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How to Spot Overpriced Wines

Experts explain pricing and weigh in with ways to save

By Michael Foreman, Newser User

Posted Aug 16, 2008 10:26 AM CDT

(Newser) – Why does a bottle of wine cost $100 at one restaurant and three times that at the bistro down the block? The Wall Street Journal asked wine experts to decipher vino pricing and offer tips for finding the best deals. The results: Expensive wines often mean better value, as do less popular varietals. And never, ever buy by the glass.

Markups differ depending on where, when, and how much restaurants buy, but usually run about twice the retail price. Visit a wine store or search the Internet first to see where the wine list stands. And spring for the entire bottle because "99 out of 100 times wine-by-the-glass is going to be priced the most aggressively," said one expert.

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Markups differ depending on where, when, and how much wine restaurants buy. (© 96dpi)

Wines from lesser-known regions and less popular varietals are often marked up less. (©cdlyle)

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Ninety-nine out of 100 times, the wine-by-the-glass program is going to be priced the most aggressively. - Joshua Nadel, wine director at the Plaza Hotel Oak Room

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How to Spot Overpriced Wines