Supermarket vs Indie wine

[raf_gti]

For a given price point, say £10 would I be better off shopping at a dedicated wine shop or simply nipping down to Tesco et al?

I'm still in the process of learning about the various regions/grapes etc but whenever I go to choose it all becomes a bit confusing! I had a 2001 Grand Vin de Bordeux last night at £15 from a local which was v v nice, conversley a 2007 Cotes du Rhone Villages from Tesco at £7 is also very nice.

Help!

[markomah]

I would have thought that, save for the very lowest price points, you are better off in an independent wine shop. In my experience, the staff will be more knowledgeable and may be able to steer you towards interesting wines at your chosen price point, helping you to develop your knowledge and work out exactly what it is you are or aren't looking for in a wine. A supermarket, on the other hand, is more likely to be carrying the wines from producers able to supply them with vast quantities of wines designed to appeal to the greatest number of people; this results in their carrying blander, less interesting wines.

There are exceptions to every rule, and the above is of course a sweeping generalisation. There are some good supermarkets and there are knowledgeable, enthusiastic staff in some supermarkets but I think they're the exception rather than the rule.

I therefore think you'd be better off starting to build a relationship with one or two of your local, specialist wine merchants.

[Noger]

...who will probably point you at the supermarket if something is much cheaper. Waitrose for example are not mahoosive, but can do some niche-y wines at a decent price.

House of Fraser sell Cloudy Bay Sauv cheaper than most.

Tesco have had some brilliant offers, the Argento Malbec a few years ago was something mad like £3.29 if you bought 12 and had a clubcard.

But a good indy is worth it's weight. Not all are good, of course.