Wine buying also includes logistics. A bottle shipped across the ocean burns carbon, and a bottle aged for 10 years in a temperature-controlled cellar collects storage fees. Those costs slip into the price tag without fanfare.
And don’t forget cork vs. screw cap. A screw cap saves about $0.10 per bottle—and often preserves freshness better. The ritual of pulling a cork costs a little extra, but some argue it’s worth the ceremony.
