2024 has been a very eventful year. Thanks to all of you, I hit the milestone of one thousand subscribers to my YouTube channel, which continues to grow. On the business side of things, two wine distributors went out of business and one was just recently bought by another distributor. I now have three less to work with. That can be a good thing from my point of view as long as I can locate some of the brands that were handled by those now-defunct businesses. On the flipside, I feel bad for some of my friends who had to find another job. Most have landed in a good place, which I’m thankful for. Susie and I traveled to Crete in October and we talk about going back there at some point in the future. It was such a fantastic place to visit. The food, wine and scenery are amazing. Greek salad has become a staple for us at dinner since we got back.
I will write an article soon on the state of affairs in wine over the past year. Wine consumption is down in the U.S., as well as in other countries. I have a few ideas as to why this is happening. Just a sneak peek into what I’m ruminating on. Some of the well-known wine periodicals have come out with their top wines for 2024. I’ve noticed that many of the wines on those lists, fall in the eighty to one-hundred dollar range. It’s hard to appeal to possible future wine drinkers when you’re talking that kind of money. I really think that wineries have to be careful not to depend so much on the Ivory Tower critics to promote their wines. I have other thoughts that I would like to dive into on a deeper level. Stay tuned!
I recently released an episode on my YouTube channel that features my top five picks in red wine for 2024, which are under fifteen bucks. It’s worth checking out. I decided to do this episode and picked the wines I would feature. I was surprised that it only took me about ten minutes to choose them. All the wines in this episode have been my go-to reds throughout the year. I’ve recommended them to many of my customers, who have all come back for more. I love finding wines that deliver and are excellent values. Don’t get me wrong; I know there are a lot of wines out there for more money that are special. However, most of us want wine we can purchase for a meal that doesn’t break the bank, especially the younger crowd that has not yet accumulated much discretionary income. This is the group I would like to see develop a passion for wine. They will never get there if they can’t afford it.
I hope you all have a great Christmas with your family and friends. If you are looking for a good wine to go with your prime rib, ham, or turkey, look me up and I will help you find something to enhance your meal without having to take out a loan.
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
