Wine? Educate me.... what do you recommend?

frankgomez75

Platinum Member
Mar 23, 2004
2,215
1
81
So, I want to broaden my horizons and try out wine. I've had wine in the past but didn't enjoy it much... perhaps it was cheap crap.. dunno. I know I want something that would prolly taste sweet... I hate purple grape juice, but like white grape juice so I kinda figure perhaps I wouldn't like red wine, but might enjoy white wine?

You tell me... What kind of wines do you like and how much is it?
 
L

Lola

try a reisling if you want a crisp white wine. There is a brand called Relax that is very tasty, smooth and not expensive. It is in a dark blue bottle.
Also, you could try a beaujolais if you wanted a "sweeter" red.
i am NO expert, but these are ones that i like that are sweet.
 

Mr N8

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
8,793
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76
1. Search
2. Go to your local liquor store and ask for a recommendation.
 

Reel

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2001
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76
I enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon most. I think a lot has to do with it being what I am familiar with from growing up. I have a bottle of Pinot Noir in my kitchen waiting but those tend to be less popular in wine stores.

Try finding about local wine tastings at restaurants, bars, wine shops, etc. Go with a friend or date and try them out. Try not to get real drunk so you remember what you liked.
 

IceBergSLiM

Lifer
Jul 11, 2000
29,932
3
81
Originally posted by: Reel
I enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon most. I think a lot has to do with it being what I am familiar with from growing up. I have a bottle of Pinot Noir in my kitchen waiting but those tend to be less popular in wine stores.

i enjoy a good pinot noir myself don't know why they aren't more popular.
 

acemcmac

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
13,712
1
0
Anything that comes in a box :evil:

Pour it into a bottle and 90% of women won't know the difference...
 

Glavinsolo

Platinum Member
Sep 2, 2004
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Start out with Cabaranet and Chardonay. After a couple of bottles of those move on to Pinot and finally Merlot. From there try the combos of the two 50% merlot 50% cab etc. If you shop at the same store many wine places keep a database on what you have purchased in the past so if you like something they will be able to pull it up. Go to wine tastings whenever offered. Watch the movie Sideways.
 

frankgomez75

Platinum Member
Mar 23, 2004
2,215
1
81
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
try a reisling if you want a crisp white wine. There is a brand called Relax that is very tasty, smooth and not expensive. It is in a dark blue bottle.
Also, you could try a beaujolais if you wanted a "sweeter" red.
i am NO expert, but these are ones that i like that are sweet.


I'll have to check that out...


Originally posted by: Reel
I enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon most. I think a lot has to do with it being what I am familiar with from growing up. I have a bottle of Pinot Noir in my kitchen waiting but those tend to be less popular in wine stores.

Try finding about local wine tastings at restaurants, bars, wine shops, etc. Go with a friend or date and try them out. Try not to get real drunk so you remember what you liked.

Sounds like fun... gonna look for some in my area...
Thnx for the tips and suggestions
 

frankgomez75

Platinum Member
Mar 23, 2004
2,215
1
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Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
Start out with Cabaranet and Chardonay. After a couple of bottles of those move on to Pinot and finally Merlot. From there try the combos of the two 50% merlot 50% cab etc. If you shop at the same store many wine places keep a database on what you have purchased in the past so if you like something they will be able to pull it up. Go to wine tastings whenever offered. Watch the movie Sideways.



Hmm... sounds like a good plan to me! :) So I guess I'll look for some Chardonay and Reisling to start.
 

LegendKiller

Lifer
Mar 5, 2001
18,256
68
86
Charles Shaw, absolutely the best wine you can get.

I bought 12 bottles from Trader Joes the other day for $40 with tax. It's not Franzia either.
 

Syrch

Diamond Member
May 21, 2004
3,382
2
0
Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
pinot grigio santa margherita



This is a great wine to start with! Goes down VERY easy. Very good recommendation!
 

torpid

Lifer
Sep 14, 2003
11,631
11
76
Whatever you do, don't buy black oak wine. At a local wine store I was asking for a basic riesling that wasn't bitter. The guy talked me into a couple of black oak varieties and they were vomitous. Worse than the wine I had a few years back with cork in it.
 

Syrch

Diamond Member
May 21, 2004
3,382
2
0
Just to add a note here, I work for a wine distributor and am also working to learn more about wines. Here are some of our top sellers...

BERINGER WHT ZINF 15B
RM WOODBRIDGE CHARD
BERINGER WHT ZINF
SUTTER HOME WHT ZINF
ST MARG PINOT GRIGIO
SUTTER HOME WHT ZINF
INGLENOOK WH ZIN
VENDANGE CHARDONNAY
SUTTER HOME WHT ZINF 24B
INGLENOOK WH ZIN
WILD IRISH ROSE RED 18
RM WOODBRDG CHARD 1/2 PAD
CLOS DU BOIS CHARD
RM WOODBRIDGE CAB
SUTTER HOME CHARDONNAY 24
MEZZACORONA PIN GRIGIO
RM WOODBRIDGE MERLOT
VENDANGE WHITE ZINFANDEL
MOET & CHANDON WHT ST 12B
ARBOR MIST EXTC-FR-WZ
MEZZACORONA PIN GRIGIO
3 BER WHT ZIN 2BP TRAY
 

djheater

Lifer
Mar 19, 2001
14,637
2
0
I like wine a lot and have, so I don't mind downing a few stinkers in the pursuit of a good bottle. That's why I never spend more than $10 on a bottle of wine.

Sure I drink a lot of not so good wine, but occasionally I find an tasty bottle, and only paid $5-10 for it :D
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
A few misconceptions:

1) Most wine is dry, not sweet. This includes whites. If you say you like sweet wine, it's probably not true; rather, you like wine with a more concentrated fruit character, and whites are known for this for the simple fact that that's almost all you get. Complexity in a wine doesn't come from price, snobby perceptions or anything else; it comes from depth of character, layers of aromas and flavor that you can get more complex fermentation, aging, etc.

2) Don't limit yourself to any varietal or specific winery at this stage. Most professionals only get the varietal right maybe 50-75% of the time on blind tests anyway, so if you say, "I only like Chardonnay" that's simply not the case, because you likely can't distinguish between a Chardonnay or a Chenin Blanc. Instead, your palate is mostly appealing to the style in which a wine was made, or perhaps some other fleeting notion like brand recognition, etc.

So, if you're really interested in increasing your wine knowledge you really only have one choice: Drink. Go to a quality wine shipper/supplier and buy a case of random bottles in the price range you can handle. Get a proper glass and pay attention to the serving temperature; no one likes a warm white (most of the time). Go through each bottle at your own pace, but pay attention to everything about the experience: Color, texture, aroma, flavor. In flavor you'll want to note the mouthfeel, acidity, tannin structure (if any--this is hard to quantify), concentration of fruit, what type of fruit (citrus or more melon?), what other supporting aromas/flavors are present (oak, yeast, etc. etc.). Just try to truly concentrate, and really reduce the experience into its component parts. This will enhance your appreciation and allow you to improve your palate over time.

All the above said, my favorite whites tend to be French, specifically Burgundy and Alsace. Burgundy is [almost] exclusively Chardonnay, but it's a very subtle Chardonnay entirely different from most other styles in the US. The Macon has a lot of great value, Pouilly-Fuisse being the most well-known and favorite. If I were to drink a white on a daily basis it would likely have to be an Alsatian Riesling. Trimbach is a consistent producer.

I always write really long posts in wine threads. I'm sure I probably didn't even tell you what you wanted to hear either :)