Finding Good Wines

[dmw16]

Anyone know of good websites/magazines that suggest inexpensive wines each month or whatever? I want to try some different stuff, but I never know what to look for. The liquor store nearby has a decent selection, but the guys behind the counter look to be fans of Chataeu De Mad Dog more than anything else.

 

[five40]

Two buck chuck at trader joes. Moscato allegro for a cheap/good sweet wine.

 

[vi edit]

Best thing to do is just to start randomly picking up bottles in your price range and trying them out.

Tear off the labels and paste them into an album with comments. Eventually you'll start seeing a pattern.

Everyone has such different tastes and it's so subjective...you just have to try things for yourself.

 

[dmw16]

Good idea. I have seen those wine of the month clubs for ~$20/month, but they dont deliver to MD so it doesnt do me any good. I will try to journal thing.

 

[andylawcc]

yes! a fellow wine-drinker in ATOT !

check this out
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Daily_Wine_Picks_Category/0,3658,15,00.html

there are also section for wine between $15-30 and $30 above

however, I must say, those wines are pretty hard to find with my experience.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Agreed. Personal taste in wine is like shopping for speakers. I know I prefer frutier wines to dry. I know I love a good Zin or Riesling, for example. I often depend on the store staff, and if you go to a good one, the people know what they're talking about. If I buy a good bottle or two from one brand at a good price, I'll keep buying that brand.

 

[andylawcc]

the way i started was with California Cabs. and then I move on to different red varitels from California. I chose Californian wine because they are easily available (i live in LA) and are relatively cheap (until I find out Argentinian wine, but that's another story).

Eventually I focused on specific varitels that I liked and buy bottle only from that grape. I boiled down my favorites to Cabs and Pinots, and chose to stay away from Merlot, Syrah and Zins.

Even though I tried quite a bit of wine, I must say I still can't differentiate a quality one from bad. I had a taste of some fine Bordeauxs ($40 to $60) and still prefered a 20 bucks Cab from Monterey County.

 

[Conky]

Listen to a seasoned wine drinker... White wine is what you drink after you run out of red wine.

Red wines FTW. Zin, Pinot, Merlot, etc. Ravenswood is my favorite reasonably priced wine. :wine:

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Crazyfool
Listen to a seasoned wine drinker... White wine is what you drink after you run out of red wine.

Red wines FTW. Zin, Pinot, Merlot, etc. Ravenswood is my favorite reasonably priced wine. :wine:

I have to disagree. I have had some fine whites in Germany, and whites I find to be refreshing. I can drink them without falling asleep. I like red with dinner only if I know I can crash shortly afterwards. Reds mellow me out big time.

As for brands, I am pretty terrible. I buy based on price (usually around $20), type of grape, and region produced: California, Italy, Australia, and Spain for reds. Germany primarily for whites.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
As for brands, I am pretty terrible. I buy based on price (usually around $20), type of grape, and region produced: California, Italy, Australia, and Spain for reds. Germany primarily for whites.

I just bought a bottle of TBA for 20 bucks... wanna try?


anyways, with all the money I poured (no pun intended) into wine, I haven't learn much. I mean, at one point, I would absolutely refuse to buy any wine under 10 dollars... and then 2 weeks later, I am enjoying a Twin Fin Pinot for $7.99.