Wine?

Bob Roberts · Post by **Bob Roberts** » May 15, 2005 5:14 pm

I recently have been drinking a little wine when we go out to nicer restaraunts. I really like the sweet stuff, as most newbies usually do.

White Zinfandel is good stuff! When I go out, I just get whatever they have. But, what about when I go to the liquor store? What are the best brands and kinds to get? Any wine drinkers out there?

corona6pk · Post by **corona6pk** » May 15, 2005 5:18 pm

i prefer red wine. Ruffino chianti. Bolla merlot.

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » May 15, 2005 5:21 pm

Shirazes, Merlots, and Pinot Noirs... all nice reds.

creeky · Post by **creeky** » May 15, 2005 5:21 pm

Aussie Wine of course!!!!

Wyndham Estate you can get over there and is from Newcastle area .......

Jacobs Creek is pretty good also and Rosemount Estate.

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » May 15, 2005 5:43 pm

Wine? Frequently.

(tee hee hee hee...)

Seriously though, Pinot Noirs are my current fave. It's kind of a red wine for non-red wine drinkers.

MargaritaLover · Post by **MargaritaLover** » May 15, 2005 6:47 pm

i prefer white wines - german in particular. riesling, liefermilch (sorry, can't spell it!), gurwurtztramiener (once again, incorrect spelling), and alsace are my favorites. all are fairly sweet and fruity and go down oh-so-easily.

FFishstick · Post by **FFishstick** » May 15, 2005 6:56 pm

Come to California my friend. Educate your pallet

I can't imagine a better way to do it. Skip the tourist trap of Napa, with a few exceptions, and discover Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley(my favorite), and don't forget the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Central Coast from Paso Robles to Santa Barbara. Oh yeah the Livermore wine country as well. You could make this one hell of a great trip. I'm sure Redwinemaker can tell you more, but I would be more than willing to show you around.

Brown Eyed Girl · Post by **Brown Eyed Girl** » May 15, 2005 7:13 pm

Friends don't let friends drink white zin!

Find a wine store, or a Trader Joes...and ask questions. Your basic liquor store probably won't be able to help you as much as the staff of a wine store.

For summer, the Sauvignon Blancs from the Marlborough region of New Zealand are phenomenal. I haven't had a bad one yet, they know what they're doing. I like Pinot Gris too. I''m pretty burnt on chardonnay, I've had to many bad ones recently.

When you move to reds, you'll probably want to look for wines that are fruit forward, rather than those that are heavily oaked or spiced. It takes a lot of experimenting, which is the fun part. And remember, all palates are different. Just because someone says a certain wine is phenomenal doesn't mean you will like it. Bottom line? Drink what you enjoy, and enjoy what you drink. Don't be intimidated by folks who think they know it all about wine...most of them don't. I saw way too many of those folks while working at the winery.

We're lucky in Cali....so many great wine regions...and I'm lucky enough to live in one of the best...which is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

Of course I'm kind of partial to this place...as is HockeyParrothead...

http://www.vrwinery.com/index.html

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » May 15, 2005 7:16 pm

Brown Eyed Girl wrote:Friends don't let friends drink white zin!

Find a wine store, or a Trader Joes...and ask questions. Your basic liquor store probably won't be able to help you as much as the staff of a wine store.

For summer, the Sauvignon Blancs from the Marlborough region of New Zealand are phenomenal. I haven't had a bad one yet, they know what they're doing. I like Pinot Gris too. I''m pretty burnt on chardonnay, I've had to many bad ones recently.

When you move to reds, you'll probably want to look for wines that are fruit forward, rather than those that are heavily oaked or spiced. It takes a lot of experimenting, which is the fun part. And remember, all palates are different. Just because someone says a certain wine is phenomenal doesn't mean you will like it. Bottom line? Drink what you enjoy, and enjoy what you drink. Don't be intimidated by folks who think they know it all about wine...most of them don't. I saw way too many of those folks while working at the winery.

We're lucky in Cali....so many great wine regions...and I'm lucky enough to live in one of the best...which is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

Of course I'm kind of partial to this place...as is HockeyParrothead... http://www.vrwinery.com/index.html

In our Area Albertsons have a wine Steward and they are really pretty good about answering questions.

tequilatom · Post by **tequilatom** » May 15, 2005 7:31 pm

I like a Good Merlot. Berringers is good. But there is a vinyard here locally that makes a real good one Haights vinyard in Litchfield , CT.

shakerofsalt · Post by **shakerofsalt** » May 15, 2005 7:32 pm

If you like the sweet wines, try an Ice Wine. Wineries on the Erie Islands and in Canada (Niagara On The Lake) make very nice Ice Wines. They are a sweet dessert wine, but I prefer them without dessert.

Wonderful for special occassions or gifts. They are also quite pricey, but worth it! The grapes are left on the vines until after the freeze, hence the name.

FinzEast · Post by **FinzEast** » May 15, 2005 7:57 pm

Chaddsford makes a good wine, so does Berenger

I like, and i'm really going to kill the spelling on this one, Johannesburg Riesling

sy · Post by sy » May 15, 2005 9:06 pm

There's a wonderful Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio made by Vampire Vineyards, out of Transylvania. (I know, sounds completely hokey, but I've been ordering them for about 2 years now). Just a really nice, unobtrusive taste all around.

http://vampirecom.instaccount.net/wine.html

jackiesic · Post by **jackiesic** » May 15, 2005 9:07 pm

I really like Louis Jadot Beaujolais. It's smooth and not at all overpowering. Reasonable to purchase too. By the case we can usually get it for $7.99 a bottle or so. (Yeah, yeah, I know it's french and we're sorta supposed to be boycotting their wine and all but it is my favorite red wine.) I used to love white zin but simply can't drink it any longer. Why don't you try moving on to a light Pinot Grigio?

sy · Post by sy » May 15, 2005 9:08 pm

FinzEast wrote:Chaddsford makes a good wine, so does Berenger

I like, and i'm really going to kill the spelling on this one, Johannesburg Riesling

I love Chaddsford, they make the best Spiced Apple wine. Great served warm!

bravedave · Post by **bravedave** » May 15, 2005 9:17 pm

creeky wrote:Aussie Wine of course!!!!

Wyndham Estate you can get over there and is from Newcastle area .......

Jacobs Creek is pretty good also and Rosemount Estate.

Thank you, Jenny, for mentioning the obvious.
For those who don't know, some of the best wine comes from Down Under.

Loving Wyndham and Rosemount wine here in the DC area.
Eagle, in G'town sells alot of good Aussie wine.
Shiraz is a nice red, and I always enjoy a good Chard.

Keep trying different types of wine until you find your niche.
It doesn't matter what you're eating or what the wine snobs on TV tell you.
The best wine is the one you like to drink.
And the only way to figure that out is to try a lot of wine.
(Keep an open mind.)

Please get back to us in a few months with your opinons.
I have a lot to learn myself.

mrsmcg · Post by **mrsmcg** » May 15, 2005 11:06 pm

Oh Lord Corey, where are you? People here are talking white zin. Please help. I am now having a glass of Blackstone cab. I rather like it ... what have you heard of the winery? (north of Paso Robles).

lorilovv · Post by **lorilovv** » May 15, 2005 11:13 pm

I love a good Merlot. My neighbor drinks a cheap white wine called Yellow Tail... its okay. I'll take a dry red over it any day.

ejr · Post by **ejr** » May 15, 2005 11:38 pm

I agree with all the comments about white zin-maybe when you are starting out, but not once you get into wines at all. I never could stand red wines for years, and then my taste changed, and all I would drink is cabernets. lately I am beginning to return to some whites-just finished a bottle of Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay. I also like Sauvignon Blancs for a summer wine. And, I find that red wines from California don't give me the headaches that some other red wines do.

FFishstick · Post by **FFishstick** » May 16, 2005 1:12 am

mrsmcg wrote:Oh Lord Corey, where are you? People here are talking white zin. Please help. I am now having a glass of Blackstone cab. I rather like it ... what have you heard of the winery? (north of Paso Robles).

Been there, great wines. My college buddy lives in Atascadero, and takes us to all the Central Coast Wineries.