When it comes to ordering wines in restaurants, most people usually stick to the cheaper half of the menu. In fact, many people barely even look at the bottom part of the wine list where expensive wine bottles are printed. However, even though many think expensive wines are just waste of money, they are worth every dollar. There are different factors which affects the price of a certain bottle of wine. Some wine producers make better wines than others because they have better equipment or maybe have greater experience in making wine. So, the most commonly addressed question by all wine lovers is – what makes certain wines so expensive? Here are few key factors that determine the price of this divine drink.
Grape Ripeness At Harvest – The longer the grapes stay on the vine, the riper they get. This way grapes produce more sugar which reduces the acidity. This is why wines made out of such grapes feature stronger taste, thus are labeled as expensive wines. But the taste is not the only reason. It is the hanging time that determines the price. The risk of grapes being ruined by hail, eaten by animals or watered down, comes at high price. And this is why wines are divided into 3 price categories: cheap, reasonable and expensive wines.
Fermentation Method – Fermentation is an important process in wine production. In fact, wine is made from fermented grape juice. There are different fermentation methods and some cost more than others. Typically, there are four ways to produce wine. The best known, but time-consuming and most expensive method is the méthode champenoise. This method is used in production of Champagnes and expensive wines because it helps create more flavorful and richer wine texture. Large quantities of grapes are fermented, then the juice is bottled. Yeast and sugar are added to bottles and wine goes through second fermentation which removes the sediment. At the end, bottles are corked. Because this fermentation process has various phases, wines produced this way are more expensive.
Aging Time – When it comes to wine, we are all familiar with saying ‘the older the better’. However, not many people have the patience to wait for a bottle of wine to age. This is why many wine producers age their wines before putting them on the market. This process of aging develops interesting and specific aromas that many other young wines simply do not offer. But, this aging process is not for free. The wine producers must have storage space with suitable temperature, people to manage the process and postpone sales. Hence, these wines come with a pricey tag.
Brand Name / Supply And Demand / Ratings – Even though almost all wine producers use the same process to produce wines, prices differ. Some offer cheaper and some expensive wine bottles. Why? The reason is demand and supply chain. If people demand certain wine, it will be pricier. Moreover, when it comes to wines, people mostly rely on the reviews from other wine lovers and restaurants. And a bad review can surely lower the initial price of expensive wines. Also, brand name does matter. Well-known wine producers surely have better reputation among wine lovers, which is why they offer more expensive wines.
