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When you go to buy wine, deciding which bottle to purchase can be a daunting task. This is particularly true if you aren't familiar with wine, or don't have much experience with the beverage.
If this describes you, the best thing you can do is take a cue from the experts. They've done all of the research for you, and you can leech off of their knowledge. The most efficient way to do this is to look at the ratings scale.
Wine enthusiasts and experts generally use a scale that ranges from 65-100. Broken down, this is how the ratings mean:
Less than 84: Not worth drinking. Giving this bottle of wine as a gift will make you look bad.
84-86: A pretty weak wine. If it's the only thing at a party, you'll drink it, but it isn't something you'll buy on your own.
87-89: If the wine is less than $15, it's pretty good. Don't spend any more than $15 on it, though.
90-91: Overall a good wine experience. An enjoyable wine.
92-93: Very good. Not exceptionally good, but it's something that is definitely worth buying.
94-96: An exceptional wine. This is a wine that people will talk about a week after drinking it, and will remember fondly for months.
97-100: Incredible. One of the best wine experiences you have ever had, one that is truly unforgettable.
When you go to buy wine, go to the store prepared with a list of several wines and their corresponding ratings. If saving money is something that you're interested in, choose the lowest priced wine with the highest acceptable rating. Also, talk to the people who work at the wine store. They're around the stuff all day, and most times can give you some good insight as to which wines to try.
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