BuffettNews.com

After touring the Biltmore Winery this past weekend and loving the "Tasting Room", my wife and I have a greater love for wine. On special occasions, I've picked up a bottle of White Zinfandel from time to time and we've enjoyed it. However, we were opened to some new kinds this weekend. We ended up falling in love with Biltmore's Chenin Blanc. However, we discovered some fantastic wine at an Italian restaraunt called "Moscato d' Asti". It is a very smooth and sweet white wine. That is basically what we like.

So, what do you all like the best? What do you suggest?

"Friends Don't Let Friends Drink White Zin". Ever. It's pink fizzy Kool-aid.




Ok, that's out of my system.


I love many wines that are whites and reds. Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Shiraz, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon.


Do not care for sweet wines at all.


Oh, and I've had wine from the Biltmore. Good stuff.

"Friends Don't Let Friends Drink White Zin". Ever. It's pink fizzy Kool-aid.

No really, they don't.

Bob Roberts wrote:After touring the Biltmore Winery this past weekend and loving the "Tasting Room", my wife and I have a greater love for wine. On special occasions, I've picked up a bottle of White Zinfandel from time to time and we've enjoyed it. However, we were opened to some new kinds this weekend. We ended up falling in love with Biltmore's Chenin Blanc. However, we discovered some fantastic wine at an Italian restaraunt called "Moscato d' Asti". It is a very smooth and sweet white wine. That is basically what we like.

So, what do you all like the best? What do you suggest?

We've been drinking a lot of the Argentine Reds.....not dry, not sweet, soft tannins....

We've been drinking a lot of the Argentine Reds.....not dry, not sweet, soft tannins....

We recently tried an organic Argentine red and it was good too.

I like just about any kind of Merlot, but I usually stay away from red wine because it gives me SEVERE headaches.

whitepelican wrote:

"Friends Don't Let Friends Drink White Zin". Ever. It's pink fizzy Kool-aid.

No really, they don't.

Agreed!

Mostly drink cabernet or shiraz. lost interest in white wines, but beginning to return to them a bit.

I like just about any kind of Merlot, but I usually stay away from red wine because it gives me SEVERE headaches.

that is why we have been trying organic, makes a big difference.

If you like those, you'll probably like any of the Oliver Soft wines (they have red, white or rose). I'm from Indiana and I've driven past the winery about 1000 times, but I have seen it at Meijier's here in Michigan, so they may have it in TN as well. They're very sweet. Their mead is outstanding as well (actually, most of their wines are really good, but the Softs are just the wines that are everywhere).

You would probably also like a Spatlese or Reisling- again, sweeter and smoother. I just saw one I would recommend at Whole Foods last night but the vineyard name is escaping me. I think it's an Alsace something in a blue bottle with a white label.

Tom and I love wine, but we prefer drier, more robust reds (I prefer sweeter wines with a lot of flavor and some heft, so the best compromise for the two of us is shiraz or syrah- the difference is just whether it's a French or Aussie description). We love the Timbuktu Big Block Red (it's a shiraz or shiraz blend, I think) and the Three Thieves Shiraz was a great find too- especially for the price. Jake's Fault was also pretty good. However, these might be too much for you right now- it took me a long time to develop a taste for drier reds, amd my mom hated all of them the last time we brought wine.

Oh- the Goats Do Roam chardonnay was so bad we poured it out. And we do not typically abuse any alcohol in this house.

whitepelican wrote:

We've been drinking a lot of the Argentine Reds.....not dry, not sweet, soft tannins....

We recently tried an organic Argentine red and it was good too.

We have a bottle of Lo Tengo (malbec) in the rack- any food suggestions?

I'm not into regular wines, although I am hoping to learn
more. I do love the Key West Winery's wines made from
tropical fruits. My favorite and their best seller is Category
5 a white sangria that is a blend of passion fruit, pineapple,
watermelon, mango and key lime. It's delicious!

Wino you know wrote:I like just about any kind of Merlot, but I usually stay away from red wine because it gives me SEVERE headaches.

There are times where I get those headaches to, but I have found that if I drink a fairly decent California red wine, I don't get headaches.

My favorite is Haute Medoc, it's a medium bodied Bordeaux with a delicate bouquet of vanilla and black fruits. I save this for special occasions due to cost($30-$40 a bottle). In the evenings or for dinner I consume the California Cabernet Sauvignon, if I'm drinking wine during the day it's gotta be Chardonnay, again usually California. If you get a chance, try Pouilly Fuissé and Chassagne-Montrachet both incredibly good whites. Have fun

ejr wrote:

whitepelican wrote:

"Friends Don't Let Friends Drink White Zin". Ever. It's pink fizzy Kool-aid.

No really, they don't.

Agreed!

Mostly drink cabernet or shiraz. lost interest in white wines, but beginning to return to them a bit.

Try the sauvignon blancs from the Marlborough region of New Zealand...the region is perfect for growing the grape and I have yet to have a bad bottle. I typically drink reds, but like those sav blancs, Wild Horse chard and Mirrasou chard. My red of choice typically is old vine zinfandel, because we grow those grapes so well. But I've been drinking a lot more shiraz lately, and do enjoy cab and merlot as well.

Brown Eyed Girl wrote:

ejr wrote:

whitepelican wrote:

"Friends Don't Let Friends Drink White Zin". Ever. It's pink fizzy Kool-aid.

No really, they don't.

Agreed!

Mostly drink cabernet or shiraz. lost interest in white wines, but beginning to return to them a bit.

Try the sauvignon blancs from the Marlborough region of New Zealand...the region is perfect for growing the grape and I have yet to have a bad bottle. I typically drink reds, but like those sav blancs, Wild Horse chard and Mirrasou chard. My red of choice typically is old vine zinfandel, because we grow those grapes so well. But I've been drinking a lot more shiraz lately, and do enjoy cab and merlot as well.

you have mentioned New Zealand sauvignon blancs before, and I do have to follow up-PM me if you have some specific suggestions, please! I do like sauvignon blancs a lot!

Rumor has it once upon a time back in the 80's even Berringer used Old Vine Zin to make "White Zinfandel" just to have something to sell. Dear Lord forgive them for they truly ZINED!

Bobby!

Wine is a wonderful world to explore, and the absolute BEST wine is what YOU like! Don't take any crap from other people. Try to have an open mind and drink A LOT of wine. Here's some of my favorites:

Whites-

Chardonay
Sauvignon Blanc
Viogner
Russane
Marsonne

OK, I can't spell, but get yourself some Viogner!!!

Reds-

Zinfandel, from California's Amamdor/El Dorado area
Syrah- Bold and SEXY like Loren Bacall
Cabernet- YUM
Merlot- Yuppie wine
Tempernillo- A little spanish red wine

Check out what you have available at Costco. Seriously, there is A LOT of wine for you to try.

ENJOY!!!

I love the sweet white wines (sorry Penny...most others taste like turpentine smells)

It turns out most of the wine I like is also very cheap

My current favorite is Blue Heron (local Michigan winery St Julian)

" 35,000 to 40,000 cases this year to satisfy demand, which has grown 15 to 20 percent every year since it was introduced in 1999. Those case numbers represent a sizable chunk of the winery's total production of 120,000 cases of wine. By comparison, the average boutique winery in Michigan might make 5,000 cases total.

"We've been looking for a flagship product for years," said Braganini. This thing's got legs -- I mean wings," he said.

And it's not just another sweet wine to appeal to tourists. It wins medals, including Best of Class at last summer's Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition. Braganini said production of the $7 white wine has practically created a winery within a winery to keep up with production.

The blend is Riesling, Vidal and Seyval, and the grapes are all Michigan-grown.

nutmeg wrote:I love the sweet white wines (sorry Penny...most others taste like turpentine smells)
It turns out most of the wine I like is also very cheap

My current favorite is Blue Heron (local Michigan winery St Julian)

See---we truly are twins

springparrot wrote:

nutmeg wrote:I love the sweet white wines (sorry Penny...most others taste like turpentine smells)
It turns out most of the wine I like is also very cheap

My current favorite is Blue Heron (local Michigan winery St Julian)

See---we truly are twins

I LOOOOOOOVE THE BILTMORE!!!!!!!!!! i can't wait to go back there again some day!!!!!