How to Pick a Good Wine for Under $15

Today and tomorrow, Sasha shares two more strategies for choosing an excellent bottle of wine that won't break the bank. Tune in tomorrow for the last tip!

If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me what my favorite under-$15 bottle is, well, I’d be able to buy a lot of very expensive wine. The truth is, I can’t settle on just one. There’s so much good wine out there, who could blame me for being fickle? So instead of naming names, I’ll share my general strategies for finding delicious wines at modest prices.

6. It’s all about the relationship. Make friends with your wine retailer. Share one of your recipes…and tell her what wine you paired it with. You’ll be doing her a favor, as customers are always asking for food-and-wine pairing advice -- and sharing great ideas from talented cooks like you will help her sell her wine. Give her honest feedback on the wines you’ve liked and the ones you’ve hated. Don’t assume that she only has time for the big fish who regularly spend hundreds of dollars on a single bottle. (And if she does, take your business elsewhere.)

Sasha Smith writes about wine and food on her website, spinthebottleny. In her spare time, she is the Executive Director of a New York based media company.