Page 1 of 2

Wine

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:27 pm
by jonnyjj74
Who here is a wine drinker? I feel i've developed a strong foundation in good beer, but when it comes to wine I don't even know where to begin.
Anybody have any $10-$15 recommendations?

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:32 pm
by Cupz
I recall Aesthetics beeing quit the wine'oh

As for me...I sure enjoy a good glass of wine,but I don't like spending alot of cash on it tho. 10/15 $ is pretty expencive for a drink. :oops:

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:34 pm
by milieu
i'm actually studying to become a sommelier right now. wine is my thing!

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:34 pm
by milieu
oh and do you mean $10-$15 for a bottle or a glass? that changes the recommends quite a bit depending on which one you're asking for!

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:36 pm
by jonnyjj74
I was talking about the bottle!
I once had a $15 glass and it was exquisite, but I don't have the money to spend on anything like that right now.

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:40 pm
by milieu
word, i assumed that but you never know!

anyway, i would recommend starting with easy stuff, like a nice sweet white, probably a riesling or a rheinhessen. there are of course very very nice bottles of anything out there, but it is possible to get inexpensive rieslings that aren't bad for the price. i'd say seek out german rielsings in particular, but good (under $15) starters would be a blue moon, schmitt-sohne or chateau saint michelle.

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:50 pm
by harpoon dodger
red wine is teh shit?

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:03 pm
by kyriakos
i don't like the taste of wine :\

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:07 pm
by vonarx
kyriakos wrote:i don't like the taste of wine :\


me either.

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:36 pm
by The Other
I had a really good merlot the other day...it was called black swan it was 6.99...not to bad i must say...


i enjoy wine alot and i have discovered that somtimes it is best just to go to a store and pick up a couple bottles at random that are in your price range. it is hit and miss but i found alot of good wines that way.

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:53 pm
by jonnyjj74
milieu wrote:word, i assumed that but you never know!

anyway, i would recommend starting with easy stuff, like a nice sweet white, probably a riesling or a rheinhessen. there are of course very very nice bottles of anything out there, but it is possible to get inexpensive rieslings that aren't bad for the price. i'd say seek out german rielsings in particular, but good (under $15) starters would be a blue moon, schmitt-sohne or chateau saint michelle.


Thank you, that sounds like a great starting point. Are the riesling or rheinhessen strictly white, or are do they also have decent reds?

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:58 pm
by milieu
rieslings and rheinessens are always white. while reds are good too, i would say white is a better starting point, imo. you kinda want to start with sweetest and work your way through to dryest.

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:23 pm
by silo flame
white zinfandel/ strawberry/pink wines go down easiest, as they are the sweetest..

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:24 pm
by jonnyjj74
milieu wrote:rieslings and rheinessens are always white. while reds are good too, i would say white is a better starting point, imo. you kinda want to start with sweetest and work your way through to dryest.

I understand your point, but usually enjoy the very thick/bitter beers, and strong french-pressed black coffee, etc.
I will have to do more research, though.
Thanks for your help!

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:27 pm
by milieu
word, then you'd love apertifs...like a good solid port/tawny. check those out, but you have to go to the liquor store to get them usually as they are fortified with brandy.

a warm chocolate bundt cake and a syrupy port are very hard to top together...

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:03 pm
by wwbjd
I am a wine-o.

Really like most of the "Marquis-Phillips" label out of Australia (their Cabernet particularly - $15) as well as Lingenfelder's "Bird Label" Riesling (also $15?).

"Wishing Tree" Shiraz is also nice out of Australia (hmm - $15?).

Though you really can't beat a thick and sugary Sauterne. Just make sure you have friends around to help drink it :)

Precious bottles in my collection would be a handful of Domaine Serene Pinot Noir's and a couple of older Mouton Rothschild's which I'm sure one has turned to vinegar by now (but it's got the Picasso label!) and some Stag's Leap "Cask 23".

I was *really* big on wine auction's for a while, so stocked up on some as an investment. Could be some of the best investments I've ever made as the prices for particular bottles have doubled over the last year.

Yeah, I drink it just about every night. Beer makes me too sleepy, though I've been on a bourbon kick recently (thanks Deadwood!)

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:26 pm
by Aesthetics
Wine has such a broad pallet so it's sooo difficult to know where to start. I think you can best try all kind of countries such as France, Spain, California, Australia, Chile and Argentina. Merlot of Caberbet/Sauvignon are pretty easy to start with. Australian are mostly very light and sweet and Chilean/Argentines are mostly more heavy and spicey. I myself are very into Chilean wines. If you want to play it safe you should try a Reserva of an average price.


Keep in mind that expensive wines aren't necessarily good wines! and if you don't like the taste of a certain wine you can close it and reopen it 1 or 2 days later. Sometimes it's a vast difference.

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 1:43 am
by harpoon dodger
Fontana de Papa is the name of a hep red wine...but i think i'm forgetting something..like where its from. Or some other part of the name...I'll try and remember. :oops:

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:58 am
by A_Northern_Soul
Aesthetics wrote:Wine has such a broad pallet so it's sooo difficult to know where to start. I think you can best try all kind of countries such as France, Spain, California, Australia, Chile and Argentina. Merlot of Caberbet/Sauvignon are pretty easy to start with. Australian are mostly very light and sweet and Chilean/Argentines are mostly more heavy and spicey. I myself are very into Chilean wines. If you want to play it safe you should try a Reserva of an average price.


Keep in mind that expensive wines aren't necessarily good wines! and if you don't like the taste of a certain wine you can close it and reopen it 1 or 2 days later. Sometimes it's a vast difference.


Agreed. It can be a bit intimidating confronted with so much choice. it's a good idea to find a couple of things you like, and gradually branch out from there - same way you'd get into different music!

I'm with Aesthetics on Chilean wines. Very nice. Also the Australian label Wolf Blass is another favourite.

Most of all, enjoy :wink:

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:59 pm
by ross adey
Image mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm