What low/medium price wine do you recommend.

[wwest5829]

On 11/3/2022 at 9:42 PM, YorkshireTyke said:

I'm not a wine buff by any means but I do like a bottle every couple of weeks when I'm fed up with beer.

 

Up to now I've been on a tight budget so the only wines I have been buying are the cheapest non fruit wines, the Vineyard brand sold at Lotus only for around 389 Baht. Red and White, Cabernet, Shiraz and Merlot, Chardonnay and I think Sauvignon Blanc before but my local one only stocks the Chardonnay now.

Now I don't need wine snobs to tell me it's p*ss and only good for cooking, as I've explained I've been on a budget.

 

Now I have more regular disposable income and I would like to buy better wines, red and white, let's say 500-700 Baht, what brands would you recommend please?

Had a Shiraz at the Four Seasons recently Thai wine from Monsoon that was within your price range when I checked. 

[newbee2022]

On 11/3/2022 at 11:18 PM, Thailand J said:

At Lotus I found Eaglehawk @399B better then those higher priced.

At Makro I like Laughing Bird 1.5L .

 

 

That's not quality, just to wash down some food.

[YorkshireTyke]

33 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

 

I'm guessing you stick to Leo and have never looked at "craft beer" prices in Thailand.

 

Wrong again. You buy craft beers for 70 baht? Troll.

[wwest5829]

On 11/4/2022 at 8:49 AM, AlQaholic said:

I buy the 3l box wines, all OK, at Lotus and Big C. Can never remember the name though.

Monte Claire box is my “house wine” a few bottles of “Eaglehawk” put back for company.

[wwest5829]

On 11/4/2022 at 6:25 PM, Baht Simpson said:

The old saying goes "Wine before beer and you'll feel queer, but beer before wine and you'll feel fine."

I think I used up my lifetime beer allotment in college. My Maternal Grandparents were “winos” but, having gone to college, I am an “oenophilist”. Ha! The red wine is heart medicine.

[wwest5829]

2 hours ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

Boone's Farm Tickle Pink. Swig it straight from the bottle. No need for those snobby wine glasses.

Cold Duck and Thunderbird came to mind reading Boone’s Farm … once got very sick on Mogán David (parents mixed with Ginger Ale at holiday).

[KhaoTakiab]

4 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Sorry to piss on your wine thread, gusy. 

 

 

You are not pissing on the wine thread.

Only making your shortcomings public...

[BKKBike09]

2 hours ago, YorkshireTyke said:

2 hours ago, BKKBike09 said:

 

I'm guessing you stick to Leo and have never looked at "craft beer" prices in Thailand.

 

Wrong again. You buy craft beers for 70 baht? Troll.

 

Whoah there pardner. I'm on your side here ...  I was responding to the FrogMan's comment:

 

Wine is mostly a scam to get people with too much money to part with their money. 

 

You never see absurd and insane beer prices. Yet a lot of beers are really good. 

[LatPhrao]

I took great pleasure in discovering the Belleville red and white wines when tasting through what was available at 399 thb.   Very pleasant wines, good color, interesting blends, structure, and flavors. Not so called fruit wines  Quality wines that come from France - the Cotes du Rhone region.  Their price comes about through a cunning system - where the wines are shipped from France in bulk to Vietnam, where they are bottled and then sold into the market under a low tax and duty agreement between Asian nations.  The result very good French wine at a bargain (in Thailand) price.  They were my house wines for a long time.  Recommend

[NickyLouie]

On 11/4/2022 at 7:28 AM, easydoor said:

Try Holla wine ... Makro.... is a table wine but not bad.

 

No it's really bad, think it is bulked shipped to TH and bottled here.

 

 

[matchar]

15 minutes ago, LatPhrao said:

I took great pleasure in discovering the Belleville red and white wines when tasting through what was available at 399 thb.   Very pleasant wines, good color, interesting blends, structure, and flavors. Not so called fruit wines  Quality wines that come from France - the Cotes du Rhone region.  Their price comes about through a cunning system - where the wines are shipped from France in bulk to Vietnam, where they are bottled and then sold into the market under a low tax and duty agreement between Asian nations.  The result very good French wine at a bargain (in Thailand) price.  They were my house wines for a long time.  Recommend

Belleville tastes alright to me but they say fruit wine blend on the label.

[xylophone]

On 11/27/2024 at 12:12 PM, YorkshireTyke said:

Xylophone, 

 

I've just looked at Vinum Lector website but I don't see any prices.

 

Maybe it's a case of you get what you pay for so I should just try a few in the 600 + price range.

You have to log on to their website to get prices (as I recall), also the same with another supplier called "VinesToVino" whom I use quite frequently and they also have a good and varied selection.

[xylophone]

56 minutes ago, matchar said:

Belleville tastes alright to me but they say fruit wine blend on the label.

Yes it does and is advertised as such, although I will give it its due as it is not too bad, but the tasting reviews on Vivino are poor. Probably ok with spicy Thai food.

 

https://th.wine-now.asia/belleville

[matchar]

https://shop.villamarket.com/product/211658

 

Rumours is only 299...has anyone checked if it's a fruit wine?

[georgeesarn]

Got a big c up here I find reservado and flamingo cab sav pretty good and low cost at 500 and 400 respectively.

[ericbj]

My preference is for Rawson's Retreat from my local TOPS supermarket, at 499 baht.

 

For preference I purchase that made from merlot grapes.
Why?  Years ago I remarked to a French friend that, when buying cheap wine, I buy a merlot as I had never had a bad bottle.  He replied that he did likewise.

 

For occasional consumption, my choice, on grounds of both preference and economy would be a Faugère (from the area of Molière's home town).  But I have only once seen a bottle of that in Thailand - in a Lotus hypermarket.

 

Like you, price constraints here in Thailand, oblige me to drink wine only occasionally.  Whereas in France I was in the habit of drinking half a small glass of organic red wine twice a day, with meals.
(Diluted 50:50 with water, as was the custom of the French peasant people amongst whom I once lived, who grew their own grapes, produced their own wine, and believed "One cannot live without wine.")
Purchased in 'cubitainers' [bag-in-the-box] of 3-, 5-, or 10-litres.  Pro rata less expensive than in bottles; but, more importantly, keeps longer when opened without going sour, because no air enters to turn the alcohol into acetic acid.

[xylophone]

7 hours ago, matchar said:

https://shop.villamarket.com/product/211658

 

Rumours is only 299...has anyone checked if it's a fruit wine?

Yes it is........and the price should be the "giveaway".

[YorkshireTyke]

Xylophone and others who have shown an interest here is my update.

 

Previously I typed in Notes on my phone eveyones suggestions, since then I have renewed my phone and not copied it over to my new one so yesterday I went through this thread and hand wrote all the suggestions I liked.

 

Then I went to Lotus to buy but I forgot to take my list !!

 

I did remember a few names as I looked in Lotus,19 crimes, wolfblass, Mcguigans etc but then an assistant started talking to me and showed me wines that are discounted. They don't put up a notice, eg reduced from 799 to 650, but just put a new price label over the old one in the slot beneath the bottle.

So she removed a few labels and showed me the previous price, as I am looking to buy a 'better' wine I thought I would buy these as I am getting a higher priced wine at a slighly reduced price, 100-150 Baht I think.

 

So my plan is to drink them and note which ones I like.

 

This is what I bought, I think 4 were reduced, I was on my motorcycle so only buy 5 bottles as they fit comfortably under the seat.

 

Trivento Malbec 699 Baht

Chateau Haut Lamothe Bordeaux 496 Baht

Chateau La Bastie 546 Baht

De Chateau Meyre Haute Medoc 751 Baht

Koudiat Cotes Du Rhone 499 Baht.

 

I think all but the Malbec were reduced.

 

I drank the Chateau Meyre Haut Medoc last night but I wasn't impressed ! It wasn't as smooth as I expected for the most expensive one I bought but that's probably my palate and lack of knowledge.

 

However, I will still take my wine list with the suggestions but ask again next time I go to Lotus for any with reduced price and try to find my own favourites.

 

They didn't have any Pinot Grigio which I like but I just looked in Wine Connection and they had 3 fromm around 790 to 899 but it was 2 pm so I could not buy. Next time.

[KannikaP]

Nuboon น้ำองุ่นแดงเข้มข้นแท้ (Lot ใหม่ เพิ่ม Kyoho) จากธรรมชาติไม่มีสารปรุงแต่ง ใช้ทำไวน์ได้ แพค 1 กก. (FCGG) | Shopee Thailand

Two of these, plus 6 litres of water, a packet of Lalvin 1118 yeast. I week in a big plastic can, transfer to glass 12 litre jar plus some oak chips. In one month, or two if you can wait, 12% vino. Does the job.

Did some with conc Apple juice the same way, beautiful clear wine.

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Xylophone and others who have shown an interest here is my update.

 

Previously I typed in Notes on my phone eveyones suggestions, since then I have renewed my phone and not copied it over to my new one so yesterday I went through this thread and hand wrote all the suggestions I liked.

 

Then I went to Lotus to buy but I forgot to take my list !!

 

I did remember a few names as I looked in Lotus,19 crimes, wolfblass, Mcguigans etc but then an assistant started talking to me and showed me wines that are discounted. They don't put up a notice, eg reduced from 799 to 650, but just put a new price label over the old one in the slot beneath the bottle.

So she removed a few labels and showed me the previous price, as I am looking to buy a 'better' wine I thought I would buy these as I am getting a higher priced wine at a slighly reduced price, 100-150 Baht I think.

 

So my plan is to drink them and note which ones I like.

 

This is what I bought, I think 4 were reduced, I was on my motorcycle so only buy 5 bottles as they fit comfortably under the seat.

 

Trivento Malbec 699 Baht

Chateau Haut Lamothe Bordeaux 496 Baht

Chateau La Bastie 546 Baht

De Chateau Meyre Haute Medoc 751 Baht

Koudiat Cotes Du Rhone 499 Baht.

 

I think all but the Malbec were reduced.

 

I drank the Chateau Meyre Haut Medoc last night but I wasn't impressed ! It wasn't as smooth as I expected for the most expensive one I bought but that's probably my palate and lack of knowledge.

 

However, I will still take my wine list with the suggestions but ask again next time I go to Lotus for any with reduced price and try to find my own favourites.

 

They didn't have any Pinot Grigio which I like but I just looked in Wine Connection and they had 3 fromm around 790 to 899 but it was 2 pm so I could not buy. Next time.

I have tried the Chateau Haut Lamothe (Bordeaux) and thought it was a very pleasant drink. I have tried Ch La Bastide (did you mean this wine??) and stayed at the Chateau as a guest, and it is a nice wine which I bought in NZ as it became a favourite for everday drinking..........as for the others I don't think so.

 

For some reason I can't seem to get on with the Malbec wines I have tried so far?

 

However I am partial to Rhone wines and am always willing to give them a try, although Cote Rotie is an all time favourite of mine, but is expensive here.

[Hummin]

On 11/3/2022 at 9:42 PM, YorkshireTyke said:

I'm not a wine buff by any means but I do like a bottle every couple of weeks when I'm fed up with beer.

 

Up to now I've been on a tight budget so the only wines I have been buying are the cheapest non fruit wines, the Vineyard brand sold at Lotus only for around 389 Baht. Red and White, Cabernet, Shiraz and Merlot, Chardonnay and I think Sauvignon Blanc before but my local one only stocks the Chardonnay now.

Now I don't need wine snobs to tell me it's p*ss and only good for cooking, as I've explained I've been on a budget.

 

Now I have more regular disposable income and I would like to buy better wines, red and white, let's say 500-700 Baht, what brands would you recommend please?

Lotus do have some ok table wine below 500, just check the dryines, and just find one you enjoy. Often not worth it to double the price is my experience, and the real.good wines is often more than 2k. 

[YorkshireTyke]

Xylophone, yes, I see I missed the D out! La Bastide.

[jas007]

On 11/3/2022 at 9:42 PM, YorkshireTyke said:

I'm not a wine buff by any means but I do like a bottle every couple of weeks when I'm fed up with beer.

 

Up to now I've been on a tight budget so the only wines I have been buying are the cheapest non fruit wines, the Vineyard brand sold at Lotus only for around 389 Baht. Red and White, Cabernet, Shiraz and Merlot, Chardonnay and I think Sauvignon Blanc before but my local one only stocks the Chardonnay now.

Now I don't need wine snobs to tell me it's p*ss and only good for cooking, as I've explained I've been on a budget.

 

Now I have more regular disposable income and I would like to buy better wines, red and white, let's say 500-700 Baht, what brands would you recommend please?

Wine is expensive in Thailand. For example, they want 999 baht or so for a wine that would be around $11 in the USA.  So there's a big markup, somehow.

 

Anyway, I've tried some of the lower priced wines and they just didn't do it for me.  Not that they're much better, but I've found a few in the 820 to1000 baht range that I sort of like.  They sell both at the Tops Daily stores, although the stock on any given day can vary.

 

I'm having trouble pasting two images.  The other I sometimes buy is Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz. 999 baht.

 

One of these days I'm going to buy another bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothschild.  I bought one once to go with some pasta.  It was heavenly.  It's really expensive, though, or super expensive, depending on the vintage.  I see thy want 49,600 baht fort a bottle of 2009 vintage here in Thailand. 

[BKKBike09]

3 hours ago, YorkshireTyke said:

Xylophone and others who have shown an interest here is my update.

 

Previously I typed in Notes on my phone eveyones suggestions, since then I have renewed my phone and not copied it over to my new one so yesterday I went through this thread and hand wrote all the suggestions I liked.

 

Then I went to Lotus to buy but I forgot to take my list !!

 

I did remember a few names as I looked in Lotus,19 crimes, wolfblass, Mcguigans etc but then an assistant started talking to me and showed me wines that are discounted. They don't put up a notice, eg reduced from 799 to 650, but just put a new price label over the old one in the slot beneath the bottle.

So she removed a few labels and showed me the previous price, as I am looking to buy a 'better' wine I thought I would buy these as I am getting a higher priced wine at a slighly reduced price, 100-150 Baht I think.

 

So my plan is to drink them and note which ones I like.

 

This is what I bought, I think 4 were reduced, I was on my motorcycle so only buy 5 bottles as they fit comfortably under the seat.

 

Trivento Malbec 699 Baht

Chateau Haut Lamothe Bordeaux 496 Baht

Chateau La Bastie 546 Baht

De Chateau Meyre Haute Medoc 751 Baht

Koudiat Cotes Du Rhone 499 Baht.

 

I think all but the Malbec were reduced.

 

I drank the Chateau Meyre Haut Medoc last night but I wasn't impressed ! It wasn't as smooth as I expected for the most expensive one I bought but that's probably my palate and lack of knowledge.

 

However, I will still take my wine list with the suggestions but ask again next time I go to Lotus for any with reduced price and try to find my own favourites.

 

They didn't have any Pinot Grigio which I like but I just looked in Wine Connection and they had 3 fromm around 790 to 899 but it was 2 pm so I could not buy. Next time.

 

It's usually hard to go too wrong with Cotes Du Rhone although it does depend how long it's been stored / how it's been stored. Generally speaking I stay clear of many wines here if they're more than a couple of years old (i.e. something being sold cheap that's from 2020 I'd probably avoid). Cheaper reds can sometimes (but not always) be improved by opening first for an hour and/or using one of those aerating devices that you put in the neck of the open bottle.

 

[matchar]

5 hours ago, xylophone said:

Yes it is........and the price should be the "giveaway".

Yes I thought it probably was although those Belleville "fruit wines" cost the same as the Eaglehawk real wines.

 

I usually buy the Eaglehawks as I reckon they are the best bang for the buck at 399 a bottle but I don't really know much about wine. Australian wine is generally cheaper because they have a trade deal with Thailand.

[xylophone]

15 hours ago, matchar said:

I usually buy the Eaglehawks as I reckon they are the best bang for the buck at 399 a bottle but I don't really know much about wine. Australian wine is generally cheaper because they have a trade deal with Thailand.

Two points I would like to address in my post and I hope the posters and mods don't mind because one is slightly off track........

Whilst Eaglehawk is not a bad drinking wine I find it quite insipid and IMO one which is much better value is the Australian wine "Riddle Creek" which has a bit more body to it and is only 399 baht a bottle.

 

Now onto the confusing subject of fruit wines/imported wines/tax and duties and other anomalies........ I found a post I had posted some while ago and it deals in great depth with the tax/duty/excise situation and how some companies tried to get round it, so if you want to know more then click on the links, BUT be prepared to be bamboozled by the content!

 

Key Changes in Wine Taxation in Thailand (Jan 2024)
1.    Unified Tax Rates for Wine Categories:
⦁    Wine and sparkling wine made from grapes will now be taxed at a unified rate of 5% based on the value and 1,000 Baht per liter of pure alcohol. This measure includes all kind of wines imported from Europe and USA and cancel the previouse tax scheme (read ⦁    HERE)
⦁    Fruit wines incorporating grapes will see a unified rate of 0%, with no tax based on value and 900 Baht per liter for alcohol content.This measure includes mainly the Korean Sojou.
2.    The Ministry of Finance, through the Customs Department, is drafting a ministerial announcement on the reduction and exemption of customs duties in accordance with Section 12 of the Customs Tariff Act B.E. 2530 to amend the structure of customs duties on wine products to align with the adjustment of excise tax structures. The proposal includes exempting customs duties on all types of wine under tariff codes 22.04 (wine made from fresh grapes and grape must)
Some information on tax and excise duty, and other taxes applied to wines here, along with some info on fruit wine.........very complicated!!!!!
 
Importing Alcohol into Thailand……
http://www.siamdevelopment.com/regulatory-services-in-thailand-company-registration/company-registration-thailand/import-alcohol-in-thailand/
 
AND…………..
The current effects of excise tax felt in the retail sector are most likely to be fruit wines, explains Bart Duijkers, Area Director – South for major distributor Bangkok Beer and Beverages (BB&B).
 
“The wine in question is categorised as ‘fruit wine’, which by law is normal wine mixed with at least 15% fruit juice, mainly apple, pineapple, passionfruit juice and so on,” he explains.
 
“Up until September last year this category enjoyed very low excise taxes, which are levied on many products including wines. Due to this ‘fruit wine’ category becoming very popular the government decided to raise the tax on this category which resulted in approximately 30% price increases.
 
Identifying fruit wines shelved among genuine wines in stores has often been perceived as a tricky practice, though Mr Duijkers notes that it is a lot easier than most people think.
 
“Wines which are in the fruit wine category are always marked ’fruit wine’ on the back label but most labels by law cannot mention the grape variety, such as pinot noir and so on, so usually the label simply refers to wine as a ‘dry white’ or ‘bold red’ or similar terms,” he says.
 
In short, the new form of excise tax has levelled the playing field among alcohol products. The tax instituted with effect from Sept 16 last year (2017) saw all wines, and other alcohol products, taxed on percentage volume of pure alcohol, not the prices charged in the market. (See Excise Dept schedule here; full Excise Act here.).
 
I will add that a certain importer of red fruit wines adds what they call, "dark fruits" to them..........blackcurrants, plums, blackberry etc to ensure the wine qualifies as fruit wine and also to give the wine a bit of "body".
 

[xylophone]

On 11/3/2022 at 11:18 PM, Thailand J said:

At Lotus I found Eaglehawk @399B better then those higher priced.

At Makro I like Laughing Bird 1.5L .

 

 

My memory serves me correctly, I think "Laughing Bird" wine has been mentioned on the thread before, and it hadn't been established whether or not it was a fruit wine, so I went to the supermarket today and checked and it is indeed a "fruit wine".

 

I also checked on a couple of boxed wines from "Cedar Creek" and "Castle Creek" and they are also labelled "fruit wine" and also come in at the low 10% ABV end of the scale, however I'm not sure whether Montclair are still selling their boxed wines without any reference to "fruit wine" on them, which they did at one time, then they didn't, and now they are down on the 10% ABV mark, and I couldn't get close enough to check on the labels. However I do believe they sell non-fruit wines, and source the fruit/grape juice from other countries, Australia being one.

[xeniv23]

Boone's Farm Apple.....lol

[henryford1958]

On 11/4/2022 at 8:49 AM, AlQaholic said:

I buy the 3l box wines, all OK, at Lotus and Big C. Can never remember the name though.

 

I splurge on the 5L boxes 1090 baht. Castle Creek or La Vida. All wine is fruit wine. Breaking news, grapes are a fruit. If you buy in a bar this is what you get, for 150 a glass. Would you pay 4000 for a bottle of beer that tasted a bit better?

[bkk6060]

Any of it sounds terrible.