Euro Up; Dollar Down - Consumers Pay More for Less

But for those us in the business of wine and planning for the fall season, one can't help but wonder what's in store for the future. An impending economic turndown appears closer each day (2010 Olympics or not) and with each added fuel shipping surcharge, and the rising cost of farming, it is expected tougher times are on the horizon.

A powerful Euro continues to cloud the future of European prices, leaving precious little room for bargain wines in the market. Of course, there will always be cheap wine in wine shops, but after years of drinking quality wine from specific appellations consumers may be reluctant to trade down to big nameless blends.

And don't kid yourself, trading down is what you are doing when your favourite wines jump from one price range to another and beyond, and you refuse to follow it up. A lot of B.C wine is in that latter range at the moment. Price hikes, driven by rising costs, increased demand, a bit of greed and in some cases over-exuberant marketing, have left B.C. wine prices dangerously close to overpriced. I guess we will know soon what the real worth of these wines are if the tourist trade continues to wane.

Rising European prices, not to mention the cost of shipping wines from South America, South Africa and Australia, New Zealand, will help mitigate a B.C. wine downturn but only if we get our house in order. In nutshell that means we need to find a way to lower prices and/or raise the quality of our output. Given the large bump in production over the last few years, it shouldn't be that difficult to achieve.

Today I've decided to look back at some of the best bargains tasted this year. Remember it's not just the price that determines what a bargain wine is, but rather it's the price/quality ratio. A clear line (label information) to where the wine comes from is an added bonus. Truth in labelling is a simple, yet effective, indicator that the producer has your interest in mind.

First up is a delicious, lightly sparkling Villa Teresa Prosecco Veneto. Each vintage of this Prosecco sparkler gets cleaner and fresher. Although it would appear the "vintage" designation has given way to a non-vintage moniker. The nose is bright and fresh with plenty of green apple and pear fruit aromas, all with a dusting of almonds. Similar flavours persist with creamy, orange notes. It is a classic, patio party sipper with an organic twist. Green never tasted so good and, at this price, you can sip it all summer. Love the ceramic (easy open and close) stopper.

Honey, apricot, buttery, oatmeal/lees aromas with bits of ginger and honeysuckle mark the nose of the Yalumba Viognier Eden Valley 2006. On the palate it is round and elegant with fine, lively acidity and a touch of sweetness, vanilla, ginger, apricot skin and citrus, honey flavours. The finish is crisp with a touch of citrus rind and melon skin in the finish. An excellent food wine with solid varietal expression.

Equally aromatic and pleasing is the Wirra Wirra Scrubby Rise 2007, a McLaren Vale blend of sauvignon blanc, semillon and viognier. The style is fresh and dry with grassy, green melon, grapefruit, and mineral flavours flecked with mineral, lime rind. It offers consistent quality at fine value. You can serve it with most seafood dishes or solo on the patio all summer.

The Rosemount Chardonnay Show Reserve 2006 is a rich version of Oz chardonnay with its lanolin, toasted lees and baked apple nose. The textures are soft and creamy with spicy lees, apricot and peach fruit with hits of nutty butter and vanilla in the back end. Well made and it should age effortlessly under screwcap. Try this with chicken.

The latest Tormaresca Neprica 2006, a clever blend of negroamaro, primitivo and cabernet sauvignon, comes with a rustic, meaty, floral, licorice, black cherry aromas. The palate is full-bodied with light tannins and plenty of peppery fruit streaked with black cherry jam, resin and tobacco. The finish is warm and a touch fresh. The perfect barbecue red from Southern Italy.

Our final pick comes from Spain's Ribera del Duero region: Vina Gormaz 2005. A lack of water, and much more sensible temperatures, shaped the '05 Gormaz with its intense, peppery fruit. Its big, black plummy fruit, concentrated by the 50-year old vines it's grows on, sees no oak leaving it pure and unadulterated. Still fairly tannic and dry in the finish. Buy and hold or drink it now with a roast leg of lamb.

VILLA TERESA PROSECCO VENETO N/V, Italy

Price: $16

UPC: 08007615000694

Score: 87/100

Remarks: A classic, patio party sipper with an organic twist.

YALUMBA VIOGNIER EDEN VALLEY 2006, South Australia

Price: $27

UPC: 9311789079745

Score: 89/100

Remarks: Good solid food style with varietal expression.

ROSEMOUNT CHARDONNAY SHOW RESERVE 2006, Australia

Price: $26

UPC: 00012894892326

Score: 89/100

Remarks: The textures are soft and creamy with spicy lees, apricot and peach fruit.

WIRRA WIRRA SCRUBBY RISE SAUVIGNON BLANC SEMILLON VIOGNIER 2007, South Australia

Price: $17

UPC: 9315125150990

Score: 87/100

Remarks: Consistent quality and fine value. Serve with most seafood dishes or solo on the patio.

TORMARESCA NEPRICA 2006, Italy

Price: $15

UPC: 08026530000039

Score: 87/100

Remarks: An affordable, solid, barbecue red.

VINA GORMAZ RIBERA DEL DUERO 2005, Spain

Price: $17

UPC: 8429414129909

Score: 89/100

Remarks: Big black plummy fruit; made from 50-year old vines.