| Using bargain wines is often preferable for | | | | fruit juice and spirits, the quality of the |
| occasions when it would be unwise to to | | | | red wine becomes largely secondary. This is |
| invest a large amount of money in expensive | | | | where boxed wines come into their own. Buy |
| wine.Do you really want to use top-notch red | | | | large boxes that are relatively cheap - no |
| wine for making sangria or for serving up at | | | | one will notice! Be sure to purchase |
| parties, when friends have already had enough | | | | reasonable quality fruit juice and don't go |
| to drink? No, I didn't think so!Drinking | | | | for the absolute cheapest wine as you may |
| Bargain WinesBlended wine is usually cheaper | | | | live to regret it, the following |
| and a reasonable bet in terms of | | | | morning!Large Parties and ReceptionsWhen |
| drinkability. As a general rule, Chilean | | | | serving wine to a large party, cost is |
| blends are the cheapest option, although it's | | | | obviously important. As a rule, boxed whites |
| often worth paying that little bit extra for | | | | are generally more palatable than boxed reds, |
| Australian blends. In fact, a number of | | | | so if want to trim costs, anywhere, buying |
| Australian producers market two excellent | | | | cheaper white wine may be a safer option.A |
| blends at the lower end of the price | | | | great way to improve boxed red wine is to add |
| spectrum, one white and one red. The red is a | | | | a reasonable quality bottle of red wine. |
| blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz and | | | | Provided that you choose the correct bottle |
| the white consists of semillon and | | | | of red, this can make an impressive |
| chardonnay. Keep an eye out for these grape | | | | difference to the taste. Of course, you do |
| combinations, if you're after a | | | | need some suitable decanters or serving |
| bargain!Another winner at the cheaper end of | | | | carafes and a little patience to pull this |
| the market is Spanish Rioja (both red and | | | | one off, successfully.Finally, choose your |
| white). As Rioja is usually less fruity than | | | | nibbles wisely. Plain potato chips will do |
| the previously mentioned blends it is | | | | little to help you disguise a poor wine. |
| generally better for serving with food, | | | | Instead opt for a selection of cheeses, as |
| rather than drinking on its own.Other Uses of | | | | they will enhance the flavor of even the |
| Bargain WinesSangriaIf you're making sangria, | | | | cheapest of wines.Since Neil Best first |
| you need red quaffing wine - and lots of it. | | | | pondered the question, Who made the first |
| As sangria is made from red wine, sugar, | | | | wine anyway? |