The Weekly Wrap-Up: Why Pay More, Free Shipping and Buying Wine Online (October 28, 2012)

Welcome to the weekly wrap-up!

First up this week check out the article "Expensive Wines Perceived As Tasting Better, Says Study":

"In a new study, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, consumers were shown an advertisement for a bottle of wine with both a low price and a high price. They believed the expensive wine would be better compared to the cheaper wine."

And:

"These findings support a 2008 study which revealed that tasters enjoyed wines that were supposedly higher in price. It’s no surprise that a $90 wine came out as the sample group's favorite, but when they tasted the same wine and were told it cost $10 bottle, they liked it a lot less."

The bottom-line? Psychology plays a big part in the pricing of wine and the price you pay doesn't necessarily tell you anything about its taste. So why pay more?

This week started off with a couple of under $10 gems, one white and one red. On Monday we recommended the 2011 Indaba Chardonnay (In Da Zone) which successfully walked the fine line of oak.

Then on Tuesday we highlighted an Australian Cabernet that definitely over-delivers for its price:2009 Jacob's Creek Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon (A Solid Cab Without The High Price Tag).

We then moved to the second wine in our new Awesome Austrians series, the 2011 Laurenz V. Singing Gruner Veltliner. (At this price it just might make you sing!)

On Friday we covered how to buy wine online with some special tips and tricks. Make sure you give it a read, buying wine online is not as hard as you think!

We ended the week as we always do, with a Saturday Splurge. This week's splurge came in at $22 so it was just barely outside our price range, but it also let us sample a Pinot Noir from Chile, which is not something you see everyday. We dubbed the 2009 Cono Sur 20 Barrels Pinot Noir "A Special Treat From Chile".

Most Viewed Reviews This Week: