Wine... The good stuff, not complaining!

[Tinker'n'Fun]

So years ago, I had a glass of wine and it made be blush (turned red) and if I remember correctly, maybe made my heart flutter. Just one glass of wine a very, very long time ago. Everyone talks about wines, how good they are etc, and I am starting to think I am missing out. Would you say it would be worth trying again, and if so, where should I start? I tend to gravitate to something sweet or something that would have a distinct flavor, not dry... I think, since I really never have had any, who am I to judge.

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

Usually blush wines are a safe bet for newbies (soft and mild, usually sweet and chilled). One of my first wines was Lambrusco Reunite, a chilled red that is sweet and cheap!

 

[NikitaZee]

A nice Riesling would be great - sweet but not too sweet. Wish I had some right now

 

[MoonFaerie]

If you like sweet, Moscato D'Asti is my fave. Super yum. I also like fruit wines, esp blackberry. Reunite has a tasty raspberry wine that's cheap. Sadly red wines give me a headache, so I don't drink them very often.

 

[Gigi22]

Beringer has a nice medium sweet white zinfandel (a lovely pink color), it tastes like strawberries.

 

[mykidsand_i]

Yeah, I agree with another poster- start off with a blush or rose wine- chill it. NOT TOO COLD, but chill it a bit. With spring here and summer coming, a chilled blush/rose wine tastes refreshing and light and it's really fruity.

Reds give me a headache too! I love whites, blush/rose, sparkling wines.

When I got into wine a few years ago, a friend of mine suggested finding a winery or two around my area to do my own tastings and see what type of wine tastes I prefered. It was the best advise I got and the best I can give, because EVERYONE has a different taste in wines. A wine that I LOVE may be hated by someone else...We have about 5 wineries with in 2 hours of us. We show up, do a tasting or a 'wine flight' and as we do them, I write down what I like and dislike about each wine. There have been some surprizes for me, because there are some wines I thought I'd never like and they end up being a favorite!

NOW, if you're talking about wines that you serve with food- well...your flavor demands will change. You'd never want a light,fruity wine with a heavy flavor meal- you'd want something that 'compliments' your meal, not something that will fight with the flavors.

The rule of thumb (which doesn't have to be followed)...a person who knows a little about wine will tell you that a heavy, red meat should be served with a red wine. Now, I've found a few whites that match the flavor, but that's my flavor and taste buds choice. Also, they'll say to choose a white wine with things like light meals- chicken, fish...but I've done the opposite of that on occasion as well.

Here's a site I've used occasionally...http://www.foodandwinepairing.org/

Hope you find one that you enjoy! Wine is a lot of fun.

 

[LuvOrlando]

My DH learned to be a wine snob because of his job. I, however, love the sweet stuff.. think fruit juice with a kick. Sunday dinners at my house are hilarious because DH and FIL are swishing and sniffing pricey red stuff that makes my mouth pucker while MIL and I are smacking our lips over Arbor Mist Strawberry or Blackberry full of oranges & apples for my version of a Sangria, YUM!

I can't help it, I like my hard liquor to resemble a milkshake and I like my wine to resemble fruit juice. Go ahead mock me, I can take it

I would suggest a nice ice cold twist off bottle of Arbor Mist Strawberry, last Tuesday is a good vintage

 

[mykidsand_i]

I can't help it, I like my hard liquor to resemble a milkshake and I like my wine to resemble fruit juice. Go ahead mock me, I can take it

I would suggest a nice ice cold twist off bottle of Arbor Mist Strawberry, last Tuesday is a good vintage

I loved this post There are way too many 'wine snobs' out there now days. SURE, I like a good bottle of the spendy stuff once and a while (my 'spendy stuff' is STILL less than $20 a bottle- which most 'wine' people would think I'm an idiot for saying...but I don't give a crap!)

I say, it doesn't matter how cheap the bottle is, as long as you LIKE THE WINE! Last month my aunt had a bottle of $35 wine that was 'rated very high' on the wines list in some mag. but I HATED it! She didn't like it either- it was a waste of cash in our opinions.

I would go for 'real wine' though. Sure, it can be cheap, but get the real wine.

I love arbor mist! It's a great spring/summer wine (and every other season!!!)

There are sooooooooo many different wines out there now days, everyone who is able to drink should at least like one kind!

 

[bumbershoot]

My DH learned to be a wine snob because of his job. I, however, love the sweet stuff.. think fruit juice with a kick. Sunday dinners at my house are hilarious because DH and FIL are swishing and sniffing pricey red stuff that makes my mouth pucker while MIL and I are smacking our lips over Arbor Mist Strawberry or Blackberry full of oranges & apples for my version of a Sangria, YUM!

I can't help it, I like my hard liquor to resemble a milkshake and I like my wine to resemble fruit juice. Go ahead mock me, I can take it

Love it! No mocking from me. I've tried for years and years to be a wine snob. My mom was one, both my stepdads are wine snobs, I spent a few years of my childhood nearly living at a winery/vineyard b/c my mom worked there (where she learned all about wine). I should be a wine snob!

But I just do not like it enough. Love sangria, though! I think I'm going to have to give up my aspirations for wine-snobbishness. Beer snob is good enough for me (though I've also been known to enjoy a Coors Light when it gets hot enough!).



OP good luck! I wish you better luck than I have had with getting into good wines.

Oh, and your reaction could have been from sulfites (sulfates?), so look for wines without those....

 

[pigletgirl]

Interestingly enough, I am a newby when it comes to wines like yourself, but I have found I like them less sweet. For a red, the dryer, the better and then for white I like a pino grigio. Not a fan of pink....

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Love it! No mocking from me. I've tried for years and years to be a wine snob. My mom was one, both my stepdads are wine snobs, I spent a few years of my childhood nearly living at a winery/vineyard b/c my mom worked there (where she learned all about wine). I should be a wine snob!

But I just do not like it enough. Love sangria, though! I think I'm going to have to give up my aspirations for wine-snobbishness. Beer snob is good enough for me (though I've also been known to enjoy a Coors Light when it gets hot enough!).



OP good luck! I wish you better luck than I have had with getting into good wines.

Oh, and your reaction could have been from sulfites (sulfates?), so look for wines without those....

Thanks everyone, I won't be starting out on the high end, trust me... I do need to ask, how do you know if a wine has sulfites/sulfates? I would like to avoid the side effect this time...

We have a large wine/gourmet store in our area. They always have tons of wines on sale each week. Something about wines with Kangaroo's around here. I will start with white or a blush.

 

[Handbag Lady]

My DH learned to be a wine snob because of his job. I, however, love the sweet stuff.. think fruit juice with a kick. Sunday dinners at my house are hilarious because DH and FIL are swishing and sniffing pricey red stuff that makes my mouth pucker while MIL and I are smacking our lips over Arbor Mist Strawberry or Blackberry full of oranges & apples for my version of a Sangria, YUM!

I can't help it, I like my hard liquor to resemble a milkshake and I like my wine to resemble fruit juice. Go ahead mock me, I can take it

I would suggest a nice ice cold twist off bottle of Arbor Mist Strawberry, last Tuesday is a good vintage

I would never mock you, it just leaves more of the good stuff for the rest of us!

 

[anniemae]

they have some really nice organic wines that are not too pricey. They never give me a headache for some reason.

 

[SevenSeasLagoon5]

Organic wines don't have the sulfites!!!

 

[Tarheel Tink]

DH and I take advantage of wine tastings and on our last cruise the sommelier said something that we both loved. He told of a master class where wine/food pairings were done and the speaker asked his opinion of the wine. He answered to every question with "very nice, but I would prefer a merlot". The speaker asked him why after several times and he responded "I just love merlots! With anything!" and he told us that is what is important; what we like, not what we are supposed to like. Kind of freeing...

 

[TDC Nala]

It is possible if your first wine was red that you are allergic or have a reaction to sulfides in wines, so try a white.

 

[NikitaZee]

DH and I take advantage of wine tastings and on our last cruise the sommelier said something that we both loved. He told of a master class where wine/food pairings were done and the speaker asked his opinion of the wine. He answered to every question with "very nice, but I would prefer a merlot". The speaker asked him why after several times and he responded "I just love merlots! With anything!" and he told us that is what is important; what we like, not what we are supposed to like. Kind of freeing...

LOL I agree. But ... my dad has an 'educated palate' when it comes to wine. Every week he brings home a different bottle for us to try (always under $20 - usually under $15). At first tasting, I usually don't care for what he brings home. But, after a couple of tries, I like more and more. I'd never have tried anything as dry as merlot, or even pinot noir or pinot grigio if I hadn't tried it a couple of times. I have to say - two weeks ago I was really proud of myself because I took a sip of a new wine and said 'Hey! I think can taste the wood of the barrel in this glass!'. Sure enough, the label included 'oak' as flavors of the wine. Silly, I know - but I had never been able to tell what flavors were in my glass of wine before. There are a lot more wines that I actually love now.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

OMG you're all making me want a glass of wine! 6 more months... 6 more months.. (I can't BF)

 

[AKL_Megs]

My first "wine" was Boone's Farm!

I am kidding.

The first wine I ever drank was a white zinfandel at a friends house. It was light and sweet.

Next came Riesling. Also sweet, only a little more dry.

I am NOT really a white wine fan anymore, but I can tolerate certain chardonnay and pinot grigio.

I mostly drink reds now! Mmm merlot and shiraz!

 

[ilovejack02]

My first "wine" was Boone's Farm!

I am kidding.

The first wine I ever drank was a white zinfandel at a friends house. It was light and sweet.

Next came Riesling. Also sweet, only a little more dry.

I am NOT really a white wine fan anymore, but I can tolerate certain chardonnay and pinot grigio.

I mostly drink reds now! Mmm merlot and shiraz!

Cant beat Boones LMBO!!! Whew that brings me back to college . Prob would throw up now lol.


My favorite wine brand right now is Menage a Trois. Love the red, it is a blend, not dry at all.
Runs about 10 a bottle.

I agree with others, start with a blush.