Epcot Wines

[RobinHoodGirl]

For our upcoming trip my DBF and I each had the same idea; get a bottle of wine from one of the counties on Epcot our first day and enjoy it throughout the week in our room each night...

Now I've only started to drink wines and currently living by the motto "I don't know wine but I know what I like!" and I'm a little worried that we'll get a bottle and I won't like it

Can anyone let me know what counties have wines (besides Italy and France but I figure those were givens) and what types of wine they have? I have a little over 6 months and thinking if I can find a bottle at home, I could test it out first and then go in with an idea of what I like.

Currently I know I prefer white wines that are more on the sweet side but I'm not against trying red wines or a blush. I do know without a doubt dry wines of any kind are out.

Thanks in advance for the help

 

[jcvalenti]

Outside of Italy and France, the only other country I know for a fact offers wine by the bottle is Germany, and luckily for you, if you love sweeter white wines, riesling will be your king of kings. The German Riesling bar, hidden in back of shops on the side with the caramel shop, is a fabulous and usually very uncrowded place. They rotate stock often so I can't recommend any specific bottles, but look for a Joh. Jos. Prum or Dr. Loosen riesling.

 

[RobinHoodGirl]

Outside of Italy and France, the only other country I know for a fact offers wine by the bottle is Germany, and luckily for you, if you love sweeter white wines, riesling will be your king of kings. The German Riesling bar, hidden in back of shops on the side with the caramel shop, is a fabulous and usually very uncrowded place. They rotate stock often so I can't recommend any specific bottles, but look for a Joh. Jos. Prum or Dr. Loosen riesling.

Riesling is one of my favorite types of wine, and I had no clue Germany had a wine bar!

 

[redzinner]

An option from Italy is Banfi's Rosa Regale.

It pairs wonderfully with dark chocolate and would be a nice evening wine. It wouldn't last all week but I don't think any wine would be all that nice after being open for a week. Actually I didn't know an opened bottle of wine could last all week ... not in my house, anyway.

They may sell splits (half bottles) at the Enoteca in Italy but I'm not sure. It does need to be chilled before drinking. The Riesling would need to be chilled also.

 

[minnie mum]

IIRC you can sample some of the wines in the France shop. Can you do the same in Italy and Germany?

Sigh. Brings back such lovely memories of sampling wines in the Enotecas when we were in the real Italy and Germany.

 

[redzinner]

IIRC you can sample some of the wines in the France shop. Can you do the same in Italy and Germany?

Sigh. Brings back such lovely memories of sampling wines in the Enotecas when we were in the real Italy and Germany.

You can pay for a sample glass, maybe about 2-3 ounces, in both Italy and Germany. I am not aware of any free alcoholic beverage samples. Crazy coca-cola flavors, yes, but not the good stuff!

 

[M5ward]

An option from Italy is Banfi's Rosa Regale.

It pairs wonderfully with dark chocolate and would be a nice evening wine. It wouldn't last all week but I don't think any wine would be all that nice after being open for a week. Actually I didn't know an opened bottle of wine could last all week ... not in my house, anyway.

They may sell splits (half bottles) at the Enoteca in Italy but I'm not sure. It does need to be chilled before drinking. The Riesling would need to be chilled also.

I second this choice. Rosa Regale is a red sparkling wine on the lightly sweet side...really delicious. The shop in the Italy pavilion sells 750 ml., 375 ml., and 187 ml. bottles. It will last a week in the refrigerator without losing the bubbliness if you use a bottle stopper or seal the opening with foil or napkins.
I discovered this wine on our trip in January, and it has become my new favorite. I order it at home (family owns a bar/restaurant) in the 187 ml. size by the case...2 of the 187 bottles is about two and a half champagne glasses. It's only about 7% alcohol so it doesn't wipe you out.

 

[bryannem]

There are also wines available in AK. We tried a few flights at Sanaa and you could buy the bottles in the park. I really only drink red, so I can't help you with a sweeter wine, but I know they had whites available.

 

[Pixiedust34]

There is a wine walk card you can buy in France, Italy, or Germany. With the card, you get 2 samples of wine in each of those countries. It's a nice way to sample wines before buying a bottle.

 

[TisBit]

We are very similar in our taste of wines. We started with Reisling as others have suggested, which is a sweeter wine. We also have really enjoyed Pinot Grigio's (not Pinot Noir!!), they are not as sweet as the Reisling, but have a more crisp taste without being bitter or overpowering. Definitely more mid range in sweetness. Chardonnay's are hit or miss for me, just depends on what winery does it....

I would definitely not try reds that you are not familiar with, very few reds will be good if you want sweet and commiting to a full bottle would be a bit much. Keep in mind, that regions are a big deal in wine. So if you are used to California white wines, a French white wine is not likely to taste the same.

The resorts will also have bottles of wine in the gift shops. Each resort has a different selection, so you might be able find a wine you like at a specific resort. You can find more domestic (california) wines at the resorts. They are more expensive than off site, but not as unreasonable as their liquor/beer. I think one of the bottles we buy at home for about $10 a bottle was in the gift shop for $15.....

 

[jcvalenti]

For a sweeter red, the German Pinot Noir's might do. Basically, if you like sweet wine you're looking for anything grown in an area with a short growing season ... so look to the montains. Alsace, Mosel, Finger Lakes in NY ... that kind of thing. The longer a grape lingers on the vine, the more of that suger is used up and converted into alcohol.

Personally, my favorite white wine in Epcot is probably the Sancerre or (when they have it) a Gavi di Gavi in Italy, but both are significantly dryer than the original poster seems to prefer.

 

[minnie mum]

You can pay for a sample glass, maybe about 2-3 ounces, in both Italy and Germany. I am not aware of any free alcoholic beverage samples. Crazy coca-cola flavors, yes, but not the good stuff!

No- no free samples. But I thought I remembered that you could pay to sample some of the wines. Nice to actually know what you're paying for, KWIM?

 

[erinscreen]

I second this choice. Rosa Regale is a red sparkling wine on the lightly sweet side...really delicious. The shop in the Italy pavilion sells 750 ml., 375 ml., and 187 ml. bottles. It will last a week in the refrigerator without losing the bubbliness if you use a bottle stopper or seal the opening with foil or napkins.
I discovered this wine on our trip in January, and it has become my new favorite. I order it at home (family owns a bar/restaurant) in the 187 ml. size by the case...2 of the 187 bottles is about two and a half champagne glasses. It's only about 7% alcohol so it doesn't wipe you out.

I am going to have to agree here. I like all wine--depends on my mood with what I want to drink at a specific time. The Rosa Regale, I think, would be right up your alley. Although red, it is very sweet and bubbly.

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

The best thing to do is get the wine walk card at either Germany, Italy or France. I think it's $12 and you get 3 samples of wine to try. Then you can decide what you like and what you don't like.

 

[Mcert01]

Riesling is a good choice if you like something a little sweeter. We live in Michigan and our Riesling's are really good, at least according to Mario Battali .

The best best is to do some wine tastings. Generally they start from white and sweet to red and dry, followed by dessert and sparkling in some cases. This will give you a chance to sample wines before purchase.

Just beware that the more you "taste" the more you buy, at least that has been our experience on wine trails.

 

[beroh2253]

The Food and Wine Festival runs to Nov. 11 in EPCOT so do some wine sampling all the Kiosks at all of the additional countries they have around the world.
I plan on doing food , beer and wine sampling in October.

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012-epcot-food-and-wine-festival/

 

[jagafen]

IIRC you can sample some of the wines in the France shop. Can you do the same in Italy and Germany?

Sigh. Brings back such lovely memories of sampling wines in the Enotecas when we were in the real Italy and Germany.

A few years ago they did a wine card for $20....I think it was good for 6 samples...I remember that DH and I didn't care for any of the german wines, but the french and italians were high on our lists! I think they called it a wine walk, or something like that?

 

[BriarRosie]

I was going to say that you can't go wrong with Riesling or Rosa Regale based on your preferences. Germany has a wine flight you can purchase to try the different Rieslings. They range from sweet to drier, but you might discover one in the "sweet spot" to your liking before you commit to buying a bottle. Try the flight first.

 

[di19]

I also enjoy a sweeter white wine and my husband and I always start our trips off with a walk into Epcot's Germany to purchase a riesling (the name is Diva - I believe and it's always been near the register in the wine store)