Despite rising prices for luxury wines, overall wine has never offered better value. Mid-tier wines in the $20–$60 range are significantly higher in quality than they were 20 years ago, thanks to improved vineyard management, modernized winemaking, and a focus on authenticity over quantity. Falling global demand, particularly in regions like Bordeaux, has led to oversupply, which keeps prices reasonable for many excellent wines. At the same time, previously overlooked regions—such as Crete, Etna, Portugal, and parts of Spain and France—now produce outstanding wines at accessible prices. While rare and trendy luxury bottles have soared in cost, the broader wine market has entered a golden era of quality, diversity, and value for everyday consumers.
Marvels on the Margins Part 7: The Guide to Alto Piemonte
Marvels on the Margins lands in Alto Piemonte—the alpine, Nebbiolo-powered corner of northern Piedmont that I’ve quietly been drinking (and loving) more than any other. Long misunderstood as a “Plan B” to Barolo, this region reveals itself as a parallel universe of Nebbiolo: higher acidity, finer tannins, volcanic and sandy soils, and a thrilling ability to pair red wine with fish. From the iron-rich power of Gattinara to the silken, marine-sand elegance of Lessona, and from near-extinction to a modern renaissance led by producers like Roberto Conterno and Christoph Künzli, Alto Piemonte is no longer a margin—it’s one of Italy’s most exciting places to drink right now.