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By Mike Muirhead, Sommelier( ISG, CMS), CSW
Quality / Price Ratio. QPR. Yummy for my money.
Any way you describe it, this little acronym is behind the purchasing at Banville & Jones Wine Co. Every year, our wine experts and Sommeliers sample more than 1,500 wines from around the globe. There are many amazing wines, but only a small percentage of them fall into what we call great QPR.
So what is Quality / Price Ratio, and how does that help you? QPR is a marketing term meaning that you get what you want for the price that you want to pay. When we are in the field trying wines, we usually try them“ blind,” which, in QPR terms, means we don’ t know the price before tasting. We will analyze the wine, evaluate it, and then come up with a price that we would be happy to pay for it.
This is where QPR comes in. If we think that we would pay $ 15 for a wine, and it actually costs $ 10, that is great QPR. If we decide that it should cost $ 20 and in reality it would sell for $ 25, we will probably take a pass on it. This is one of the main criteria of every wine we buy: whether it is $ 9 or $ 90, we always strive for the best value for our wine dollar.
Gary, Darren, and I travelled to France and Germany on a buying trip last year. When we did the math, we estimated that we had tasted about 800 wines in two weeks( feel free to insert your“ tough job” jabs here). From that trip, we ended up ordering only 15 new wines! That may sound picky, but it is the QPR test that really narrows the field, and brings the best tasting, and best value, wines home to you. Those wines are now available in our store, and range from $ 11 to $ 60. Whichever one you choose, we hope that you’ ll agree that it is worth the money you are spending. We did. �
WHAT DID YOU BRING US?
Some great QPR wines from our buying trip to Burgundy, France and Prowein, Germany:
Claude Val 2007 6, Blanc, Vin de Pays d’ Oc. The“ 6” represents the grapes that make up this wine: Vermentino, Chasan, Grenache Blanc, Chenin, Sauvignon Blanc, and Mauzac. This fresh white totally overdelivers. – $ 11.99
Domaine Astruc 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Vin de Pays d’ Oc. As one of our wine experts, Todd Antonation, put it“ it is like the best California wines and the best French wines had an affair and this is the result!” – $ 17.99
Clos de la Roilette 2006, Fleurie AC. This was one that we struggled with. It is a Cru Beaujolais( tastes more like a Burgundy), but it was such great QPR we had to give it a go! We stock limited quantities, but it is worth it! – $ 29.99
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