Wines?

[Tazicket]

I posted this on the cooking board, but I figured I'd post it here, too, for even more help!

DH and I have tried a few different wines, but so far have not enjoyed any of them. Is it an acquired taste? I would like to like wine...but if past experience is any indication, I guess I don't... I guess what I'm asking is, what are good wines to try? I think we've tried Penguin Merlot and Arbour Mist Peach Chardonnay and found both to be overly bitter (we've also tried foods with Chardonnay in them and did not enjoy the flavor. Any suggestions? We enjoy fruity flavors if that helps.

Thanks for the help!! I want to be cultured!!!!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Do you like fruity flavors or sweet flavors? With wine, those are very different.

 

[Dana49]

My suggestion would be to attend a wine tasting event or visit a wine vineyard. Both will give you a wealth of information.

 

[Tazicket]

Do you like fruity flavors or sweet flavors? With wine, those are very different.

Excuse me, my lack of culture is showing. Umm...I guess we prefer sweet. (I'm the one that's really into this, DH is just along for the ride) I thought they were the same. What's the difference?

We have a Total Wine that just opened in town and they have over 8000 different types of wines (I guess that's what re-ignited my interest). They do wine tastings there a few days a week and we happened to catch them on one of them last night. I can't remember what the wine I tried was called, but I do remember that it was white, chilled, and had apple and pear or peach flavors (that narrows it down, right! ).

I told the guy about how everything we've tried has been really bitter and he said that this one should not be bitter at all (it was, but less bitter than the others by far). He kind of made me feel dumb, so I figured I'd come pick everybody's brains before we go back so I feel like less of an uncultured geek.

 

[annegal]

When I was younger, I drank those fruity "pretend" wines. Now I would not touch a rose' or white wine with a ten foot pole!


Try a Pinot Noir or a Cabernet SAvingnon.

You need to spend at least $10-14 to get a decent bottle of wine. Try going to a wine shop when they are offering samples.

 

[ducklite]

Well, there's a lot to wine. So far the brands you've tried are garbage, and it's no wonder you didn't care for them LOL!

If you prefer fruitier wines, you're probably not choosing the best types of wines to start with. Merlot is in the middle of the reds as far as fruitiness goes. Instead, pick up a bottle of Pinot Noir. Beringer Founder's Estate Pinot Noir is generally around $12 a bottle and is by far the best of the inexpensive Piniot Noirs that I've ever tried. It's a "cheap" wine that I'm not at all embarrassed to serve to guests.

Chardonay's are the least fruity of the white's. They tend to be oaky and heavy, which sounds opposite of what you are looking for. Riesling is about the sweetest of the whites--unless you go with ice wine, but that's another topic altogether. Penfolds Eden Valley is an Aussie Reisling that's a bit pricier at about $16 a bottle, but well worth the cost. If you would rather stay in the $10 a bottle range, Fetzer's Echo Ridge out of California is a nice alternative. It's got a lot of pear flavor to it, and won't overpower your palate.

Give these a try and I think you'll immediately taste the difference. Please let me know whtat you think of them.

There's a great book, "Great Wine Made Simple" by Andrea Immer that's perfect for someone who wants to learn about wines without being overwhelmed.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

When I was younger, I drank those fruity "pretend" wines. Now I would not touch a rose' or white wine with a ten foot pole!


Try a Pinot Noir or a Cabernet SAvingnon.

You need to spend at least $10-14 to get a decent bottle of wine. Try going to a wine shop when they are offering samples.

First of all, there are some excellent wines on the fruitier side and I wouldn't be as pretentious as to call many of them "pretend" wines. While I agree that rosé could never be taken seriously, there are plenty of excellent whites.

Further more, the OP indicated they prefer fruitier wines. Why on earth would you suggest a Cab as a wine to start with? Let them work up to that--for most people, the oakier reds are definitely more of an acquired taste. Telling a novice wine drinker to jump headfirst into Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz will likely turn them off to wines forever.

Anne

 

[Tazicket]

Yay!!! Culture!!! Thanks Ducklite and annegal! I'll make a list of the ones you mentioned. Probably won't be able to try any until next week (pay day and all), but I'll let you know how it goes! Are the reds that you mentioned really strong? (I just requested the book you mentioned from the library!)

I kind of figured that the brands being crappy had something to do with it. I have to explain the penguin one, though...We collect penguins and had to try it. We still have the bottle, since the penguin on it is cute.

 

[ducklite]

Yay!!! Culture!!! Thanks Ducklite and annegal! I'll make a list of the ones you mentioned. Probably won't be able to try any until next week (pay day and all), but I'll let you know how it goes! Are the reds that you mentioned really strong? (I just requested the book you mentioned from the library!)

I kind of figured that the brands being crappy had something to do with it. I have to explain the penguin one, though...We collect penguins and had to try it. We still have the bottle, since the penguin on it is cute.

At this point in time for you, a Cabernet Sauvignon is going to taste very strong. Stick with the Pinot Noir's for a bit. Then when you want to be more adventurous, try a Merlot--Ecco Domani is a very inexpensive (under or around $10 a bottle) Merlot that's very fruity. It's not a "great" Merlot, but it's a good one to ease you into them. Chateau Ste. Michelle is perhaps the finest of the American Merlot's, but it's in the $20 a bottle area. It's very bold but still elegant and fruity (but not as fruity as the Ecco Domani or a Pinot Noir would be).

Once you find the Merlot's a bit sweet for you, it's time to move to your Cabernet's and Shiraz's. Generally the Shiraz will be the driest of the reds.

Anne

 

[Poohnatic]

Ahhh, wine.


Chardonnay is one of the driest white wines, and that's probably why it tastes bitter, even with the sugary stuff Arbor Mist puts in theirs.

As far as whites, give the German whites a try-Schmitt Sonne and Graff are good ones to try. My personal favorite is Auslese, but Riesling, Spatlese and Kabinett are also ones to get. They're sweet, the Auslese isn't overly so.

If you want to try a good white zinfandel (blush), go with Berenger. The Total Wine and More in Tampa sells it for 3.77 a bottle, so you won't go broke giving it a try.

Reds-three years ago, I wouldn't drink one. A friend had us try a nice Chianti (Ruffino) and it was decent. Then we went to a wine tasting at the Fl Home Show and found PRP Wines there. I now drink more reds than whites!

Suzanne

 

[chris1gill]

If you like a sweeter wine, try Kendall Jackson Riesling... be sure to chill well & enjoy

I'm on the hunt myself, I tried a white wine earlier this week that was wonderful & now I'm trying to remember the name

Update: I found the wine I had earlier this week, it's called Ceviche, and it is a sauvignon blanc... it is VERY good

 

[Blondie]

The only wine I'll drink is a Riesling. The others I just don't care for.

 

[Quinn222]

The wines you mentioned are pretty bad so I'm not surprised you didn't like them. I'd shy away from Chardonay as a beginner. They are often oakey and high in tanin, which makes them bitter and hard to pair with foods.

If you plan on drinking the wine with dinner then go for a dryish wine. Avoid reislings and the like unless it's for something very specific.

An easy to drink white is chablis, but get a good one. They aren't cheap (the cheap ones are bad!) Chenin Blanc is usually good with fish and if you can get your hands on prosecco (which is an inexpensive sparkling wine from Italy) you can drink it with anything. It's a wonderfully easy drink and not hard on the pocketbook.

I'd avoid Merlot for now too. Not because they aren't good wines, they are, but it's so trendy right now that thre is a lot of plonk out there with a Merlot label on it so quality can be iffy. Ditto 'white zinfandel', probably best not to even wonder about that stuff. Zin should be red and BTW, try it, it's good!

My favourite wines are the very big, dry, reds. I always have a couple of bottles of Chateau Neuf de Pape in the house. Not perhaps the best choice for a beginner but who knows? You might love them. I also love Pinot Noirs, you can get an inexpensive one from Oregon, Washinton state or France and you'll love it.

If you really want to learn to love wine check out the food magazines. Most have a 'best under ten or twenty dollar" column and you could follow those suggestion. Write down in a notebook what you've tried and what you like. Eventually you'll fine a red and a white that do not cost a ton and that you like. Invest in a case of each and they'll become your 'house wines.' Then you can splurge on more expensive stuff for that special meal or occasion.

One last tip, if you find yourself in a higher end restaurant ask if they offer wines by the glass. If they do talk to your waiter about what will go with your meal and give it a try. If you like it make a note of what it was for possible future purchase of a bottle.

 

[Galahad]

Just want to add that you never NEED to spend more that $10 to get a decent bottle of wine. Yes, there are great wines that are more expensive than that but for everyday wines there are plenty of "real" wines that are high quality for $8 or $10 a bottle. Can't help you much on the selection. We are another "red wine only" household and I dislike whites so much that I never drink them so I don't have a valid opinion about them.

 

[Quinn222]

While I agree that rosé could never be taken seriously, there are plenty of excellent whites.

Better qualify that! Cheap rosé is awful. However, Spain, Portugal and Italy produce some amazing still ones that you will pay a fortune for but that absolutely should be taken very seriously indeed. Also many of the best Champagne houses and wineries produce a sparkling Brut Rosé that is like nothing else. Of course you're paying $45-$100 a bottle for it but it's amazing stuff. Pair Iron Horse Brut Rosé with ham and tell me you're not a happy camper!

Sadly in this country it's very hard to buy rosé wines, all you see is 'White Zinfandel' or 'White Merlot.' *gag*

 

[ducklite]

Better qualify that! Cheap rosé is awful. However, Spain, Portugal and Italy produce some amazing still ones that you will pay a fortune for but that absolutely should be taken very seriously indeed. Also many of the best Champagne houses and wineries produce a sparkling Brut Rosé that is like nothing else. Of course you're paying $45-$100 a bottle for it but it's amazing stuff. Pair Iron Horse Brut Rosé with ham and tell me you're not a happy camper!

Sadly in this country it's very hard to buy rosé wines, all you see is 'White Zinfandel' or 'White Merlot.' *gag*

That's true, there are some rosé's that are excellent--Cristal is one of them now that I think about it...

I was more speaking of the Gallo and it's peers--the ones that come in gallon jugs with the ever so handy screw off top.

Because the OP seems to be interested in wines in the $10-15 range, there isn't a single rosé I'd suggest.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

OP,

Another wine you might really likke (but it's quite pricey!) is Conundrum, a blend of various white grapes.

If you have the opportunity to order it by the glass in a restaurant that might be a good time to give it a try.

Anne

 

[PrincessKitty1]

If you are at a wine tasting or wine store, you can say something like, "I've liked some of the sweeter German white wines I've tasted, but I don't recall what they were," and let the salesperson lead you to a few.

I would guess that most people like the sweeter wines when they are first trying wines. The first wine I ever liked was the Manichevitz that I had at a Passover seder when I was 19--it tasted exactly like grape juice (it's among the cheapest, sweetest wines you can buy ).

Don't be embarrassed--people think they are SUPPOSED to like dry wines, but the only "supposed to" in wine is that you are supposed to have fun and enjoy it . I've taken about 5 different wine courses taught by various wine shops in my area--one of them was taught by a very sophisticated and knowledgable person who LOVED the sweeter wines.

If you come across a wine shop were the personnel seem snobby, just go to a different shop--we have one very snooty wine shop in our area but all the rest are friendly.Guess where we shop!

BTW I still love Sutter Home White Zinfindel--it makes me feel like I'm 25 years old again--it's very sweet, cheap, and unsophisticated , and I like to drink it with spicy food at Tex-Mex-type restaurants. Other than that, I do prefer merlots,cabernets,chardonnays, and pinot grigio and I usually find plenty of wines I like in the $10 to $20 dollar a bottle range.

 

[RUDisney]

Chateau Ste. Michelle's Riesling is a very good, fruit-filled wine. It is about the sweetest that I want, outside of a good ice wine after dinner, but they are out of your price range right now. This Riesling is under $10. For a sweeter version, and lightly more expensive, try Eroica. This is a compilation of Chateau Ste. Michelle and Dr. Loosen. It is sweet, yet rated well by the wine bigshots.

Once you get the Rieslings under your belt, Leap Frog Winery offers a Leap Frog Milk (or Milch, I can't remember the spelling) that is a blend of Chardonnay and Riesling, so it cuts the oakiness of the chardonnay.

Anne, thanks for the cue on the CSM merlot. I haven't tried that. My favorite merlot is the blue label one from Copolla Estates, err, I guess now it's called Rubicon Estates ($15 - $20.) I like that because it is merlot with more of a cabernet quality than a merlot.

 

[tw1nsmom]

Another German varietal that's sweet is Gewurztraminer. My mom will drink it and she only likes White Zinfandel. There's actually nothing wrong with enjoying White Zinfandel. It can be the beginning of training your pallet to like wine at all. It's what I first drank and I slowly developed a taste for drier/better wines. However, if you're bringing wine to a party or have company coming, a Riesling or Gewurztraminer will be more impressive than White Zinfandel.