Where to buy wine in a recession

There's no question. Trader Joe's has the best prices around on inexpensive wine. If you live near one, lucky you. If you don't, take a road trip and stock up. They've got particularly-great deals on delicious Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and Sicilian Nero d'Avola .

The deals are so good, and we're there so much, we're going to start noting the wines we buy at Trader Joe's on our reviews page.

Wine investments that beat the stock market

First growth Bordeaux from the 1990 vintage does better as an investment than U.S. stocks. 1998 Penfold's Grange has roughly doubled in price. Should you send your broker to the nearest wine shop?

Wine, like stocks, is subject to the vagaries of the market. Positive comments from an analyst make a stock soar; a "99" from a wine expert makes a certain bottle almost impossible to find. Doing your homework helps, but you just never know.

And, unlike stocks, you're going to have to provide controlled storage and careful transportation for those precious bottles.

Wine for the Fourth of July

Pick up some inexpensive California Zinfandel to celebrate the holiday. This thoroughly American grape has its roots in another country (Italy), just like so many Americans. It's fruity and spicy--great with a burger or some baby back ribs.

Champagne, etc.

Americans tend to reserve Champagne for special occassions. But it's a perfect companion to food and warm weather. While sparkling wine can only legally called Champagne when it's from that region of France, you can find enjoyable, less expensive sparklers such as Prosecco, from Italy, and Cava from Spain.

Which wine goes with everything?

Rosé! Comes closer than anything to going with everything. Cheap too. Try one from just about anywhere.

A Tuscany alternative

Planning a trip to Italy this summer? Nervous about the crowds in Tuscany? Head for Umbria, east of Tuscany. Enjoy classic hilltowns like Spoleto and Gubbio without the huge crowds. And try their classic refreshing white, Orvieto, along with a plate of Umbria's handmade native pasta, stringozzi.

Corks and the environment

Turns out corks are the most environmentally-friendly way to seal wine. Cork trees can live for 200 years. The bark that gets stripped off of the trees to make the corks grows back (sustainable). Corks can be chopped up for mulch or made into a boat (recyclable). And unlike caps or rubber corks, they break down fairly easily (biodegradable).

Spring '08: What should I be drinking now?

Never thought you'd ask. Get a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc (try an '06 Cono Sur and stay tuned to our reviews page for more) with your grilled fish.

How can you tell if your wine is skunked or just crappy?

There's a fine line, in my mind, between crappy and skunked. I've seen pros miss a skunked wine, and I've enjoyed wine that some other pro said was skunked. With plastic corks and screwtops, you really don't have to worry about skunking. But save the cork after you open your bottle. If' it's brittle, and the cork seems a bit more porous and or wet than it should be, and the wine just stinks, you've probably got a skunked bottle on your hands.