Cheers! Here's to Saving Big Bucks for Wine Drinkers

Cheers! Clink.  I love a crisp white on hot days with cold grapes and a hunk of Vermont cheddar.  In cooler months, it is a warming red with dinner, by itself, or with a piece of dark chocolate while sitting on the couch in front of the fire.  My husband and I together, on average, drink 3 bottles of wine per week, depending on the week and depending on if we have company or are throwing a party.  For this instance, let's just stick with 3 bottles per week, or 12 bottles a month.

My favorite red is from Chocolate Box.  The first time I sipped it, I thought I had gone to grape heaven in a beautifully woven hand-basket.  The thing is, Chocolate Box costs around $20 per bottle, but it is so yummy! Since moving closer to the coastline, my white of choice is a lovely bottle of Beach House: a perfect "house" wine for us since we have gone from concrete to sand.  It has a more palatable price of only $10 per bottle.

Just for example's sake, let's say that we drink white May-September and red October-April.  Our white cost per year would be $600.  Our red consumption would add up to $1,680. Total Yearly Wine Purchases:  $2,280.

The simple solution, of course, is to cut back on drinking or to find a wine you like that costs less.  Let's start with cutting back. We looked at our consumption and cut back to 2 bottles per week.  If we stuck with our current wines of choice--Total Cost: $1520. Yearly Savings: $760.

OR we could find less expensive wines to drink on a regular basis while not cutting back.  Our friends introduced us to Black Box Wines.  I can hear the collective inhale:  yes, wine in a box.  Remember those from college years?  BUT Black Box Wines are good; the flavor is satisfying for weekly consumption and we actually enjoy them on special occasions as well.   Each box costs around $20 (yes, I said $20) and contains the equivalent of 3 bottles of wine.  It comes in a sleek, black box that fits nicely in a corner--whether on the counter, in a pantry or in the refrigerator for the whites.  With the bag sealing, the flavor lasts for up to four weeks.  There are more pluses: its box doesn't break when you transport it, it is lighter than 3 bottles of regular wine and it is recyclable.  If it isn't available at your local liquor store, ask them to order it (Sometimes you get a discount for buying cases.  Just ask.) or try to find it on line.  A couple of things to remember: some states do not allow the receiving of liquor through the mail and the cost of shipping.  If you look long enough, you may be able to find it with free shipping.  Total Cost: $960.  Yearly Savings:  $1,320.

Now,  IF we cut back to two bottles a week and drink Black Box Wines, our Total Cost:  $620 with a Yearly Savings: $1,660!

Now that is something to cheers about!  Lift those glasses!