Nevison - Had a glass 2016: top 100 wines under $20

Copyright 2015 James Nevison

All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication, reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system without the prior written consent of the publisheror in the case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, license from the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agencyis an infringement of the copyright law.

Appetite by Random House and colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

Library and Archives of Canada Cataloguing in Publication is available upon request

ISBN: 978-0-14-752973-2
eBook ISBN: 978-0-14-752974-9

Published in Canada by Appetite by Random House, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited

www.penguinrandomhouse.ca

v3.1

The 2016 edition heralds the 10th anniversary of the Had a Glass series. This is a remarkable feat. After all, 99% of the wines for sale on shelves nowadays dont last 10 years. So it is both an exciting and humbling vintage for Had a Glass and shows readers continued thirst for finding solid, everyday wine enjoyment.

Turning 10 offers good occasion for reflection. Along this wine journey, how many corks have been popped? How many screw caps have been twisted? How many glasses have been poured? A copious quantity, to be sure, but more importantly are the memories of good times shared over good meals with great people.

Though the actual count is forgotten, a look back across the Had a Glass years reveals some interesting numbers. In 2006, the inaugural edition featured 39 white wines, 48 reds, six aperitifs and fortifieds, a sad five bottles of sparkling, and an even sadder two options for ros. By 2015, the bubbly and pink wines were better represented in the Top 100 (11 and five, respectively), with the whites checking in at 33 bottles and the reds at 44. Really, these numbers highlight how Had a Glass has always reflected the evolution in everyday wine enjoyment.

Over the past decade, wine consumption in Canada has risen drastically. We are drinking moreand betterwine (according to the latest figures, per capita wine consumption in Canada is expected to reach 16.4 litres by 2018), and along with this increased thirst has come an increased hankering for wine knowledge. Wine consumers are more sophisticated and savvy than ever before, and in response the selection of wine in the marketplace continues to diversify. And this, ultimately, makes all the continued cork popping and screw-cap twisting worthwhile.

So cheers and thanks to all you thirsty readers who have made it possible to toast Had a Glass turning 10!

Had a Glass wades through the muck and murky liquid to point out 100 wines worth sipping. Consider it a vinous compass to keep you from getting lost in the wine aisles. Better yet, all the wines featured on these pages sell for under $20. Because wine is meant for everyday enjoyment, and every meal deserves a glass of wine.

Had a Glass is filled with the straight wine goods. Each wine is here for a reason, whether it is perfect for patio sipping, pairs remarkably with salmon, or simply inspires engagement in impromptu conversation. The wines come from all over the globe and represent a broad mix of grape varieties. There are reds and whites, not to mention ross and sparkling, even a few fortified wines! Its true wine diversity, and true wine value.

Had a Glass is easy to use: pick a page, read the blurb, get the wine, and see what you think. Repeat.

But remember: wine is best enjoyed in moderation. Know your limit and always have a safe way to get home. Such is the path to true wine appreciation.

Had a Glass goes out of the way to select wines that are widely available. Everyone deserves good wine, no matter what your postal code. While every effort is made to ensure prices and vintages are correct at publication, good wine buys sell out, and wines are subject to price variances and vintage changes.

It is recommended to use this book as a starting point for your wine adventures. Great bottles are out there, and as with all things worth searching for, the fun is in the hunt.

In a nod to interactivity, Had a Glass features barcodes for each wine. Given the proliferation of smartphones there are all sorts of uses for this handy addition. Using the growing number of available wine apps, you can scan the barcodes to locate stores and availability for each wine. Or scan your favourite bottles to create your own personalized wine-tasting journal!

Value is at best squishy and hard to pin down. Value is personal. And like scoring wine on a 100-point scale, its tough for an objective framework to try to prop up subjective tastes. But whether youre after price rollbacks at a big-box store or handmade designer goods, true value occurs when returns exceed expectations.

Most of the time the budget and bank account set a comfortable limit of my wine allotment at $20. On occasion I may spend more, but overall I toe the line. From research I know the majority of you feel the same. We all love great $18 bottles of wine. But we love cracking into a tasty $12 bottle even more!

Had a Glass celebrates wines that give you the best bottle for your buck: the $10 wine that seems like it should cost $15, the $15 bottle that stands out, and the $20 wine that knocks your socks off. Wine should be an everyday beverage, not a luxuryan enjoyable accessory to good living.