Korean Job Discussion Forums

R. S. Refugee · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Shangra La, ROK

Someone on an eariler post was asking for wine recommendations that wouldn't break the bank a few days ago.

I too am a wine lover, but don't like to spend anymore than necessary to get a good glass of grape. So, I try out a lot of cheap wines looking for good ones. One observation that I've made about inexpensive wine is that it is much easier to find a passable white than a drinkable red.

Also, it has been my experience that the best inexpensive wines are from Italy. Recently, I came across a very good label at Kim's Club and all their wines that I've tried so far are very good and very inexpensive. The label is Vitale Verga. The varieties that I've tried so far are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and a white called Greciano. They've all been very good and only cost 5,000 won. They have a Chianti on the shelf also for 9,000, but I haven't tired it yet. After all, why spend more when I can get good wine for 5,000?

Cheers.

PS. There's a very good, entertaining movie from way back when that is easily available on the Internet about hiding Italian wine from the German Army during WWII. Very funny and typically Italian. It's called the Secret of Santa Vittorio. Enjoy.

Louis VI · Joined: 05 Jul 2010 Location: In my Kingdom

R. S. Refugee · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Shangra La, ROK

le-paul · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Location: dans la chambre

i bought a really good bottle of spanish chardonnay from emart for 3000 this week. i bought it to maked mulled wine because it was cheap but when i opened it was really good.
So i drank it all up.

(ps
im not a person who can drink cheap/urine, even to get drunk...).

zhanknight · Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Location: Yangsan

What's this Kim's club place like?

Google says it's in Mapo gu, which is close to me. Is it a membership style place?

R. S. Refugee · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Shangra La, ROK

Koreadays · Joined: 20 May 2008

the marts here are strange compared to back home. they have all these wines but the majority of them all are over 30.000 won a bottle.
i think the majority of the wines need to be under 20.000 a bottle..
no wonder I never see anyone in the wine section...

makes no sense. why in Korea western food is considered luxury, or wine is for rich blar blar... give me a break...
chile wine should be inexpensive due to the FTA but its not.
I tend to find bottles around the 10-12 mark. some are garbage and you feel it the next day, some are surprising good, it's fun to try them all though Laughing

JSC · Joined: 07 Dec 2010

I picked up a bunch of inexpensive wines recently, ranging from 6k to 15k Won. Best value I've come across so far is "Finca El Origin" from E-Mart. Both the Malbec and Cabernet were pretty decent for the money... 8,800 Won per bottle.

trogdor · Joined: 05 Nov 2010

I checked out that Shinsege sale but I must have missed it. The wines weren't cheap! Still I'll keep an eye out for the ones you suggested. Thanks for following up! I'm not really a white wine fan, unless it's german, usually.

sheriffadam · Joined: 10 May 2010 Location: Busan

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

superNET · Joined: 08 Dec 2010

Maybe, in comparison to some, I am not a wine conniseur but there was some great spanish wwine sold at Home Plus over Chuseok that was great. They came in a gift pack of 2 bottles each and sold for under 10,000.

I have found wine prices to be quite inexpensive here, for the most part.

NYC_Gal 2.0 · Joined: 10 Dec 2010

Kressmann Grande Reserve Bordeaux (2007) is usually 27,000 or 28,000 at Shinsegae. This is the better of the two that I found on sale for 15,000 a few weeks ago. I'll probably buy it again at full price. It was really nice! I recommend it if you're into Bordeaux.

R. S. Refugee · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Shangra La, ROK

R. S. Refugee · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Shangra La, ROK

And now for something VERY different.

Lambrusco. OK. Well, it is Itaian. So, that's not different. I've always said the best cheap wines are from Italy. If you like to drink a considerable volume, but don't like to get THAT drunk, then try Lambrusco. Currently, on sale for 5,000 won at my local EMart.

OK. It has a twist off cap. Tres gauche. But, it's slightly carbonated. Not as much as champagne. It's alcohol content is much lower. Around 7.5%. You can drink a whole bottle (as I just did) and still be comprehensible.

If you've never tried Lambrusco, then you should. Just once. To see if it's a treat you've been missing out on.

It's great. Especially for those who like to drink a lot without getting too drunk.

You should try it at least once in your life.

Cheers.