The article comes from wine scholar and Swiss wine sommelier Tobias Gysi. He is the author of the “Château Gysi” column for Mondovino.

Source : Blick