Anthony Pierpont Wine in the News: Sizing Up Investment Wines

In a previous wine blog, I talked about an auction for a jeroboam (equal to six bottles) of prized vintage Bordeaux wine. The rare wine was pricey for a number of reasons- its brand, vintage and size were just a few reasons why it’s estimated to sell for more than $60,000.

Investing in wines isn’t a new concept, but it’s more popular than ever today. There are a number of reasons for buying wine to make money:

• Buying a specialty investment wine fresh off the vine is a lot less expensive than buying an aged wine. You gamble on the wine’s future popularity, and on the supply and demand for the annual limited release.
• Buy investment wines with an eye to selling the bottles later for profit. Like stamp collectors, collectors of rare books and antiquities, vintage wine aficionados are romanced by the bottle, and will rarely look at price when a bottle they want comes up for sale.
• According to Wine-searcher.com, collectable wines historically outperform the Dow and the FTSE, offering large returns without the instability of the stock market.
  
  

Collectable wines come in sizes ranging from small to extra-extra large. The large bottles of a collectable wine are especially valued when the wine has aged and can be pricey. But buying oversized bottles of vintage wine can net you a lot more money in the long run.

Some other investment wine bottle sizes include:

• A Standard bottle of wine measures 750ML and is best accompanied by at least one more bottle;
  
• The Magnum is the equivalent of two bottles of wine and is often seen balanced on the lap of Hollywood celebutantes and East Coast rappers;
  
• The Balthazar equals 16 bottles of wine and packs a punch that promises to be a hit at any party.
  
  

Large size red wine bottles in particular are a real collector’s favorite. With more and more people looking at wine not just as refreshment, but also as an investment, the oversized wine bottles are worth looking into.

Anthony Pierpont Wine Tip of the Day: For maximum party potential that’s easy on the pocketbook, my last wine blog delved into another sizable (but not collectable) grape- box wines.

Anthony Pierpont Wine in the News: The Crumbling Argument Against Box Wines

I’ve never professed to be a wine snob. My tastes have improved over the years, and my family has always advocated drinking good wine. But sometimes when you’re planning a large event or party, you can get a lot of bang for your buck with boxed wines.

According to Delicato Vineyards, 20% of wine drank comes from a box. And, consumer research shows that box buyers have moved from yuppies to boomers, with a wide age and income range enjoying affordable wines.

Some fast facts about why you should consider buying box wine:

• Bag in box wine stays fresh for several weeks- even a couple of months- after it’s been opened;
• The cost savings for these affordable wines can be significant, often averaging ½ the cost of comparable size and quality bottled wines;
• Box wine comes in a variety of varietals, including Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet (side note: and sherry!);
• You can take it with you- a box of affordable wine is easily transported to any picnic or party, without the worry of glass breaking or the “who forgot the corkscrew?” arguments.
  
  

Among the winningest box brands of vino: Black Box, Blackstone Winery and Hardy’s. Need further evidence that wine boxes have successfully leapt from the supermarket sale bin to the dining table? France now produces a number of high-quality wines in the box, too.

Anthony Pierpont Wine Tip of the Day: The box wines blog features news and reviews of affordable wines that won’t break the bank.

Anthony Pierpont Red Wine Tips: Buying Wine Online

You can buy champagne online and order wine online through a number of different wine Web sites. It’s a great way to find new wines that are not offered at your local grocery or liquor store, and, if you now where to shop, you can find some of the best prices when you buy your grape from a wine Web site.

If you haven’t yet started to use the Internet to buy champagne or wine, it’s worth a try. Especially if you have an upcoming party or event with a lot of thirsty guests and limited time to put the party together!

Some of the best Web sites to order wine online:

• The Wine Buyer offers funny, snide wine reviews and rock-bottom sale prices.
• Buy champagne online with the Wine Commune, an online wine auction. Benefits include specialty wines not found in your local store. Before buying wine online, verify that the seller can ship wine to your state with an e-mail before the sale.
• Vineyards also sell direct, so check the company wine Web site to price shop before you confirm your online wine order. Mondavi, Gloria Ferrer and Eola Hills all let you buy champagne and order wine online.

When buying wine online consider buying in bulk for the best deals on shipping and overall discounts, too.

Anthony Pierpont Wine Tip of the Day: I can’t find fault with anyone who orders wine online because it is true that the Internet can often offer the best prices and best selections, but give your local wine shops a chance, too. They often have specials but the real value is their knowledge of the products they sell which makes you into a wine connoisseur. It is rare to find wines online that offer that sort of education.

Anthony Pierpont Red Wine Tips: Best Food and Wine Pairings

Most people believe that you drink red wine with red meat and white wine with chicken. That’s not 100% true.

It’s more accurate to say that the best food and wine pairings are based upon the type of food preparation. A good rule of thumb to find the best wine pairings includes lighter sauces + white wines and heavier sauce + red wine.

I don’t think you have to be too strict about your food and wine pairings. I happen to like to drink red wine, so I have found the right red to accompany almost any gourmet dinner.

• Beaujolais works well with a lighter meal; you’ll like to drink red wine from the lighter end of the red spectrum.
• If you can’t find Beaujolais, a good Pinot Noir wine from Oregon works just as well- if not better- for your best wine pairings. I like Eola Hills Pinot Noir wines, circa early 2000’s.
• For a heavier cream sauce or red sauce, nothing beats Bordeaux. Unless it’s a Cab. Both Bordeaux and Cabernet Sauvignon work well with most cheeses and nicely compliment shellfish food and wine pairings, too.
  
  

Anthony Pierpont Wine Tip of the Day: Ask the wine steward for help when you shop for wine. They love to be asked, and they can provide you with the best wine pairings, in any price range.