Who's A Wine-o??? [Archive]

mobox

07-03-2005, 11:56 PM

Right now my favorite is Rioja. To me it is a Red that doesn't have too much tannin, and it's easy to drink.

I'd love to see how you store your wine. I'm in search of a great wine rack.

Is there a particular vintage/winery that you can recommend for Rioja? I think I might have had it in a restaurant but wouldn't know which to buy in a store.

As for wine racks, I have a crappy one...but it does the trick. What I really want is a wine refridgerator....a small one.

Friday night I had the amazing Au Bon Climat Chard. Deeee-lish.

http://a21.g.akamai.net/f/21/923/1h/www.wine.com/labels/54561l.jpg

chrisinluv

07-04-2005, 07:46 AM

I seem to drink merlots, mainly. Here are some of my favorites for not-so-special occasions. Usually less than $20.

images from wine.com

http://a21.g.akamai.net/f/21/923/1h/www.wine.com/labels/74772l.jpg

I loooove this stuff!

http://a21.g.akamai.net/f/21/923/1h/www.wine.com/labels/79199l.jpg

http://a21.g.akamai.net/f/21/923/1h/www.wine.com/labels/78487l.jpg

btw, I can recommend wine.com. (http://www.wine.com/) Their prices are very reasonable, IMO.

scorpioanne

07-04-2005, 09:06 AM

I must be a wino as I have about 70 bottles in the house! Philip and I bottled Ruisseau Blanc last Tuesday and a Bergamais on Wednesday so we are set for a while anyway. I like whites but figured I should have some red around for those who like red and it makes great marinades too. I have been making wine for over 8 years and have never had a bad batch.

emmjay

07-05-2005, 08:38 PM

For Rioja wines, my hands-down favorite is Vallobera Crianza Bodegas San Pedro Rioja Alavesa 1999, around $18. It's kind of hard to find, but it's fantastic -
http://www.winealive.com/acatalog/tn_130060.JPG

Another very good one that is more widely available is Allende 2000 Rioja Crianza, around $25.
http://www.tienda.com/images/largesize/wn-55.jpg

Crianza just means that the wine has been aged at least 2 years (if you see anything designated Reserva or Gran Reserva, it has been aged more than 3 years).

I would just ask for a recommendation at the store. I am really lucky because I love Spanish reds, and so does my "wine guy" so he always has an interesting selection and lots of advice!

andrew&shannah

07-06-2005, 12:35 PM

:D Me!

This past weekend we went for Lebanese food and I tried Cabernet/Syrah, Chateau Ksara, Reserve de Couven Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, ‘03. So good! I could have easily drank the entire bottle by myself! Hopefully, I'll be able to locate it nearby to buy for home.

emmjay

07-06-2005, 12:47 PM

My local store just started carrying wines from Lebanon, Romania and Georgia - I wanted to try something, but I never knew what to get. I'll have to look for that one! (And I love Lebanese food too - YUM!)

sparkle&shine

07-06-2005, 01:28 PM

I LOVE wine also. I am a fan of white wines and haven't quite developed a taste for red wines yet. I am not sure if I have just had *crappy* red wines that didn't taste good or if that is the way they were supposed to be and I just haven't developed a taste for it yet.

When I was younger I used to only drink white Zin but now wouldn't touch it unless it was the only thing around. I really like sweet dessert wines.

My all time favorite though is CHAMPAGNE! YUMMY! I have a nice bottle of 1996 Dom Perignon waiting at home for a special occasion!

Can't wait to learn more about wine from more seasoned Wine-O's!

flygirl

07-06-2005, 01:38 PM

Huge wino here, with a strong taste for Cakebread. I just lurked in the other thread, but I'll try to contribute more here:).

chrisinluv

07-06-2005, 03:53 PM

I have a nice bottle of 1996 Dom Perignon waiting at home for a special occasion!

Hey, sparkle&shine, my brother told me that this year is the best year to drink 1996 Dom. He's a huge fan of all white wine. :)

Oakley

07-06-2005, 04:08 PM

I'm also a wine lover. I'm hoping to build a collection when we go on a wine trail tour this fall in the Finger lakes region. Lately we've been trying a bunch of local wines. Right now our favorites come from Bully Hill.

beachlvr

07-06-2005, 04:41 PM

I'm a wino!!

I'm a huge Syrah/Shiraz fan as well, but I like a good Pinot Gris when I'm in the mood for white.

One of my favorites right now is the Rosemount Shiraz/Granache blend. I think it's only $6 a bottle at the store, but it's so good!

2kCougar

07-06-2005, 05:01 PM

Kate--I recently discovered the Bully Hill wines. Their labels are great and the wine isn't too bad! DH & I were thinking of taking a trip there or maybe to Glenora.
There's a lot of Shiraz & shiraz/mixed in the wine rack along with cab, riesling, gewurztraminer, and a little burgundy.

ButterflyJen

07-06-2005, 05:51 PM

Another wine-o here. :) We love the V. Sattui and Wollersheim wines. I'm more of a white/semi-sweet drinker myself - trying to get into reds though.

I think I need to try that Rioja - sounds like it's up my alley!

Jaycee

07-06-2005, 06:50 PM

DH and I are total wine-o's!! I have to say that being preggers and a wine-o is a real tough one to navagate but with my OB's help it's do-able. Our fave this summer is The Rubaiyat
from Cakebread Cellars. We love Cakebread wines and recently joined the bakers club in addition to ordering a half a case of the Rubaiyat.
http://www.cakebread.com/images/wines/Rubaiyat/2002Ruby.gif

It's the perfect summer BBQ wine. It consists of 62% Pinot Noir and 38% Syrah. Yum!

mobox

07-06-2005, 10:38 PM

Did someone say CAKEBREAD? Uh-huh, yum!

Bellefior

07-07-2005, 04:49 AM

Subscribing.

DH's family are winemakers and he has been making it for the last 10 or so years. I've been able to help for the last 4-5 years and we usually do it in September. Last year and the year before, we took 1st place at a local winemaking competition. DH has joked he won't be entering next year to give someone else a chance! The latest vintage is from a grape called Val Di Pina in the US and Tempranillo in Spain (same grape called different things depending where you are) and is supposedly Spain's equivalent to the Cabernet Savignon. We finally let my dad taste it over the 4th and he compared it to a Barolo with a hint of Marsala!

For off the shelf wines, our favorite red is LaGaria, which I believe is a Merlot. Our favorite white is an Orvieto Classico, can't remember who puts it out!

December27JJB

07-07-2005, 02:57 PM

Ooohhh glad I found this site! Unfortunately, I'm breastfeeding right now so I can't drink but I'd love to hear suggestions!

My favorite is: Woodward Canyon, Columbia Valley, Washington '00 (Merlot) the only place I can find it is at Salt Rock Grill (restaurant) in Indian Rocks Beach, FL

I am a big fan of Veuve Clicquot Champagne.

Oakley

07-07-2005, 04:40 PM

2kCougar - That's cool that you like Bully Hill too! They're also pretty cheap which is a bonus! :D

Where is the Bully Hill Winery?

You reminded me that I love riesling and gewurztraminer. Yummmm...

Aug2002Bride

07-07-2005, 06:33 PM

Jaycee

07-07-2005, 06:37 PM

Im definitely not a Wine-o but Im having a jewelry party at my house in a couple weeks and want to get some good wine for my friends. What do you guys recommend!!! Or do I need to know specific tastes for you to recommend something? I know NOTHING about Wine!
What kind of food will you be serving? Thats always a good place to start.

Aug2002Bride

07-07-2005, 07:08 PM

Probably just appetizers. Im not totally sure yet but thinking dips, chips, cheese, crackers, desserts,etc.

Thanks!

Guinness

07-07-2005, 07:20 PM

Yeah a wino club :)

I used to drink a lot of good wine before I moved to Texas, but this town is mostly a beer town. I am in a smaller town with out a great wine outlet (except World Market works ;) ). Today I just found a wine bar that opened a couple weeks ago - - YEA, an outlet!!

My favorites change often. Right now I am into Cabs and Shiraz. I like Penfolds Rawson's Creek for a inexpensive everyday wine. It is about $10. My favorite wine ever was T-vine-1998 Zin, but it is hard to find. I store my wine in a wine fridge. DH told me it was looking empty so time to restock :D

Looking forward to hearing your favorites. I am ready to try, try, try!

chrisinluv

07-07-2005, 08:25 PM

Aug2002Bride,
There are lots of great appetizers to serve. You could do a simple wine and cheese thing. Use crackers or toasted thinly sliced baguettes.

Here is a guide:

gourmetsleuth.com (http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/cpairing.htm)

Have a great time at your party!

2kCougar

07-08-2005, 05:55 AM

Kate--Bully Hill is on Keuka Lake, in the finger lakes region. Glenora is on Seneca Lake. I'd love to go on one of the wine tasting trips that are offered around the various lakes.

sparkle&shine

07-08-2005, 06:47 AM

Im definitely not a Wine-o but Im having a jewelry party at my house in a couple weeks and want to get some good wine for my friends. What do you guys recommend!!! Or do I need to know specific tastes for you to recommend something? I know NOTHING about Wine!

Maybe Mimosas depending on what time the party is.

I would ask a few of your closest friends if they prefer whites or red and then go from there.

Jaycee

07-08-2005, 06:57 AM

chrisinluv , that gourmet sleuth had me until it got to the pairing of creamcheese and white zinfindel :eek: not too gourmet, but then again, I guess different strokes for different folks :D
Aug2002Bride How much do want to spend per bottle? I'd say pick one good variety of red and one of white and then get a few bottles of each. You keep things simple that way :)

apoppy

07-08-2005, 08:13 AM

Does anyone have any white wine recommendations? Unfortunately, I have a problem with the tannins in red wine, so I have to avoid them. :(

Some long-time favorites are the chardonnays from Chateau St. Jean and Clos du Bois.

I recently had a sauvignon blanc from Babich in New Zealand that was pretty good. I am having good luck overall this year with wines from New Zealand and Australia.

sparkle&shine

07-08-2005, 11:09 AM

Ooohhh glad I found this site! Unfortunately, I'm breastfeeding right now so I can't drink but I'd love to hear suggestions!

I am also a BFing mom. I don't know if you don't drink because you are personally uncomfortable but I wanted to let you know that you can enjoy an occasional glass of wine while Bfing.
Current research says that occasional use of alcohol (1-2 drinks) is not harmful to the nursing baby. Alcohol (ethanol) is approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics for use in breastfeeding mothers.
I do partake in a nice glass of wine, champagne, or other alcoholic beverage occasionally but I feel comfortable with the research that I have done (check out www.kellymom.com for more info) that it will not harm my DS.

Feel free to ignore me of course just thought that I would throw that out there.

Jaycee

07-08-2005, 11:24 AM

sparkle&shine good info!! thanks for posting! I know a few bf'ing moms that are wine drinkers, and I don't know if this has anything to do with it but they all have very calm and happy babies ;)

ButterflyJen

07-08-2005, 11:56 AM

December27JJB - I'm also nursing and I have an occasional glass too. I find it helps ME relax and be a better parent sometimes. :D

nic

07-08-2005, 11:58 AM

Opoppy, what type of white do you like?
Pinot Grigio (my favorite), Chardonnay, Reisling?

Pinot Grigio- Vignale (my favorite)
Santa Margherita
there's another one I like but I'll have to check out the name when I get home

Chardonnay-Robert Mondavi Private Collection
Darioush
Stag's Leap

Amaye

07-08-2005, 12:21 PM

Yyaaayy!! This thread is back. l was wondering around looking for it and just stumbled in.

I love wine! I am very much a newbie and getting to learn about different wines. I have always been exposed to European wines but am starting to learn more about the new country wines.

BethElena

07-08-2005, 01:22 PM

I love white wine. I especially liked Chateau Ste. Michelle's Semilone (sp) until it stopped showing up on the state store shelves :(

Makes me thirsty for wine!

cyd_96

07-08-2005, 07:33 PM

Love this thread!

Cakebread? I'm going to add that to my list!

My all-time favorite is Rosemount Shiraz. Can have that at any time!

I recently had Estancia - Pinot Grigio. For a white wine it was very nice - a little on the sweet side - very fruity! If you like that kind.

I typically go to World Market and ask the guy in the wine section what he recommends. Always come home with some interesting bottles!

emmjay

07-08-2005, 07:56 PM

I love white wine too, especially in the summer!

For shellfish, I love albariño from Spain/Portugal. It is really crisp and light, and no oak. The 2003 Nora Albariño is good, and I have seen that in several wine stores, plus it's only around $12 or so.

I also like Pinot Gris/Grigio, especially from Alsace (France).

apoppy

07-09-2005, 07:05 AM

Thanks for the white wine recommendations.

nic: I'll look for the Vignale Pinot Grigio. I find that even though I love chardonney, I have not been having great luck in try new chards this year...I've been getting a lot of super-oaky wines. I am beginning to lean toward Pinot Grigio/Gris and it's great to have something new to look for.

emmjay: Thanks for hint about albariño! I always look at the displays of Spanish and Portugese wine, but I never have any idea what to try. This is definately going on the list. :)

Alicia

07-09-2005, 07:04 PM

My all-time favorite is Rosemount Shiraz. Can have that at any time!

I think I drink a bottle of this at least once a week! yumm I also usually have a bottle of Yellow Tail Shiraz on hand as well.

As for a white wine, more recently I fell in love with with a Ca Montini's Trentino Pinot Grigio (thanks to the wine guy at my local gourmet shop).... only frustrating part is the bottle is so tall it doesn't fit upright in my fridge:
http://www.liquorama.net/ProductImages/montinipg.jpg

sparkle&shine

07-11-2005, 01:21 PM

So this weekend I was at a get-together and I had some yummy Riesling which I love on a hot summers day and I also had some White Merlot. I had never had it before. It was pretty good although a tad sweet. Definitely something I would drink again!

Marie

07-12-2005, 06:51 AM

We just had a bottle of Cakebread 2001 Cab at dinner Saturday. It was wonderful.

Whoever said Rosemont Shiraz is right on target! Very drinkable, very affordable, makes a great pizza wine. :p

My faves are huge, meaty, velvety cabs, spicy Zins and Shiraz. I'm also a rose champagne girl at heart.

mobox

07-22-2005, 11:34 AM

Summer Sipper-Highest Rated Sauvignon Blanc ever!

2004 Crocker & Starr Sauvignon Blanc (#25623) $22.99
94 Points Wine Spectator
Only 120 bottles of this complex, delicious, multi-layered summer sipper so don't wait!

It can be bought online at the Wine House...www.winehouse.com

wendalah

07-23-2005, 09:23 PM

I wish Cakebread were 2 bucks a bottle. I'd be drunk constantly ;)
I may have missed this but did anyone recommend a good Syrah?
I'm on for Rosemont Shiraz when I go shopping tomorrow. Is anyone else a sucker for a nice Cab/Shiraz mix? Love that.
Lately since the weather is so hot, I've been drinking Pinot Grigio. It's just so good on a warm evening. I am ashamed to admit this but there's a 7-11 within walking distance and I've been getting some cheapy Pinot Grigio there that is surprisingly yummy. I have served it to friends and they liked it too, despite my confessing it's sev-elev vintage 6 bucks. Cannot for the life of me remember the name--I'll report back with my next bottle!

Katy

07-24-2005, 12:16 AM

What is this CAKEBREAD I'm reading so much about? Now that it's SO darn hot, I've been craving some yummy, fruity, crisp whites. I'm open to suggestions (and definately interested in hearing about the 7/11 el cheapo Pinot Grigio (I really like Pinot Grigios)

Larissa

07-24-2005, 09:20 AM

Okay, totally wedding related but maybe someone can help me out as I don't drink white wine.

I'm looking for a good, but cheap, white wine for my wedding. Kristen and I don't drink white wine (nor do our friends), and I don't exactly trust my parents taste on wines. Any suggestions?

And while we're at it...any ideas for a good, cheap red wine as well (I think we already have our picked out, but I'd be interested to hear).

Please let me know if you would like me to delete this post as it is related to weddings.

Katy

07-24-2005, 10:48 AM

Larissa, I can't necessarily answer hte question, mostly because it is wedding related, but this is the PERFECT place to post the question, since this is a group of ladies that enjoy wine. The reason I can't answer it is because what I consider "cheap" for my table and personal consumption, might be out of the price range for a wedding - I think $10 is perfect for my table, but for a wedding, I'd probably be hoping for closer to $6, so I wouldn't be sure how to answer. Hope these ladies can help.

wendalah

07-24-2005, 05:53 PM

Cakebread is a delicious Napa wine that is a bit pricey--too expensive for me to purchase for everyday, but good for a special occasion or gift. I have tried the Chardonnay and thought it was wonderful; one of the nicest I've ever had. It's easy to find--you can buy it at most So. Cal grocery stores--pick up a bottle next time you are celebrating something and see what you think.

I'll report back with the name of 7-11 Pinot Grigio next time I go--or better yet I'll just pick you up a bottle and give it to you next time I see you. It's only like 6 bucks. You can give it a try and let me know if you like it.

Katy

07-24-2005, 10:19 PM

Thanks for hte info Wendy. We actually belong to a Mendocino winery club (Husch) so for the most part, that's where our yummy, special occassion wines come from (just reminded me to put one in the fridge with the chiller on - I've been craving a good glass of white).

Speaking of seeing each other the next time...when is that again? I might actually forget the storyline by the time we meet. ;)

tgray99

07-24-2005, 11:25 PM

Joining up!

DH has started getting me into wines. I really like Yellow Tail Chardonnay (yup it's cheap and good) and Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay. I also enjoy local Texas wines like Llano Estacado, Pleasant Hill, and Messina Hof. We have a really good port from Messina Hof that we're saving.

I'm interested in trying out some reds that aren't too dry. That Rioja (sp?) sounds interesting.

Link (http://www.agr.state.tx.us/wine/) to info on Texas wines:

Katy

07-24-2005, 11:42 PM

We love the Yellowtail red (is it a Shiraz maybe?) so much that whenever I see it onsale, I pick a couple up :D

mobox

07-25-2005, 10:36 AM

emmjay

07-25-2005, 10:49 AM

This is just a general wine tip I picked up over the weekend - I always have trouble pairing wine with Asian food. The wine generally just tastes flat or "off" after eating something with a lot of spice. Friday night I made Thai food with a ton of garlic, chili and lemon flavors and my wine seller recommended that I go with a Viognier because it is very aromatic and will complement the food. I picked one from Spain, although I have seen them from France, CA and Australia as well.

Anyway, it was PERFECT. I couldn't believe it! So if you are trying to pair spicy Asian food with a white wine, go with a Viognier.

Katy

07-25-2005, 11:14 AM

I always heard that for spicy asian food that a gewurztraminer is a good pairing. For some reason, we don't bother with wine and asian (the hubby always does beer and I lean towards tea). But I'll keep that in mind next time. Although all I'll probably remember is "some V wine is good with spicy", but I'm forgetful like that :o

Sposa06

07-25-2005, 12:44 PM

We went to Trader Joes and bought 3.99 to 4.99 wines that were all good.

I *love* Trader Joe's wines! I love to give myself $20 to go in, wander around, and see what treats I can come home with! I've had dozens of wines from TJs and haven't had a bad one yet!

mobox

08-03-2005, 02:48 PM

I have had in some time...

Delicious, refreshing, wonderful

http://www.valleyofthemoonwinery.com/_img/pin_blnc.gif

2003 Valley of the Moon
Sonoma County Pinot Blanc

Wine Description
CRISP AND FRESH WITH AROMAS OF LIME ZEST AND CITRUS BLOSSOMS
FOLLOWED BY FLAVORS OF TROPICAL FRUIT AND HONEYDEW MELON WITH A LINGERING FINISH.

Katy

08-03-2005, 02:57 PM

oh I did a tasting with Valley of the Moon a while back (in NM still) and I fell in LOVE with their stuff. Sadly, our local wine store didn't carry them, saying they were a tad too expensive for the average consumer (I guess being a mostly unknown name). I might need to check this out - I've really been craving a fruity, crisp white lately.

Rosebud

08-04-2005, 04:46 PM

Love this thread!

For anyone who's new to wine or wants to learn more about it, this is a great book:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/076790477X.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Great Wine Made Simple (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/076790477X/qid=1123198692/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl14/102-5948754-5444105?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

It's easy to read, chock full of information and really teaches you how to be informed about what you're getting when you're buying wine-- either in a store or at a restaurant.

The author, Andrea Immer, also has a show on the Fine Living Channel called Simply Wine with Andrea Immer (http://www.fineliving.com/fine/simply_wine/)

I'm really into Rieslings at the moment. One of my favorite inexpensive brands is the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling. You can get it at Trader Joe's for like $7 and it's pretty darn good.

http://www.e-winegifts.com/images/chat%20st%20michelle/03%20riesling%20btl.jpg

I've also been continuing a multi-year love affair with Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs-- the Sancerre wines. There are a bunch of different wineries in the region and I haven't been able to drink enough of them to decide if I prefer one vineyard over another. Fortunately enough, we will be honeymooning in the Loire Valley in October. My fiance thinks I'm kidding when I say all I'm going to do is drink wine.... :D

http://www.chateauloisel.com/img_bg/01001110.jpg http://www.chateauloisel.com/img_bg/01001070.gif http://www.chateauloisel.com/img_bg/01001691.gif

mobox

08-04-2005, 09:13 PM

E~ I looooovvveeeee Sancere. I have a French friend who turned me on to those types of wines. :) YUM!

Kaleidoscope

08-05-2005, 07:30 AM

I'm a newbie to the wonderful world of wine with aspirations of becoming a connoisseur someday (like most of you ladies) :D Rosebud03 thanks for the book recommendation, I'm interested in learning more about different wines so I'm going to put that on my Amazon wish list.

Right now I am a big fan of Riesling so I'm going to try Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling this weekend, does anyone else have any Riesling recommendations?

emmjay

08-05-2005, 07:56 AM

I have another wine book recommendation:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0743438000.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Sniffing the Cork (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0743438000/qid=1123253471/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_sbs_1/104-9663370-6343909?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) - the author is a wine buyer for a store in NY. It's easy to read and she gives wine recommendations and explains how to read a wine list at a restaurant. I thought it was a good book!

What is Sancerre like? It has been recommended to me before, but for some reason I have the impression it is on the sweeter side and I prefer dry.

Katy

08-05-2005, 09:58 AM

I have to say, when I was first learning about wine and learning what I liked (and didn't like), I learned a lot through WineBrats (http://www.winebrats.org/). This is a group started the children of three big CA wineries (I know Gallo is one) to de-mystify wine. The group organizes tastings and dinners with a focus on different elements. A very fun and casual way to spend an evening.

They've also got a a great book out (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312204434/103-0175758-9612662?v=glance) that teaches you how to figure out what you like. And more importantly how to mix and match some wines. Here's what Amazon has to say...
Get Wine Brats in your brain, and you'll cast aside those fruit-salad-style wine reviews, drive your four-wheeled wine storage facility down to the bottle barn, and find some juice that doesn't suck. You'll be moved to throw a vino soirée... even if you only own three plates that match. There you have it: Wine Brats is the first translation of a wine-lovin' guide into the Gen-X language. A collection of essays centered on the way "real people" might acquaint themselves with wine, the guide has four divisions, best described as education, celebration, vinification, and geekification. Behind the irreverent humor infusing many of the essays, the guide is replete with studiously down-to-earth advice on wine. Yes, Jack in the Box grub complements Gallo of Sonoma Cab, and it's even better if you "supersize this one by hitting the 'repeat' button on Jimmy Buffett's 'Cheeseburger in Paradise'". But just a few chapters away, a Master of Wine is further deconstructing the myths of food and wine pairings through one of the book's freshest technical passages. Wine Brats Coalition members, including the Sonoma-raised editors of this eclectic volume, make one thing clear: they're very serious about taking wine life a lot less seriously.
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0312204434.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

yby1

08-05-2005, 10:04 AM

Right now I am a big fan of Riesling so I'm going to try Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling this weekend, does anyone else have any Riesling recommendations?

I like German and Alsatian Reislings and three I've been recommending quite a bit are Dr. Loosen, F. Weins Prum and Domaine Osterag.

Dr. Loosen and F. Weins Prum are both German. If you like a fuller, sweeter wine, you can go with a Riesling Auslese from both these winemakers, but they are usually more expensive. The Riesling Kabinett is a bit dryer and more widely available.

Domaine Osterag is a wine estate in Alsace region of France. Their 2002 Riesling is wonderful, a great balance of acidity and fruit.

Jad

08-05-2005, 10:05 AM

How did I miss this thread? I clearly have not been poking around enough.

But I'm here now. And I am a confirmed wine-o. :D

We love to try lesser known varietals/regions. For whites, I love Arneis and Torontes. And we've been doing a lot of Spanish reds recently -- especially a Montsant called Capcanes that is spectacular!

Quick question. We're planning a trip out to CA (Mendocino area). Anyone have favorite wineries that we should try to visit?

Kaleidoscope - Assuming you like dry Reislings, I'd definitely recommend most New Zealand Reislings. The Villa Maria is usually fairly inexpensive. And if you can find Framingham, it's good, too. And I haven't had it recently, but I've liked the Bonny Doon (it's a California wine and also pretty cheap.) If you like sweeter ones (as I did when I first started drinking wine), these may not be to your taste.

Somebody (I think it was Guinness) mentioned T-Vine. We had a half-case of their Grenache a couple of years ago that was *so* fantastic. Love them.

yby1

08-05-2005, 10:12 AM

What is Sancerre like? It has been recommended to me before, but for some reason I have the impression it is on the sweeter side and I prefer dry.

Sancerre is part of the Loire Valley. The main grape here is Sauvignon Blanc. The wines tend to be more delicate than other parts of Loire. They are definitely not sweeter. :)

Amaye

08-05-2005, 10:21 AM

yby1 Not a stalker but just to say am glad you joined the wine-o group again. I liked a lot of your old world wine recommendations on the "other" site. Do you still have the link to the site that had all the wine recommendations from WC?

Now just waiting for HB to come back with her California wine recommendations/reviews.

Rosebud

08-05-2005, 10:24 AM

A little more on Sancerre from Wine Spectator:

Sauvignon Blanc makes its first Loire Valley appearance in the Touraine, then dominates the vineyards as the river bends to the south through Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire. The nearby towns of Menetou-Salon, Quincy and Reuilly also produce whites from the grape. It's a protean varietal that is made in widely different styles around the world, but for those who appreciate the taut, crisp flavors of herbs and citrus, Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc is the best there is.

Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are the twin peaks of Sauvignon Blanc. Located on the western and eastern sides of the river, respectively, they share landscapes of rolling hills, soils of chalk and clay, and cool climates that don't always ripen the grapes to full maturity. Though it's not always easy to tell one appellation from the other in blind tastings, Sancerres generally are lighter and sharper, with more herbal and citrus flavors, while Pouilly-Fumés tend to be rounder and softer, with pear and mineral notes.

I've also heard the Sancerre wines described as a bit "grassy." They're very good! I'll make a report of my favorites after our honeymoon.

Kaleidoscope

08-05-2005, 11:30 AM

emmjay and Katy thanks for the additional book recommendations. I'm finding that wine and all things related (e.g., selection, storage, pronunciation, food pairings) can be very intimidating so I would like to read up on the topic a little more. I will definately add those two titles to my list.

yby1 and Jad thanks for the rec's, I'm going to buy at least two new wines that have been suggested here to sample this weekend...provided I can find them at my local wine store ;)

Katy

08-05-2005, 12:55 PM

Quick question. We're planning a trip out to CA (Mendocino area). Anyone have favorite wineries that we should try to visit?

We love the Mendocino area. Our favorite vineyard, by far is Husch (in the Anderson Valley). They have some great wines (and be sure to try the reislings and the desert wines, they were kickass when we were there in June). We also like the Glenwood Ridge winery (same road, across the street a bit). Navorro didn't do all too much for us - but again, a reisling to die for.

If you're actually going to be IN Mendocino, be sure to treat yourself to a dinner at 955 Ukiah (I had an absolutely incredible fish there this last visit and I remember our visit before the food was great too). We did lunch at the Moosse Cafe and that was yummy. And I've also done brunch upstairs at the Bay View Cafe - very good. And finally, one year we did appetizers at the MacCullum house and we had the best corn chowder I've ever had.

I mentioned that we love Mendocino, right - LOL

Jad

08-05-2005, 02:11 PM

Ooh! Yay! Thank you Katy! Forwarding all of your suggestions to DH right now. :)

yby1

08-05-2005, 03:52 PM

emmjay

08-05-2005, 06:15 PM

Sancerre is part of the Loire Valley. The main grape here is Sauvignon Blanc. The wines tend to be more delicate than other parts of Loire. They are definitely not sweeter. :)
Thanks! I'll give it a try. I don't drink much French wine, just Alsatian Pinot Gris. But I always see Sancerre wines in the France aisle at the store and now I'll have to check out a bottle.

Oh, so I just scrolled up and saw that Rosebud03 specifically said Sancerre wine is made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes - duh. :o

justHB

08-07-2005, 03:55 PM

We love the Mendocino area. Our favorite vineyard, by far is Husch (in the Anderson Valley). They have some great wines (and be sure to try the reislings and the desert wines, they were kickass when we were there in June). We also like the Glenwood Ridge winery (same road, across the street a bit). Navorro didn't do all too much for us - but again, a reisling to die for. How did I not know about this thread?

We just opened two bottles of Pinot Noir from Husch we picked up during the Pinot Noir festival and they were both corked. Our friends experienced the same thing. Too bad too since it was fabulous at the winery.

While I've had good experiences at Navarro in the past, I was really disappointed with it when we went in May.

We took a trip down to the Santa Ynez valley in July and the only winery we visited that we liked the wine was Fess Parker.

We're heading up to the Russian River Valley at some point this month to pick up a 1/2 case of reds we purchased in March from Sunce.

Katy

08-07-2005, 06:40 PM

We just opened two bottles of Pinot Noir from Husch we picked up during the Pinot Noir festival and they were both corked. Our friends experienced the same thing. Too bad too since it was fabulous at the winery.

Wow, that's too bad. It might be too late now, but you should contact the folks there. They are very helpful and we've found them to be quite accomidating.

We're heading up to the Russian River Valley at some point this month to pick up a 1/2 case of reds we purchased in March from Sunce.
Let us know how this goes. I'd like to "branch out" next time we go up that way (which is usually about once a year).

justHB

08-07-2005, 07:13 PM

I love the Russian River Valley - we go there about 4 or 5 times a year. We typically do day trips since we're only 90 or so minutes away, but I'm trying to convince DH that for our 10 year dativersary we need to spend the weekend in Healdsburg. I keep saying that since we're not going to need $ for airfare we can stay in one of the Inns I've been lusting after and buy all the wine we can get our paws on.

mobox

08-07-2005, 11:06 PM

I love the Russian River Valley. By far one my faves--just the scenery alone is to die for but the wine...fabulous!!!

HB~I'm sorry you had a bad experience in Santa Ynez. I need to take you to some of my faves because there is some really good wine there. (But also some really bad wine as well, which is tricky.)

Tonight I had a wonderful 2001 Merlot from Grgich Hills. I'm not a Merlot fan, but this wine was complex and lush with very good legs. Lots of berry and spice. Nice wine.

http://www.grgich.com/assets/images/2001_merlot.jpg

sourdough

08-08-2005, 10:50 PM

Hi HB, if you're looking for a special place in Healdsburg, I've been trying to convince DH to pony up and make reservations here...

Les Mars Hotel, Healdsburg - "The Sonoma wine country is full of upscale hotels, but it hasn't seen anything quite like Les Mars. The new 16-room inn, just off Healdsburg's town square, is built in the style of a French chateau..."

And the restaurant inside Les Mars is called Cyrus, it’s supposed to be incredible!!...

http://www.lesmarshotel.com/

:)

------------------------------------------------

What's in my glass now...

I can’t afford to drink this on a regular basis, but my boss gave us a few nice bottles from Duckhorn Vineyards. The 2002 Estate Napa Valley Merlot is deeeeelicious!!

http://www.duckhornvineyards.com/

:D

emmjay

08-09-2005, 12:30 PM

justHB

08-09-2005, 01:18 PM

In my case, 5 years ago I didn't drink wine at all. Four years ago I started on boxed wine and realized that it was disgusting and if I was going to do this, I was going to do it right. When we moved to the Bay Area, our proximity to Wine Country really inspired me to learn more about the different varietals, what I liked, what I didn't like, etc. etc. Truthfully, I'm nearly completely ignorant about wine if it's not from Napa or Sonoma.

BethElena

08-09-2005, 01:31 PM

hey! boxed wine has a time and place when it's acceptable... :)

I had a Chilean wine the other day I liked. Anybody have any recommendations of a Chilean wine?

Amaye

08-09-2005, 01:39 PM

I forgot about that list! I never completed it. I need to get my butt in gear!

Here is the list :)

http://www.sumama.com/wcwine.html

Thanks for the list. There are a couple of wines l wanted to try on there!

Amaye

08-09-2005, 01:47 PM

So I have a question - how did you all learn so much about wine? Is it from living close to wine regions? Do your families drink a lot of wine? Is it just a hobby of yours?

My dad is a huge wine drinker and knows a LOT about it. Personally, I just like what I like - I don't know a lot about wine except for a very general idea of different varietals. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to distinguish between varietals in a blind tasting.

I sometimes think my palate isn't refined enough to be a connoisseur like my dad is - it's just refined enough that I don't like crappy wine. :D

Wine is a hobby of mine - l used to drink it in college but it was more of boxed wine. I really started getting curious about wine last year and so far, l have been mostly self taught. I bought 2 books about wines and grapes and learnt the differences between the wines. I have read a lot, lurked on different websites about wine and bought different wines too. I am lucky that l have a couple of friends that sell wine especially european wine so l am learning a lot from them also. There are a couple of wineries here in NY but nothing that l am really interested in. I find myself more drawn to Australian and France wines so far.

I can't wait to make a trip to the California wine country though. Hopefully that will be happening this year (must plan).

emmjay

08-09-2005, 02:33 PM

BethElena -I don't ever remember specific vintages, but I know some Chilean vineyards that are consistently good.

Casa LaPostolle - esp. the Chardonnay
Concha y Toro - esp. the cabernet. There's a cab called Casillero del Diablo that is very good, also the Don Melchor Reserve.
Cousino Macul - the regular cabernet is good for the price, and the reserve is not too much more expensive but is even better
Santa Rita - supposed to be good but I've never tried anything from them

justHB -you are like my dad! He moved to SF when he was in his 20s and really got into Napa wines. Eventually he started learning about French and Itallian wines, and I will take credit for introducing him to Chilean and Spanish wines. After 40 years of learning he is a real expert on all of them! :) He still prefers CA wines.

Udohen -that's awesome to have wine dealers for friends! And it's good to know that you are self-taught as well. Wine is just an intimidating subject for some reason, you know?

I seem to gravitate to Spanish wines primarily, then Chilean wines after that. I have a pretty good mix in my wine rack though.

sourdough

08-10-2005, 11:14 AM

So I have a question - how did you all learn so much about wine? Is it from living close to wine regions? Do your families drink a lot of wine? Is it just a hobby of yours?

Like Udohen, I have a couple friends that sell wine and they’re always teaching me new things. I also have some wine contacts through my work as we often host events that feature different vintners. I’m definitely not an expert, but I’m having a lot of fun developing my palate! :D

-------

So, did you guys know Mario Andretti makes some dang good wine? I never would have guessed a champion race car driver would be making truly premium wines. We had some leftover from a work event and I got to take home a couple bottles of his 2001 NV Merlot. It was really really good!

http://www.andrettiwinery.com/

p.s. - Emmjay, I'm definitely going to try some of those Chilean recommendations!

yby1

08-10-2005, 02:31 PM

So I have a question - how did you all learn so much about wine? Is it from living close to wine regions? Do your families drink a lot of wine? Is it just a hobby of yours?

A combination of all of the above. I live in California and have travelled through our wine regions quite a bit. Not as often as I would like, but more often than many. My family loves wine and two of my aunts are wine afficionados and they are the ones that really turned me on to wine. Since then, I've turned wine into a full blown hobby. I go to wine tastings at local shops, go to wine classes, plan wine tasting into my travels, I read books, magazines... pretty much anything about the subject and try as many new wines as I can.

Sazoo

08-22-2005, 01:32 PM

This weekend when I was out in our garage I noticed that we have some leftover wine & champagne from our wedding a year ago sitting out there. Do you think I should throw it away? Our garage gets pretty hot during the summertime, so I'm thinking that maybe this stuff has gone bad by now & should not be drunk. :confused: Here's what we've got sitting out there (luckily it's only a few bottles):

2 bottles of champagne
2 bottles of white wine
1 bottle of sparkling apple cider (non-alcoholic)

Isn't wine one of those things that is supposed to be kept in a "cool" environment...isn't it?

TIA!

Jaycee

08-22-2005, 01:39 PM

Theres a good chance it may have gone bad due to heat cycling, but I would open every one of those bottles and taste them first before automatically assuming they are bad and trashing them ;)

Tanya

08-22-2005, 01:45 PM

Check to see if the corks on the wine have popped up--if so, they are definitely bad. I accidentally left a bottle in my car once and the cork popped up an inch or so. Wine will start to re-ferment at high temps, which is what happened to mine.

Wine/champagne is supposed to be kept at 65F ideally unopened, refrigerated (40F) if opened. This goes for both red and white. I would think that unfortuately since they have gotten so hot for so long, they will no longer be any good, but I would take a couple of bottles and stick them in your fridge and once they are cold, test them out. You will be able to tell right away if it's bad, trust me;).

gayle

08-23-2005, 08:39 AM

Even if they have gone bad to drink, you can still cook with them, so unless you see mold, or some other unsavory site, keep em ayway and use them in recipes.

Sazoo

08-23-2005, 04:06 PM

Thanks for the suggestions!!

Theres a good chance it may have gone bad due to heat cycling, but I would open every one of those bottles and taste them first before automatically assuming they are bad and trashing the.
Good point! ;) Unfortunately my DH isn't much of a wine/champagne drinker, so if I open 'em up & they are drinkable...it'll be all on me to do the drinking. :eek:

Check to see if the corks on the wine have popped up--if so, they are definitely bad....I would think that unfortuately since they have gotten so hot for so long, they will no longer be any good, but I would take a couple of bottles and stick them in your fridge and once they are cold, test them out. You will be able to tell right away if it's bad, trust me.
Thanks for the info on the corks popping...I didn't know to look for that. Will check it out when I get home tonight. I am not really very excited about taste-testing wine that I think might have gone bad, but I suppose maybe a tiny little sip won't kill me, even if it's turned to vinegar...right? :p

Even if they have gone bad to drink, you can still cook with them, so unless you see mold, or some other unsavory site, keep em ayway and use them in recipes.
:eek: I hadn't even thought of that! We don't cook with wine very often, but that might be something to consider.

Thanks again for the input!

Jad

08-26-2005, 03:12 PM

What would you drink w/ a tomato tart? (heirloom tomatoes, pesto and fresh mozzerella in a puff pastry crust)

I'm assuming I should probably go with something like a fairly crisp white? To cut the richness of the crust? We have a Spanish white (Albarino) in the fridge, but I'm not sure how it'd work. (I know what I like, but I'm still a novice at matching.)

yby1

08-26-2005, 03:41 PM

Jad - I would proabably go with a Chianti with that tart. The tomatoes and herbs from the pesto would go really well with a fruity Chianti. If you want a white wine, a Sauvignon Blanc would go well too. I probably would not choose the Albarino because while it's herby in flavor, it tends to be a bit too floral your your dish. It might not be to bad though, if you want to give it a try. :)

Jaycee

08-26-2005, 04:14 PM

Oh yes, I second the Chianti recommendation!!

HeatherFL

08-26-2005, 05:37 PM

I would like to purchase a nice set of wine glasses as a gift. I LOVE wine, but don't ask me to identify what the appropriate glass is for red/white wines. What type of set do you recommend? The person enjoys both red and white wines. Is there a type of wine glass that is somewhat universal?

I was thinking of something along these lines...from Tiffany's:
http://www.tiffany.com/images/products/zoom_images/11591507_xl.jpg
http://www.tiffany.com/images/products/zoom_images/12026099_xl.jpg

Thanks in advance,

H.

EmilyBronte

08-26-2005, 05:53 PM

I like these: Riedel Vinum glasses, seen here on williamssonoma.com:

http://a1412.g.akamai.net/7/1412/243/0080/image1.styleinamerica.com/wsecimgs/images/products/200531/0008/img66m.jpg

This specific set of 4 comes with 4 different glasses... but they have sets of 2 for several different wine types.

irish74

08-26-2005, 05:55 PM

I have the ones in the top picture from Tiffany's. I only have the red wine ones though, but use them for both red and white, we aren't that particular I guess. I love the glasses, so simple, but very nice, they feel great in your hand.

ejs

08-26-2005, 05:59 PM

How serious are your friends about wine? I have a friend in the wine industry and when we've spoken about glasses, he's never brought up a "universal" glass.

One question: do you think your gift recipient will want to expand on this set? I know that a lot of people try to get all their glasses (all wine, water goblets, flutes, etc) in the same pattern. Will your friend be able to easily do this?

HeatherFL

08-26-2005, 06:06 PM

It's for my SO :). I'll get him some port glasses too and it's possible we'll expand the collection. We're not wine snobs, but definitely enjoy wine and have A LOT of it.

~H.

beachlvr

08-26-2005, 08:10 PM

I have the Riedel Vinum and I love them. We have the Merlot and Chardonney glasses, I believe. But I'll serve any red in the merlot glass and any white in the chardonney ones.

dana b

08-26-2005, 09:46 PM

i have some type of red riedel glasses. i like their 'o' collection.
http://www.wineenthusiast.com/weimages/kickers/pageImages/reidel_O_colection.jpg

Mrs. M.

08-27-2005, 01:55 AM

Another vote for Riedel Vinum :)

All the serious wine people I know swear by them. And they are pretty :)

2kCougar

08-27-2005, 05:32 AM

You can't go wrong with riedel. I have the vinum and o series.

HeatherFL

08-27-2005, 10:03 AM

So I have a question - how did you all learn so much about wine? Is it from living close to wine regions? Do your families drink a lot of wine? Is it just a hobby of yours?

Up until 8 months ago, I didn't like wine at all. My SO got me into it, slowly but surely(REALLY surely LOL). It's become a hobby of ours. We go to the store and get about 50 bottles of wine at a time and then go home, put them away/chill them and choose something different throughout the week. I'm still acquiring a taste for the reds. I am thinking it's b/c it's served at room temperature and I prefer my wine chilled. We also dine in a restaurant that offers vertical wine tastings. Those are always fun and it's neat to actually taste the difference in the wine between the vintages.

My favorite is by Angelo Gaja (Italian)- Chardonnay Gaia & Rey 1999 vintage

I also really like Boutari (Greek) and Pinot Grigio Santa Margherita.

Once in a blue moon if I feel like something sweet, I go for Relax Riesling (German).

For champagne I've tried several, but Dom is still my favorite. I also like Veuve.

~H.

1MegMeg

08-28-2005, 09:39 AM

Heather - Which restaurant around here as vertical tastings? I would love to do that, I didn't know any places around here did it. :)

HeatherFL

08-28-2005, 10:49 AM

Hi Meg! We go to the ones at 6 Tables (http://www.sixtablestampa.com) on Henderson in South Tampa. The food is incredible!

They don't do them all the time, but if you call and ask or email them they can let you know when the next one(s) will be.

A Taste for Wine in St. Petersburg (Central Ave) does them too-(727) 895-1623

Also, October through November at California Grill inside the Contemporary Resort @ Disney they're supposed to be having a series of vertical tastings. It's part of the Epcot Wine Festival. It was great last year!

I believe Cork and Olive ("www.corkandolive.com) (there is one next to Bracci Bistro on McMullen Booth Road and another one in Tampa on Racetrack Road) does them too.

Hope this helps!

~H.

Marie

08-29-2005, 07:23 AM

Riedel is the way to go on wine glasses right now. We do have crystal ones as well but we normally use the Riedel's for really good wine.

We have the Sommelier collection for stemware (it is a little more delicate than the Vinum series, not sure what you are looking for):

http://www.winestuff.com/acatalog/Riedel_Sommelier.html

For fun we have the "O" series:

http://www.winestuff.com/acatalog/Riedel__O__Series.html

For a general glass I'd go with the Bordeaux Grand glass in the Sommelier series or the standard Bordeaux in the Vinum series. You can add specific ones later. They are both big enough to accomodate reds without being too huge to use for whites.

BTW, the links I've posted are to winestuff.com which I've used about 3 times now with fabulous results. Fast shipping, cheap prices and always packaged well as to not break in shipment. I just ordered this there which you can get him if you want to look really cool when pouring reds:

http://www.winestuff.com/cgi-bin/sh000013.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ewinestuff%2 ecom%2facatalog%2f&WD=decanter&PN=Riedel_Extreme_Decanter%2ehtml%23a180014#a18001 4

msnicolea

08-29-2005, 08:02 AM

We have 3 different types Riedel Vinums nd they really are great!

justHB

08-29-2005, 11:25 AM

We went to Napa this weekend and stopped in at Plumpjack Winery, Chimney Rock, and Hagefan Cellars. Overall, not impressed. It probably didn't help that it was 90+ degrees outside and I was miserable.

1MegMeg

08-29-2005, 11:52 AM

Another vote for Riedel glasses! They are definitely the way to go. :) Do you drink more red or more white? I agree with the other ladies in that there really isn't a "universal glass" (doesn't mean that I don't drink all sorts of wine out of the same glass though :p). Amazon, however, has small pieces (boxes of 2) of different red and white glasses. You could always start with those and then build your collection.

HeatherFL

08-29-2005, 12:05 PM

Thanks, everyone. WOW it's pretty unanimous! :) We drink mostly white, but do drink reds too. I think I'm going to start with a set of each (red and white) and some port glasses. Then we can go from there.

Thanks again!

~H.

mimieliza

08-29-2005, 12:10 PM

We have the Marquis by Waterford deep red glasses:

http://www.waterford.com/images/product_product/1006320000md.jpg

I love them, and our friends who are "wine snobs" have said that they are great glasses for serious wine drinkers. I think the price is reasonable as well - $49 for four glasses.

fuzzy

08-29-2005, 12:28 PM

I third (fourth?) the suggestion for Reidel. Excellent glasses.

mobox

08-29-2005, 12:42 PM

Not even one good wine at the Napa three??? Bummer!

justHB

08-29-2005, 12:49 PM

The Syrah at Plumpjack was interesting, but not worth the $40+ they were asking. The cabs at Chimney Rock were decent, but not earth shattering, and at $50+, I wasn't buying it. I mean, why would I spend that kind of money when I can go to Cost Plus and buy a Stag's Leap for $40?

Amuse Bouche

08-29-2005, 03:15 PM

I'll join! I drink a LOT of wine, and I know a little about it, but only enough really to be able to pick a bottle of wine off a wine list or at the store that I know will complement what I'm eating reasonably well and that I like.

I used to drink almost all reds, and I still generally prefer to pair reds with foods if I'm being serious about pairings, but I find myself drinking a lot of whites in the summertime, and more red in the winter.

I also find that I like wine from cooler wine regions better -- Central Coast better than Napa and Sonoma, Northern Italy better than Tuscany, and French wines. I love Pinot Noirs, and I'm not a big fan of Merlots, and I felt that way long before Sideways came out. I like the black fruits in Pinot Noirs, and I think Merlots tend to lack structure. In whites, I prefer aromatic whites -- a nice Sancerre is always a treat, though I've been drinking a lot of Viognier lately (Trader Joe's in SoCal has been carrying a great one called Honey Moon.), and I like Alsatian Rieslings, though German ones are generally too sweet for my taste. One of my summer favorites is Portuguese Vinho Verde, which is incredibly cheap and light and fizzy. I also just tried Lambrusco, which is basically grape soda. I like silly wines in the summer.

justHB

08-29-2005, 03:22 PM

I'll join! ... I also just tried Lambrusco, which is basically grape soda. I like silly wines in the summer.I love lambrusco with grilled foods. It's perfect for a hot summer day when you're not really interested in cracking open a "good" bottle of wine. I mean, what really goes with hot dogs?

:p

Katy

08-29-2005, 11:08 PM

Okay, the other night we had our bookclub (which as amuse bouche pointed out *really* should be renamed to be a "wine" club - or maybe a "wine and girl talk club"). Anyway, we had two different whites and both were great, but I can't for the life of me remember either. I do remember that the one Julia had us sample was SO good that I wanted to purchase it for the hubby to try.

Do any of you gals care to share the wines we drank?

Jad

08-30-2005, 05:23 AM

Not to interupt Katy's recommendations, but I thought I'd report back on my tomato tart pairing since y'all were kind enough to offer suggestions. We ended up just going with a prosecco, which is a big summer stand-by around our house. I don't know that it was a great pairing, though. We do pretty well with wine and cheese at this point, but I'm still definitely working on the wine and food thing.

I did, however, have a *great* merlot the other night. It was by an Argentine producer -- Rutini. I don't normally like merlot, but this one was big and complex and almost more cab-like. Very good.

Rosebud

08-30-2005, 08:44 AM

Katy- The whites that were served were Chateau Ste. Michelle Reisling (mine) and Samantha Starr Chardonnay (Julia's). Weren't they great?

Caitlin- I realized after the meeting that we didn't serve your Viognier! You're so nearby, would you like it back or do you want to get together and drink it sometime? ;) I was actually dying to try it.

Amuse Bouche

08-30-2005, 10:56 AM

Erin -- I'd love to get together again, but go ahead and drink the wine as a thank you for hosting! I have like 4 bottles at home (I really like it) and it's an inexpensive TJ wine. (Did I just out myself as a drinker of cheap wine?)

December27JJB

09-11-2005, 02:59 PM

My SIL introduced me to this wine (she and BIL are big wine drinkers) Villa Maria - Chardonnay 2004. It was really good, really light, perfect for the summertime.

HeatherFL

09-11-2005, 03:20 PM

Just had a bottle of The Crossings Marlborough Unoaked Chardonnay 2004 (New Zealand) at dinner a week ago and had to go out to the store and buy one for the house. It was excellent!

We also had a Tandem Van Der Kamp Chardonnay at dinner last night, but I didn't write the info down. It was very good, though!

~H.

December27JJB

09-11-2005, 05:42 PM

Heather:

May I ask what you ate when you had Crossings Marlborough Unoaked Chardonnay? I'd love to try it!
Oh, I HIGHLY recommend Woodward Canyon, Columbia Valley 2000 Merlot at Salt Rock Grill! I had it with fried Coconut Shrimp (when I was eating meat) but the combination of the food and wine was so good!

December27JJB

09-11-2005, 06:20 PM

I am also a BFing mom. I don't know if you don't drink because you are personally uncomfortable but I wanted to let you know that you can enjoy an occasional glass of wine while Bfing.

I do partake in a nice glass of wine, champagne, or other alcoholic beverage occasionally but I feel comfortable with the research that I have done (check out www.kellymom.com for more info) that it will not harm my DS.

Feel free to ignore me of course just thought that I would throw that out there.

sparkle&shine
How could I miss this post from you from wayyy back? Thank you for the advice. Actually, my two SILs laughed at me when I denied their offer for a glass of wine. I said I am BFing. They laughed. One of them is BFing too. They told me it was fine. Needless to say, I accepted their offer ;) I was so happy to have wine again!

Again, thanks for your advice!

vancouvergirl

09-11-2005, 09:20 PM

for those who like a full-bodied, buttery chardonnay, my current fav is the 2002 michel laroche from france. anyone else adore buttery chardonnays?

Jad

09-12-2005, 05:17 AM

Heather - Glad to hear that The Crossings Chardonnay was tasty. We tried a Pinot Noir (don't remember the year) from there a couple of months ago and it was just ok. But looks like we'll need to try them out again.

Report on CA trip: DH and I took a trip out to the northern coast of CA over labor day weekend. On our way up, we spent some time tasting - mostly in the Dry Creek area. We stopped at Papapietro Perry, Bella, and Dutcher Crossing. Papapietro Perry was probably the best of the bunch. They make a fabulous Pinot Noir (we preferred the 03 over the 02.) They also had a Zin that was really unusual and very tasty, with a lot of vanilla on the finish.

Bella was good w/ mostly Zin, which grows well in the Dry Creek area. Some of the wines were a little hot -- overall they were good but not great. But it's a great place. They have a lovely little wine cave and nice people and a playful dog. We had a great time there.

Dutcher Crossing is a new winery. We did like a couple of their wines, but it's much more "corporate" feeling in general. But the Sauvignon Blanc was good.

Other good wines we had during the weekend were a Pinto Gris by Michel Schlumberger and a Pinot Noir from Esterlina.

wine_o_girlie

09-20-2005, 08:27 AM

Bump, obviously I love wine and would love to hear more about it!

andrew&shannah

09-20-2005, 08:36 AM

We are hosting a dinner for some friends this weekend. I am usually decent at pairing a good wine with the meal but I am stuck here.
We are serving the following...any suggestions on what to serve with it?
- Balsamic and Roasted Garlic Marinated Steak
- Steamed Broccoli
- Rice Pilaf

Thanks for any help!

yby1

09-20-2005, 08:40 AM

I haven't tasted anything new lately and I miss this thread!

I recently bought a bottle of Tokaj that I can't wait to try.

yby1

09-20-2005, 08:56 AM

andrew&shannah - That meal sounds great! I would probably serve a Italian red that can cut through the acidity of the vinegar. Maybe a Barbera, Sangiovese or maybe a Primitivo. A Bordeaux or big Cabernet should work well too.

let me know if you want any specific labels.

andrew&shannah

09-20-2005, 09:26 AM

Yby1 - Thanks! It's a pretty easy meal to throw together but it looks 'fancy' so it's ideal for guests.

label recommendations would be great! I'm always looking for suggestions of wines people enjoy :)

Katy

09-21-2005, 12:13 AM

One of my husband's coworker's parents (whew) have a winery up on NoCal and gave him a bottle of cab to try. We've had it now for nearly a week and haven't yet tried it as I'd like to pair it with something *just right*

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good, simple, meal that will compliment a cab?

321Jump

09-22-2005, 03:26 PM

Anyone else live near a "Best Cellars?" Great store for winos who don't have deep pockets ;)

yby1

09-22-2005, 03:39 PM

Katy

09-22-2005, 03:54 PM

Just the sort of answer I was hoping for. Thanks yby1 :)

Amuse Bouche

09-22-2005, 04:46 PM

I just had lunch with a client who is REALLY into wine. Pretty much everything he mentioned (including the $7500 tickets to the Napa Wine Auction) was way out of my price range, but talk about aspiration!

justHB

09-22-2005, 04:51 PM

Very Simple - A medium rare steak from the BBQ and a buttery baked potato. That's very nearly what I was thinking, if you substitute the baked potato with some pomme frites.

justHB

09-22-2005, 04:52 PM

I just picked up a bottle of Bogle 2003 Old Vine Zinfandel from Cost Plus and for $8.99/bottle I am definitely pleased.

mobox

09-26-2005, 11:25 AM

I usually like Bogle...that sounds like a good deal. BevMo is having their 5 cent sale. I bought 8 bottles of wine and plan on trying some this week. Will report back. ;)

December27JJB

09-27-2005, 07:37 PM

Normally, I am not a big fan of Reisling but I found Robert Mondavi 2004 Reisling to be pretty good with desert or after dinner. It's not expensive either.

wine_o_girlie

09-28-2005, 01:33 PM

Zinfandel, yum. I am feeling stressed at work today and it is almost quitting time - I think I will be hitting the bottle tonight. :) Thanks for the recommendations.

emmjay

09-28-2005, 02:08 PM

Anyone have a really nice Chablis recommendation? I don't think I've ever had it, but I know there are some people here who know a lot about French wines (paging yby1... ;) ). We're having dinner with a couple next week and don't know them very well, but I know she likes Chablis. The only conversation we've ever had was about food and wine! :)

yby1

09-28-2005, 02:56 PM

emmjay - I had this (http://www.winebuys.com/shop/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=buy-wine&Product_Code=WW-MORELC-00&qts=froogle&qtk=092305) bottle of Chablis right before I got KU. It was really good. The price is great too.

Domaine William Fevre Chablis is also bery, bery good. You can't go wrong with the Grand and Premier Cru's from this domaine, but the regular Chablis is also good and more affordable (I want to say, around $20 a bottle)

ladybug777

09-30-2005, 01:46 PM

My DH and I have decided to throw a Wine & Cheese Party. Has anyone had one before? If so, was it super casual (guests help themselves) or did you have some kind of order to it? Also, which wines/cheese did you serve?

Katy

09-30-2005, 05:49 PM

I think if it was me (and no, I've never done anything like this), I'd try to pair my cheeses and my wines. Or at least print up a suggestion card.

I got this wine and cheese pairing site at GourmetSleuth.com (http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/cpairing.htm) from one of our mod's, Emilie. She also found this site (http://www.winexmagazine.com/jellybean/) for pairing Jelly Belly jellybeans for wine tasting - might add a touch of whimsy to the party.

And on a side note, remember that Cabernet Sauvignons go GREAT with chocolate! :D

Jad

10-01-2005, 06:16 AM

We've had small wine and cheese nights a few times. Maybe 8 people or so. And, yes, we always do a progression. We usually put all of the cheeses out but tell people which ones to do with the wine that's being served. But then there are usually few enough people that they all fit in our living room.

DH is the pairer in our family, but we usually start with a triple creme and a sparkling/champagne and end with a port and some chocolate. I'm awful with names, so I won't be much help. But there are some good books if you want suggestions. We really like The Cheese Plate by Max Mccalman, who is a cheesemonger in NYC.

mobox

10-06-2005, 10:25 AM

Anyone try a good wine lately? I'm going to bust into some bottles tonight at a dinner party so I'll report back!

Katy

10-07-2005, 11:40 AM

Hey, is that BevMo sale still on?

BethElena

10-07-2005, 12:14 PM

I just tried this last night....If I had known it was $10 a bottle, I would have passed buying it at a restaurant... Dog House 2002 Cab https://secure7.nexternal.com/doghouse/images/wine_Cab1.jpg It was good, but $6 a glass? please..

yby1

10-07-2005, 01:46 PM

Hey, is that BevMo sale still on?

Yes. You know that my pregnant a$$ is buying some booze.

for later. ;)

Katy

10-07-2005, 04:32 PM

Yes. You know that my pregnant a$$ is buying some booze.

for later. ;)

And that's how you'll be explaining should anyone ask - LOL Okay, I need to get there this weekend (I decided to go to see In Her Shoes instead of shopping).

mobox

10-11-2005, 12:10 PM

This is actually pretty darn good...it's part of the Bev Mo sale.

http://www.bevmo.com/115images/68475.jpg

Michael Pozzan Cabernet Sonoma '03 (750 ML)
Regular Price: $12.99 ClubBev: $6.52

89 PTS WILFRED WONG. Smooth and entrancing, the fruit-forward '03 Michael Pozzan possess excellent style and panache; a wine with excellent depth, this wine drinks exceptionally well with a steak.

We liked that it had a smooth finish.

justHB

10-12-2005, 07:39 AM

A friend bought that for me as a housewarming present last year. I'd never heard of it, but it was decent enough.

greenbunny

10-12-2005, 09:24 AM

I just bought a bottle of shiraz this weekend called "Fat Bastard". I was sold on the profanity. It had a cute little gold hippo on the label. I can't wait to try it.

A friend from NJ recommended Cheap Wine, but the guy at the store said they don't carry it. Sigh. I HATE having to shop in a state-run liquor store.

Has anybody ever tried anything from Michael Andretti's vineyard? I had one bottle of his red and it was so godawful.

Katy

10-12-2005, 11:22 AM

Does anyone use the Reidel glasses? I'm thinking that I might want to get a set for my friend for Christmas. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Myra

10-12-2005, 12:05 PM

I just bought a bottle of shiraz this weekend called "Fat Bastard". I was sold on the profanity. It had a cute little gold hippo on the label. I can't wait to try it.

I loooove the Fat Bastard Chardonnay. The shiraz, not so much.

greenbunny

10-12-2005, 12:33 PM

Myra, thanks! I will try that next time. I was torn between those two and the merlot, and I grabbed the one in the middle.

Foos6LA

10-13-2005, 02:26 PM

Great thread. I loved this one on WC. Haven't had time to read - just wanted to post and say hi. I'll be back!

cece

10-14-2005, 01:51 PM

really glad i stumbled upon this thread! and wanted to add that fat bastard has been our favorite for the past few months since spotting it at bevmo. went crazy during the .05 sale.

we love: chateauneuf-du-pape, finca antigua cabernet 2002, echelon syrah (we served the echelon chardonnay at our wedding), penfolds, and bonny doon pacific rim dry reisling.

also, about 5 of us did a taste test over the summer with pinot grigio from trader joe's - about 4 different varieties. the best one (winner on all 5 counts)happens to be the cheapest at $2.99 a bottle. it's called contadino delle venezie.

*c

Katy

10-14-2005, 01:55 PM

also, about 5 of us did a taste test over the summer with pinot grigio from trader joe's - about 4 different varieties. the best one (winner on all 5 counts)happens to be the cheapest at $2.99 a bottle. it's called contadino delle venezie.Good to know as I love Pinot Grigio :D I scored some wine at the Bevmo 5 cent sale. But more importantly, I found the yummiest of yummy Merlot - Santa Emma it's a $6ish chiliean merlot. So fruity.

Tanya

10-14-2005, 02:49 PM

I found the yummiest of yummy Merlot - Santa Emma it's a $6ish chiliean merlot. So fruity. We gave our groomsmen Santa Ema's '99 Cab, it was a good buy at $12/bottle. We put our own label on it:D.

This looks like a fun thread! SIL and I are taking a wine class by the buyer for Specs (huge wine chain in Houston, the main store is supposedly the biggest in the country in terms of stock), and last class was on French wines. I've never been a fan (bugs me how they use region instead of grape as identifier), but I have a new appreciation now. We had a great zin and sauv blanc for the price, but of couse I can't remember the names off the top of my head--got it written down though, if anyone's interested. Surprisingly, none we tasted was Chablis--most of the whites were chardonnay and Sauv. blanc grapes mostly.

DH and I took a quick 4-day trip to SF and Napa with BIL and SIL over Labor Day and we had a blast. We hit 12 vineyards in two days and ate at some great places. The most interesting tour was at Schramsberg, famous for their sparkling wines. They are the only vinyard in the country to use the full "Methode Champagnoise" for their sparkling wines with a riddler and all. We spent way too much on wines to bring back:D.

My favorite regions are Australia and NZ--whole fam's from NZ, so that helps;). TX has a surprising amount of vineyards, but none are too well-known. It's getting better, though. I'm not very good with remembering names and vintages, but it's fun to read about it!

yby1

10-14-2005, 03:02 PM

Does anyone use the Reidel glasses? I'm thinking that I might want to get a set for my friend for Christmas. Any thoughts or suggestions?

I have many glasses from the Vinum series and I love them. I use the Burgundy/Pinot and Chardonnay glasses the most.

Suprisingly, none we tasted was Chablis--most of the whites were chardonnay and Sauv. blanc grapes mostly.

Chablis is made from the chardonnay grape, so you may have tried a Chablis. :)

bookworm

10-14-2005, 04:41 PM

I loooove the Fat Bastard Chardonnay. The shiraz, not so much.

Funny, I don't think I've posted in this thread before (though I've lurked avidly :o ) and I was outing myself to say something very similar--I like the chardonnay, but the shiraz was seriously not my favorite (surprising, b/c in general I prefer just about any shiraz to just about any chardonnay).

Also, I took a wine class, and they said chablis was chardonnay "in the french style"--meaning aged in stainless steel rather than oak. But it had gotten a reputation as jug wine in this country.

Eh, if I'm going to have chardonnay, it's usually because I want the oak. Otherwise, I'll drink sauvignon blanc! But perhaps it's time to try another one...

Tanya

10-17-2005, 10:13 AM

Chablis is made from the chardonnay grape, so you may have tried a Chablis.

Ohhh, no wonder. I was reading a website and mistakenly led me to believe Chablis was a grape, not a region. But I stand corrected;). See how confusing those damn French are:p? But no, we didn't try anything from that region.

ETA: Ah ha, this explains my confusion:
Abuse of the name "Chablis"
In an attempt to gain an association with the high-quality French wines, the name "Chablis" has also been used on bottles of generic-quality American-grown white wine (eg, California's Central Valley) with no connection with the French region. This is an example of foreign branding. The practice became common enough that "Chablis," attached to a American domestic wine, ultimately came to convey an image of cheapness.

yby1

10-17-2005, 12:19 PM

Eh, if I'm going to have chardonnay, it's usually because I want the oak. Otherwise, I'll drink sauvignon blanc! But perhaps it's time to try another one...

The problem I have with many American Chards is that they tend to over-oak using American oak barrels, which is a bit stronger than French or Hungarian oak. That just ruins the wine IMO. I want to taste the grape more than the oak. Now aging in American oak isn't a bad thing, but it has to be done the right way.

I personally love un-oaked Chards, it's just a different taste than Sav. Blanc.

Amuse Bouche

10-17-2005, 12:32 PM

We've had some good wines lately. Went up to Santa Barbara last weekend and did some wine tasting. We bought a bottle of '03 Byron Pinot Noir, a Flying Goats Pinot Noir from the Solomon Hills winery (I think Flying Goat does it from different wineries), and a bottle of Andrew Murray Esperance. I also really liked the FiddleHead 2002 and 2003 Sauvignon Blancs, but DH wasn't as big a fan.

We totally hit up the BevMo sale, too, and bought a bunch of wines. We liked this one so much we bought 4 more bottles.

http://www.bevmo.com/115images/72133.jpg

ELENA - Zinfandel Old Vine Reserve '02 (750 ML)
Regular Price: $14.99 ClubBev: $7.52

92 PTS WILFRED WONG. Pinpoint Zinfandel character, the '02 ELENA - Zinfandel Old Vine Reserve is packed with luxurious black raspberry flavors; very concentated, yet finely put-together; superb!

If you can go online and schedule a pickup you should see if they have this at your local store. They're out for shipping, and there are only 2 bottles left at my store.

December27JJB

10-20-2005, 07:24 PM

I highly recommend R.H Philips Toasted Head Chardonnay '03!!!!

cakes

10-21-2005, 08:46 AM

Maybe someone here can help me out.

I was talking to one of my friends and he mentioned going to a wine tasting thing a little while ago and there was a wine there that he really enjoyed, but cant remember anything about the name or type or anything. His birthdays coming up and I'd like to try and find a bottle of it for him, but I have no clues and neither does my aunt who works at a winery.

Anyways he said it was a red wine that was spicy, but not spicy like a dessert wine, spicy like pepercorns.

Any clues???? I've never heard of a type of wine that is spicy.

pontmarie

10-21-2005, 09:38 AM

Is Rancho Zabaco the spicy one? I am not good with names - SORRY. I know we've tried RZ and we also tried a spicy wine that same night but maybe it's two different wines.

yby1

10-21-2005, 09:54 AM

Amuse Bouche

10-21-2005, 12:16 PM

I've had spicy pinots -- Pepperwood is a pretty spicy pinot noir, I think. It's hard to go by that description alone. You could try going to tastings.com and do a search for red wines with spicy or peppery in the description.

cakes

10-21-2005, 12:30 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to have to try taking a look at that tastings.com tonight and see if I can find anything.

I know the description wasnt much. I kept asking him to tell me more about it, but he's never really drank much wine before and that was the best I could get out of him.

justHB

10-23-2005, 11:33 PM

In the past, I've tried (unsuccessfully, I think) to describe the different Sonoma wine regions and one of the websites I visit finally created a good one so I thought I'd post.

http://wineroad.com/images/regional-map.jpg

mgrace

10-24-2005, 01:07 PM

OK, so I really don't know much about wine, but I like to drink it. I love reds and I like French wine. Lately, we've been drinking new (to us) wines from Spain.

emmjay

10-24-2005, 01:14 PM

Spanish wines are my favorite!

These are two recommendations off the top of my head for Rioja:
2001 Sierra Cantabria Rioja
1999 Vallobera Crianza Bodegas San Pedro Rioja Alavesa

They're both around $20, and both are delicious.

mobox

10-24-2005, 09:00 PM

Just tried the Trinity Oaks 2004 California Pinot Grigio.
Not bad for a cheapy. I got it at Bev Mo. Part of the 5 cent sale. It was mellow, like most Pinot Grigios. A little more buttery than most.

http://www.bevmo.com/115images/75497.jpg

keygirl

10-25-2005, 03:43 PM

I am bumping this up because I am planning on having a wine & cheese party this weekend. Anyone have any suggestions or tips? How many wines, cheeses do you recommend. Casual, more dressy? Did you decorate?

I live in a small apartment, so I am thinking it will be around 10-15 people. Thanks all!

ladybug777

10-28-2005, 09:51 AM

Well, I can post about what we wound up doing. Hope this helps.

We live in a small townhouse, so we had a total of 8 people. That was a perfect number. We chose a small number b/c we kept everything in the kitchen and actually sat around our table. It was very informal and would have been hard w/ a large group.

We chose 6 wines and 4 cheeses. I got our cheese at a little gourmet store, but Trader Joe's has an amazing cheese selection. I'm glad I did our the way I did b/c the guy at the store recommended some amazing cheese. This is our wine, but not the order we served in. Can't remember as that was my DH's job...

Pinot Grigio w/ Pere Brie
Pinot Noir w/ Petit Basque
Chianti and Syrah w/ Manchego
Reisling w/ St. Andre (my favorite!!!)
Rose (sparkling champagne) w/ cheesecake.

I also made a lot of appetizers, although looking back, I would have either done heavier apps or just a full buffet type dinner. For each cheese, I made a little card to go w/ it that detailed where it was from, the source (sheep, goat) and a little fact about it.

It was very informal. Everyone arrived, we ate the apps for a while, talked and then served the first wine and introduced the cheese that went with it. Put the cheese w/ the info card on the table and let everyone help themselves.

To give you an idea of the set up:
On the counter: food, apps, drinks, etc
On the table: crackers, bread, dried fruit, breadsticks, pitcher of water (to cleanse palete) and container to pour out wine people didn't like/didn't want to finish.
***Set out wine glasses w/ those wine glass charms so everyone would know which glass was theirs. Don't think anyone really paid attention to those though.

Hope that helps.

Just wanted to add: I think the # you serve depends on your crowd. This was a group of really close friends. They arrived at 3pm and didn't leave until 11:30pm. Between talking, laughing, eating and tasting, anymore than 6 wines would have been too much. If this were a larger group or people that didn't really know each other, I might have chosen more, just to keep the flow going. KWIM? And if it were a larger group, I might have set up stations and had everyone taste on their own.

FYI-I've been to another party where they had a wine expert come in and conduct the class. This was one where we got cards to write down info about the wine. But again, we only tasted like 3 or 4 wines.

Okay, done blabbing now!

smartgrrl

10-28-2005, 02:40 PM

Be sure when you serve your cheese to begin with the more milder cheeses (like brie, or whatever) and end with more pungent, or sharp cheeses like blue. Good blue cheese is great with a muscat or other sweet dessert wine, while a mild cheese can go well with a dry white wine. Then you could have a goat cheese paired with a good bordeaux or something.
Or, I'd just stick with cheeses that you enjoy with wines that you enjoy - the most important thing is to always have dried fruit and toasted nuts on hand - its great to both cleanse the pallet and they taste great with the cheese, too. Personally, I love dried cranberries and toasted walnuts. Make sure if you get walnuts, you toast them - they taste a million times better that way. Have a great time!

Linnybubbles

10-29-2005, 07:12 AM

We did this, each couple brought 2 wines. We stuck to one color (we all did white) and also had bread and fruit. I do not think there was a method to the cheeses, we just got a wide variety, my favorite was a dill havarti. So yummy.

singerwife

10-29-2005, 07:49 AM

As a variation, we've done an olive oil and/or salt tasting, along with the wine and cheese. It's amazing how many different kinds of oil and salt are available. (You'll never go back to iodized table salt.)

It makes a nice addition to a wine/cheese night. A couple loaves of fresh foccacia...yum.

mgrace

11-02-2005, 10:21 AM

Here's an article from the Boston Globe that lists cheap wines--all are $10 or less. 50 flavorful, affordable wines (http://www.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2005/10/19/50_flavorful_affordable_wines/?page=full).

mgrace

11-02-2005, 10:25 AM

Had a bottle of this last week, and it was quite tasty for $6.

http://www.waitrosewine.com/jl_assets/Product/230201093.jpg

Tinta Roriz-Touriga Franca Douro Altano.
Portugal

wine_o_girlie

11-09-2005, 11:18 AM

Bumping this up...since the holiday season is rapidly approaching, we could all use some great wine recommendations.

We liked the Trinchero Cabernet Sauvingnon we had at a restaurant on Saturday night a lot. Very smooth. It was $30 at the bistro but it looks like I can get it at my local wine warehouse for $11 which seems like a great deal. I can definitely see buying more of this wine.

http://www.lovotti.com/brochures/Images/Trinchero%20Cabernet%20Lewelling%20Vineyard.jpg

Also, we finally bit the bullet and organized our first wine tasting party. We are having a couples Wine Tasting party in a few weeks. Each couple will bring 1 bottle of wine (I think I may "assign" people a type of wine in advance so we don't end up with all the same variety - i.e. 20 bottles of chardonnay) and we will have a "blind" tasting.

I think we are going to try to have little games associated with the tasting - like matching what you taste to the correct grape and whoever has the most matches wins a prize. I think that the "game"/prize aspect will help keep some of the guys involved who aren't the biggest wine aficianados. We may also do a round of wine-inspired Balderdash. This is a silly idea that my husband and I came up with when we went to Napa. Every winery we went to would give us descriptions of the wine and they would crack us up at how complex they were - "hints of Earth, taste of currant on your middle palette, etc. We started making up our own silly descriptions and we thought it would be fun to have 1 "real" wine description and have other people make up their own description and see if we can tell which is real and which is fake. Sounds like it could be fun but maybe we are dorks. Anyway, I am hoping everyone isn't too busy with the holidays to attend.

If anyone has had a wine tasting party, please give me your tips! :)

Rosebud

11-09-2005, 11:56 AM

We served Smoking Loon Chardonnay at our rehearsal dinner and got a lot of compliments on it. I'm not normally the biggest Chardonnay fan, but really liked this one because it wasn't overly-oaked.

I believe that Wine Spectator has rated it as one of their "best value" wines. It usually sells for under $10.

http://www.liquorama.net/ProductImages/smokingloonchardonnay.jpg

BethElena

11-16-2005, 12:21 PM

Help! I live in PA (so I have to go through state store ordering) and want to get some red wine. We're having our traditional "christmas eve" bash with my bro and GF, and they are red wine drinkers - mostly Aussie wines and some reds. Any suggestions? We don't want to spend a ton, but I don't want to be boring and get yellow tail like we always get. We'll be serving all kinds of snack foods, so I'm not trying to pair the wine with anything in particular.

Did I mention I don't know a thing about wine? I just buy it if it has a neat label :)

HeatherFL

11-16-2005, 01:17 PM

Two more that we're really enjoying lately:

Sonoma-Cutrer "Russian River Ranches"

Valley of the Moon Sonoma County Chardonnay

I also just had Jest White Wine by Jest Red Cellars last night and it was pretty good.

I don't remember the vintages, though. Sorry!

H.

BethElena

11-16-2005, 01:24 PM

oh yeah...here's the one red we are going to buy so far. had it the other night and it was fantastic!
http://www.galloofsonoma.com/images/our_wines/lft_sonoma_sangiovese_bott.jpg
1999 Gallo of Sonoma
Sangiovese
Alexander Valley

Our 1999 vintage Sangiovese was crafted to capture the Italian heritage of the Sangiovese grape. A wine with ample body and an abundance of fruit character, this wine was barrel-aged primarily in French oak barrels to enhance the dried cherry aromas and rustic tannins that are soft and uncomplicated. This wine is an ideal complement to beef, veal, or pastas with tomato sauce.

Katy

11-16-2005, 01:37 PM

I had a Santa Ema (http://www.bevmo.com/productlist.asp?area=wine&N=-7146&bhcp=1) (chilean) Merlot at dinner once and it was SO good. I picked one up for myself at the store and it's only $6.99 for and '03 and $7.89 for an '02 Reserve. Very nice and very fruity.

http://www.bevmo.com/115images/20850.jpg

bookworm

11-16-2005, 01:50 PM

I went to a wine tasting a few weeks ago. Very few things stood out, but I marked one that I really liked at the beginning of the night.

It was Terrazas Malbec (I starred it and wrote "smoky"--I'm no longer sure what that means). I finally looked it up, and it's cheap (less than $10), so I shall have to find a place that has it.

The other one I scribbled in a margin (it was a last minute addition) was Muga Reserva Rioja. I didn't write down what I liked about it :rolleyes: .

ETA: Ok, this is bizarre. I went out for dinner tonight, and this malbec was on the menu (I had never heard of it before). I had a glass, and it was neither smooth nor smoky ("smooth" being the other random word I wrote in the margin). I'll still try it again sometime, but I'm no longer in a rush.

Mrs U

11-16-2005, 10:47 PM

We've been on a Santa Cristina 2003 kick (until I got preggers). It's from Tuscany by the family Antinori. Stateside I found it in NJ for $13 last Christmas.

Another fav, if it could be found, is Evans & Tate, Margret River, W. Australia. Most of their reds are delicious. I found it here for $15/ bottle.

Reebs

11-17-2005, 03:53 AM

HeatherFL, I am in total agreement about Sonoma Cutrer - Russian River. This is one of my favs. It is the one we always fall back on if we're not being adventurous.

Do you like reds? Have you ever tried Axios? Its about $200 a bottle. But absolutely wonderful. Its a Napa wine. The 2002 is the best. They also make a cheaper version called Worthy. Its about $30/bottle. Its good as well. But it is amazing how you can taste the difference.

wine_o_girlie

11-17-2005, 07:08 AM

BethElena - if your family likes Australian reds I would recommend trying Greg Norman's Cabernet Merlot blend. We've had it a couple of times and really like it. It's very affordable - around $12 or $13 I think.

http://www.corkpoppers.com/14c07c70.jpg

Amaye

11-17-2005, 09:14 AM

Don't forget - Beaujolais Nouveau will be avaliable from today. Go grab your bottles!

Katy

11-17-2005, 10:21 AM

Don't forget - Beaujolais Nouveau will be avaliable from today. Go grab your bottles!I've been hearing a lot about these lately, but I remember NOTHING. Would you mind refreshing my memory? And how should we drink them - by the glass? With a pasta, fish or beef dish?

I was given a beaugolais as a moving gift and when we opened it it was gross (I think it turned) so I've been avoiding them since.

wine_o_girlie

11-18-2005, 10:54 AM

Reebs - Not sure where you are in Maryland but if you are close to Laurel there is a great wine warehouse there (Corridor Fine Wines). It's absolutely huge and the prices are great. I believe they have Worthy for less than $30/bottle. Maybe they would have a deal on Axios too but I've never looked for it. It sounds great though!

Katy - truthfully I am not a BN fan but I would say its' a lighter red wine which is one reason why a lot of people pair it with turkey. I would definitely not pair it with a big hearty steak or anything. Poultry or fish would be a good option. HTH.