For Wine Drinkers

If you don't like the taste of Red there is ver subtle difference in varietals you can try. One of my favorite reds is a Pinot Noir, which I beleive has a very good fruity, earth flavor compared to a Cab or Merlot. I drink reds with pretty much everything. Even when a white wine would be more delicate and better paired.

I buy mid priced wines so I am probably not a good person to ask for recommendations. For a Pinot Noir, try A to Z Wineworks (2010) for around $12. II do like Parker Estate Cabs and the are usually found around the $15 range. If you want to step up, (my drinking wine) I LOVE the Franciscan Cabernet (2010) and I find that locally around $25. If you really want a treat, but also want to spend some money, check out some of the 2005 vintages, like one of my all-time favorites, Columbia Crest Reserve (if you can even find it), circa $120.

Thing is, it is all subjective. Just go out and try value bottles of different varietals until you find somethiing you like. Then try different wineries of that type. It does get expenisve though!

Also, Sauvignon Blanc is a good white to try -- to me it tastes a little greener than the fruitier Pinot Grigio.

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough is so refreshing! And cheap!

I'm a cheap wine drinker. Seriously, cheap. If wine is over $5 I won't buy it.

I just found a brand called Tisdale. Here in CA they sell it at Food 4 Less stores. They have a Chocolate Cabernet that sells for $4.98. It's like drinking a tootsie roll! And unlike other chocolate wines I've seen, it isn't milky-brown. It looks like a normal red wine, but smells and tastes like a tootsie roll. Seriously dangerous! I highly recommend it.:drinker:

It is about taste . I am big on the West Coast wines including Washington and Oregon. I also tend to buy mid-range wines but there are some great ones all over the place. For White - the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is outstanding. Also King Estate Pinot Gris (Washington). Decoy Chardonnay, Bogle makes a decent Petite Syrah and Merlot which I happen to really enjoy. So deos Lava Cap. They also make a good Old Vine Zin. Klinkerbrick makes a Syrah that is outstanding but much tougher to find then their Old Vine Zin. Francis Coppola has a decent Red Blend as well. and I could go on and on. Trentadue makes a really good Red Blend (Trader Joes usually has it) Also Erath (Willamette valley Oregon) makes a really good Pinot Noir. If there is a Total Wine around you, they do a great job of Wine tasting and will set it up by region or type. My 2 cents +

DH & I enjoy medium to full reds in the $8-$16 range, especially Montepulciano (Italy) & Tempranillo (Spain). Root 1 makes a Carmenere (Chile) for around $11-$13 that I like a lot. For all you thrifty winos out there, Costco has a Three Thieves (California) that comes in a giant bottle for $10. It's not bad for the price, but it's not memorable either. My new fav is Domaine de la Beaujolais (France). Picked it up on a lark and was blown away by it's lively flavor.

I'll be the first to agree that there is a reason wine and fruit and cheese and chocolate play off one another so well on the palatte, but I find it obnoxious when people insist that certain wines can only be paired with certain foods. It's a guideline, a starting point, nothing more. I once had a waiter tell me to order a different entree because I wanted fish with my red wine. I was about to order a plate of "Up Yours" instead, but I kept it classy and informed him that I knew exactly what I wanted with my red wine. Fish, dammit.

We have some friends who own a wine bistro, and they were interviewed in a magazine. My favorite part of the article was when they were asked if the price of wine corresponds to the taste. Their reply? "When it comes down to it, it's ALL just grape juice! Drink what you like!"

You have to figure out your palate, and that comes from tastings. Do you like new world or old world, high tannic or low, spicy, smooth, etc. There is literally a whole world of choices.

I wasn't always a red drinker, but I wanted to learn. I started with Pinot Noir from California. Usually smoother and fruitier than it's other red counterparts. If you like red (like I do now) I suggest trying south american cabernets or malbecs. If you are an in between, get a spanish rioja or a southern italian/scicilian. Those are smoother, but still have the earthy, old world, spicy flavor that I adore!

I hate sweet wines. I'm very picky with my whites. Nothing from North or South America. New Zealand and France make my favorite whites. Italian is hit or miss with me.

And don't discount a real rose. I say "real" rose, because in America, we have mainly White Zinfandel, which I cannot stand. But I was in Provence, which has rose as it's main seller, and I did not have one that I didn't like. So I'd definitely recommend trying them.

After this rant, you may find out that your palate is completely different than mine. But just go out and try things until you find what you like. Also, there is a free phone app called Vivino. You can take a photo of a bottle of wine, it will bring up the make/model/description/reviews that are available.

Hi im in australia, and only drink white cab sav blanc from new zealand, marlborough estate, fabulous, i just cant drink white wine from anywhere else, and they allways have deals on 3 bottles for $24.00 australian. When it comes to red, i find i get reactions a weird rash when i drink anything but the organics range, thats an aussie red from south australia organics do a range from merlot to shiraz and all are deep heavy and just lovelly Price about 8 aussie bucks a bottle..

Well, enjoy your wine nice post, I certainly enjoy mine, :drinker: I have a glass right now lol cheers

I'll be the first to agree that there is a reason wine and fruit and cheese and chocolate play off one another so well on the palatte, but I find it obnoxious when people insist that certain wines can only be paired with certain foods. It's a guideline, a starting point, nothing more. I once had a waiter tell me to order a different entree because I wanted fish with my red wine. I was about to order a plate of "Up Yours" instead, but I kept it classy and informed him that I knew exactly what I wanted with my red wine. Fish, dammit.

Agreed! Just enjoy and go with what you think tastes best

I am in the UK ut only drink Australian White Chardonnay/Pinot grigio or New Zealand chardonnay/Pinot grigio...We were lucky to be in NZ and Visited 2 vineyards and watched the process and had lunch there and although this was 2009 I am very parcial to Villa Maria wines:-) brings back to us very happy memories whilst on honeymoon.

Hubby and I make our own wine.. it will be ready just in time for Summer. I am excited to try it!

I second the notion about going for a Pinot Noir if you must buy it.. you should really try making some. It's a great activity for a husband and wife to do together!

What a neat idea for a couple to do. How long does it take from start to finish?

Personally I'm a big fan of South American Wines such as Malbec's. Gascon is my favorite so far.

For whites, I absolutely love Pinot Grigio ^_^ Other than that, the Sancerre grape is excellent, but expensive and hard to find (here in Singapore). Because these two grapes are harder to find here, I often default to any Sauvignon Blanc I tend to prefer anything that states that it's dry and avoid most fruity wines.

For reds, I'm really picky ^^;; I don't know if you can get them, but anything from near the Black Forest region is good I also like Chianti wines, especially if you can get them from the independent smaller vineyards. As with the white wines, I tend towards dry and rich red wines.

Hope this helps ^^:;;

I am in love with the Organiz Fuzion Cabernet Sauvignon lately - so good! And I got an aerator for Christmas which I use to pur it so I can drink it right away, works really well.

I also really love Shiraz and Malbec blends from Argentina.

Also Erath (Willamette valley Oregon) makes a really good Pinot Noir.

Great suggestions. I would also recommend most Willamette Valley wines, especially in Pinot Noir's. While other areas can tend to be more like a rose', the Willamette Valley Pinots tend to be bigger, bolder, with more fruit foward, which is what I really like in most wine varietals.