What's in your wine rack?

[AnalBumCover]

Along the same lines as the liquor thread...

Do you have a wine rack?

What's in it? What do you buy? Why?

[Joe]

no.

[QuikSand]

no.

I know it's just some guy who chose this as his screen name for this forum...

...but I still get a kick when our own GWB gives a response that seems perfectly in keeping with what I'd expect from the real GWB.

[moriarty]

Along the same lines as the liquor thread...

Do you have a wine rack?

What's in it? What do you buy? Why?

I have about 40 bottles in my wine rack covering a variety of wineries, but nothing too fancy.

On the functional but not fancy side I have a couple of bottles of Rosemont Shiraz (~$10 per bottle) which I enjoy, and also a bottle of Penfolds Shiraz.

From Napa wineries, I have several bottles of Joseph Phelps (my personal favorite), Plumpjack, and a Cabrinet I believe from Cakebread. In the Chardonnay category I have a nice Chateu Saint Jean.

[gottimd]

I know it's just some guy who chose this as his screen name for this forum...

...but I still get a kick when our own GWB gives a response that seems perfectly in keeping with what I'd expect from the real GWB.

How do you know it isn't the Real Dubya?

[SunDancer]

40 bottles? When do you drink them?

[bbor]

I used to have a lot of Reislings....but now i tend to drink more Chardonnay.

All white of course.

[bbor]

40 bottles? When do you drink them?

While chasing Sherlock Holmes of course ;)

[gottimd]

All the bottles in my wine rack have a Citrus, passion fruit smell, with just the faintest soupçon of asparagus, and, like, a nutty Edam cheese.

[moriarty]

40 bottles? When do you drink them?

Often. You can easily rotate through that amount in a year, especially if you enjoy wine with meals versus beer or hard alcohol.

And not that I'm a wine connoisseur by any means, but some bottles you need to keep in your rack a few years before you drink them to let them age.

[MacroGuru]

30 Bottles, mainly reds, focusing on Australian Shiraz, Pinot's, and Cab's.

I have about 5 to 6 bottles of white we rotate through as well.

I have an Argentine Wine I love that the name escapes me right now. It is a very good red wine, that people ask me about when I serve it.

[Desnudo]

I had a wine rack filled with about 30 bottles of wine in November. Mainly Pinot Noir and Syrah from Australia, Washington and Oregon. Now it has a quarter-bottle of The Famous Grouse scotch. Winter in Seattle.

[MacroGuru]

Speaking of wines, when I was in Memphis back in May, we had a desert wine that rocked.

It was an Ice Wine from Renwood I think...best desert wine ever....

[AnalBumCover]

I have about 10 bottles. Reds mostly.

A favorite of mine that passes through my wine rack most often is the Coppola Diamond Series. In particular, the Black Label Claret and the Green Label Syrah.

"Two-Buck Chuck" should be a staple among the college folk on a budget.

[SunDancer]

Often. You can easily rotate through that amount in a year, especially if you enjoy wine with meals versus beer or hard alcohol.

And not that I'm a wine connoisseur by any means, but some bottles you need to keep in your rack a few years before you drink them to let them age.

Thanks. It just seems like alot of bottles. Do you guys keep champange around as well?

[WSUCougar]

Around 15 at the moment, fresh off a mixed case discount purchase at World Market.

Reds, mainly (cab, merlot, shiraz, syrah, pinot noir), with a few northwest Reislings and Fetzer Gewurtzes (which we drink like water).

[jbmagic]

for white wine

what do you recommend for white wine that kinda sweet?

any favorite at Trader Joe's?

thanks

[henry296]

We really like Reisling's and had a nice one at dinner on Friday night. It was a Jean-Baptiste Kabinett (sp).

[WSUCougar]

for white wine

what do you recommend for white wine that kinda sweet?
Try a Gewurtztraminer. Fetzer is a great label that's inexpensive. Washington and Oregon labels do well with that variety as well.

There is also a good Aussie blend called Traminer-Reisling (I believe it's Rosemount).

[jbmagic]

Try a Gewurtztraminer. Fetzer is a great label that's inexpensive. Washington and Oregon labels do well with that variety as well.

There is also a good Aussie blend called Traminer-Reisling (I believe it's Rosemount).



thanks so much.

appreciate it..

i dont know to much about wine. but i am going to buy Fetzer Gewurtztraminer and give it a try.

i guess wine is all about try and taste.

any good web site about wine recommendation for certain food you eat and just great tasting wine that receive great reviews.

thanks

[Ramzavail]

Ecco Domani - Merlot is a really good cheap wine.

[gottimd]

http://www2.gol.com/users/durf/Images/franzia.jpg

[McSweeny]

i prefer my wine in a box

[Desnudo]

thanks so much.

appreciate it..

i dont know to much about wine. but i am going to buy Fetzer Gewurtztraminer and give it a try.

i guess wine is all about try and taste.

any good web site about wine recommendation for certain food you eat and just great tasting wine that receive great reviews.

thanks

http://www.wine.com/aboutwine/faq/default.asp?Category=7

[Glengoyne]

I don't know that I'd call Gewurtztraminer "kinda" sweet wine. I'd classify it as Desert wine and Damn sweet at that.

If you are into sweet wines there are also a number of nice apricot desert wines or a white muscat.

If kinda sweet translates to not extremely dry....then perhaps a fruity white like a Pinot Grigio would fill the bill.

[WSUCougar]

I don't know that I'd call Gewurtztraminer "kinda" sweet wine. I'd classify it as Desert wine and Damn sweet at that.
Sorry, but as a veteran Gewurtz fan I must respectfully disagree with you.

[Cringer]

http://www2.gol.com/users/durf/Images/franzia.jpg

That about sums up my wine experiences. Chugging the Boone's (many fine flavors) back in high school. Some of that with some Mickey's and you started to understand the meaning of "feeling like shit"

[JeeberD]

I love Shiraz, Cab, and Chianti. The only problem I have with red wines is that if I have more than a couple of glasses of each then I have a huge headache the next morning. Whites, most liquors, and beer don't do that to me. Alas...

My personal favorties are:

Rocca della Macie Chianti Classico Riserva
Ruffino Riserva Ducale Chianti
Penfolds Thomas Hyland's Shiraz
Black Swan Shiraz (nice and cheap)
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cab (nice and cheap)
Sterling Vintner's Collection Cab

Four years ago the only wines I drank were Boone's and the occasional blush. It's amazing how much you can learn about wine at the OG...

[Kodos]

My Mom enjoys White Zin.

[JeeberD]

Dola-

bbor, you and my girl have very similair tastes in wine. She used to drink nothing but Riesling, but now its Chards that she loves.

Personally, the only whites that I can drink at Rieslings. Chards and Pinot Grigios are too damn dry for me...

[Draft Dodger]

I used to have a lot of Reislings....but now i tend to drink more Chardonnay.


Reisling all the way for me. Doesn't really matter from where/who, as long as it's a Reisling

[finkenst]

My wine shelf consists of two bottles of 2000 Westbend Vineyards Merlot.

[Glengoyne]

Sorry, but as a veteran Gewurtz fan I must respectfully disagree with you.
Really? I mean I've had a bottle or actually two, and it really seemed to be pretty damn sweet. Now in retrospect, I don't know that I had actually tasted something that classified itself as an actual desert wine when I dallied in the Gerwurtzawhatever. It is possible my recollection has exaggerated the sweetness. I have long considered it a cut below a number of good desert wines, perhaps I need another taste.

[Vince]

I don't mind a good white wine, but if given a choice I'd much prefer a red. My personal favorites lately --

Yellowtail Shiraz (Australian -- not sure where in Australia it's from)
Ferrari-Carano Merlot (Sonoma County)
Rodney Strong Alexander's Crown Cabernet Sauvignon

Recently at one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara, the Fishouse, a good friend of mine and I were having a late dinner. Their wine list didn't have any descriptions of the wines, so I asked our server for a Cab or Merlot that had a slight fruity taste, hopefully with a hint of Cherries (I'm a fiend for Cherry in wines). She recommended Brander's -- a local winery (Santa Ynez Valley). We got a bottle, and enjoyed it. Later, the waitress asked what we thought, and told us that the owner of the vineyard was sitting at the table behind us. A few minutes later, said owner came up to us and asked us what we thought of the wine. We told him that we were really enjoying it, and he asked if we would mind if he sent us a glass of another wine. We of course accepted, and I got to try the finest red wine I've ever had (I'm not very well traveled when it comes to wine, but still). When I asked the waitress if they sold that wine, so that I could buy a bottle, she told me that that was the Brander's Private Reserve, and that the owner had brought a single bottle in. After the meal, we went to thank him for the glass, and he gave me his card and told us we should visit the winery. I'm looking forward to doing that in a few weeks -- it was fantastic wine. Sadly, I can't find the wine at any local grocery stores or even the more select markets -- I should have asked the owner where I could get some.

[MacroGuru]

30 Bottles, mainly reds, focusing on Australian Shiraz, Pinot's, and Cab's.

I have about 5 to 6 bottles of white we rotate through as well.

I have an Argentine Wine I love that the name escapes me right now. It is a very good red wine, that people ask me about when I serve it.

Check that, it isn't Argentine, it's from Spain.

Marques de Caceres
Vendinia Seleccionada

I have a 2000.

You can find out more about it at Vineyard Brands (http://www.vineyardbrands.com)

[WSUCougar]

Really? I mean I've had a bottle or actually two, and it really seemed to be pretty damn sweet. Now in retrospect, I don't know that I had actually tasted something that classified itself as an actual desert wine when I dallied in the Gerwurtzawhatever. It is possible my recollection has exaggerated the sweetness. I have long considered it a cut below a number of good desert wines, perhaps I need another taste.
Certainly there are Gewurtz that are extra sweet, but many are not in that category. I'm actually not that much of a sweet wine drinker, so I tend to like the dryer versions. Give the Fetzer a try...you should be able to get it quite cheap in Fresno.

[Yellow5]

My family owns a winery in Italy so that dominates the wine rack right now. I live in the Seattle area so we like to sample the small local producers and have a few bottles in the rack that are avg. and nothing to shout about.

[jbmagic]

is there a difference in taste between Fetzer Reisling and Fetzer Gewurtztraminer?

[JeeberD]

It's my understanding that Gewurtztraminer is a bit sweeter than Riesling...

[Draft Dodger]

It's my understanding that Gewurtztraminer is a bit sweeter than Riesling...

...and also a little harder to spell

[Desnudo]

Really? I mean I've had a bottle or actually two, and it really seemed to be pretty damn sweet. Now in retrospect, I don't know that I had actually tasted something that classified itself as an actual desert wine when I dallied in the Gerwurtzawhatever. It is possible my recollection has exaggerated the sweetness. I have long considered it a cut below a number of good desert wines, perhaps I need another taste.

It's supposed to be slightly sweet. You might remember the aroma, which can be strong, more than the taste. It goes well with spicy foods like Thai.

[Desnudo]

...and also a little harder to spell

And pronounce. ;)

[3ric]

About 5 bottles, I think all of them are reds. Maybe there's one white, Jacob's Creek Chardonnay. Only one of the reds did I buy myself, a bottle of Mazi (Italian), the rest probably are gifts from visitors. *checking* Yes, there's four more bottles, red wine from Lebanon, Chile, Portugal and South Africa.

[WSUCougar]

For you red wine fans, check this one out:

http://www.wineloverspage.com/graphics/bigh0928.jpg

It is quite cheap, and has a screw top instead of a cork (*gasp*), but it is darn tasty. I know World Market and Trader Joe's both have it.

[gottimd]

Do any of you have Trout Wine (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=583&e=2&u=/nm/20050131/od_nm/china_wine_dc) yet?

[kurtism]

For you red wine fans, check this one out:

http://www.wineloverspage.com/graphics/bigh0928.jpg

It is quite cheap, and has a screw top instead of a cork (*gasp*), but it is darn tasty. I know World Market and Trader Joe's both have it.

Technically, the cap is known as a Stelvin - proven to be a safer and more effective "corking" mechanism than an actual cork (don't tell the Portugese...) Virtually anything from Randall Graham (founder and general madman of Bonny Doon Vineyards) is most excellent, and usually at a value. He has some great Rieslings, table reds and whites, and even some high end stuff (check the label on Le Cigare Volant, his high end Syrah).

[kurtism]

Dola - Bonny Doon's website (http://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/) is well worth checking out... good stuff, and they often use Ralph Steadman art for the labels.

[Kevin]

I make my own from kits.

Bottled so far:
Pinot Girs
Zinfandel Blush
Liebfraumilch
Bergemais
Reisling

In process:
Barolo
Gewurztraminer
Semillon Chardonnay

Planning to do:
Pinot Noir
Chianti
Sauvignon Blanc

Edit: Each kit makes 30 bottles at an average cost of about $3.50 per bottle. They're great for gifts and for entertaining at home without breaking the bank. (Also, it's a fun hobby that SWMBO understands more than me playing sports sims on the PC.)

[jbmagic]

Kevin

how the taste of it, when you make your own?

[WSUCougar]

(Also, it's a fun hobby that SWMBO understands more than me playing sports sims on the PC.)
But does SkyDog know?

[Glengoyne]

I don't mind a good white wine, but if given a choice I'd much prefer a red. My personal favorites lately --

Yellowtail Shiraz (Australian -- not sure where in Australia it's from)
Ferrari-Carano Merlot (Sonoma County)
Rodney Strong Alexander's Crown Cabernet Sauvignon

Recently at one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara, the Fishouse, a good friend of mine and I were having a late dinner. Their wine list didn't have any descriptions of the wines, so I asked our server for a Cab or Merlot that had a slight fruity taste, hopefully with a hint of Cherries (I'm a fiend for Cherry in wines). She recommended Brander's -- a local winery (Santa Ynez Valley). We got a bottle, and enjoyed it. Later, the waitress asked what we thought, and told us that the owner of the vineyard was sitting at the table behind us. A few minutes later, said owner came up to us and asked us what we thought of the wine. We told him that we were really enjoying it, and he asked if we would mind if he sent us a glass of another wine. We of course accepted, and I got to try the finest red wine I've ever had (I'm not very well traveled when it comes to wine, but still). When I asked the waitress if they sold that wine, so that I could buy a bottle, she told me that that was the Brander's Private Reserve, and that the owner had brought a single bottle in. After the meal, we went to thank him for the glass, and he gave me his card and told us we should visit the winery. I'm looking forward to doing that in a few weeks -- it was fantastic wine. Sadly, I can't find the wine at any local grocery stores or even the more select markets -- I should have asked the owner where I could get some.
You can likely buy the Reserve directly from the winery, if nowhere else. From a quick look on the web, their prices seem to top out at $40.

Also I've been to the Fishouse, and it is pretty good fare, but my favorite place to eat in Santa Barbara is La Superica. I read about them in a magazine article touting them as making the best taco in the United States. I can see no reason to doubt that claim.

[moriarty]

You can likely buy the Reserve directly from the winery, if nowhere else. From a quick look on the web, their prices seem to top out at $40.



Not to threadjack, but one of the crappy things about being in Virginia is that you can't ship wine in from out of state. Some law to protect Virginia's wine industry (or at least enable them to drive up taxes). It makes it very frustrating when you want to find a nice bottle that isn't sold at Total Wine & Beverage. Grrr....

[Glengoyne]

Not to threadjack, but one of the crappy things about being in Virginia is that you can't ship wine in from out of state. Some law to protect Virginia's wine industry (or at least enable them to drive up taxes). It makes it very frustrating when you want to find a nice bottle that isn't sold at Total Wine & Beverage. Grrr....
There are generally exceptions to such laws. Usually related to food preparation products. So you aren't importing wine, but a component of your world famous marinade or salad dressing. I've been told it works.

[jbmagic]

for Fetzer gewertztraminer is it good to serve cold or room temp.?

and what you guys recommend for a sweet red wine? brand and name.

thanks

[WSUCougar]

for Fetzer gewertztraminer is it good to serve cold or room temp.?
I like to chill it for at least a couple hours in the fridge.

I'm afraid I can't help you with sweet reds.

[JeeberD]

for Fetzer gewertztraminer is it good to serve cold or room temp.?

You want to chill just about all white wines before you drink them...



and what you guys recommend for a sweet red wine? brand and name.

Well, the best selling Italian wine in the US is Riunite Lambrusco. It's a chilled, slightly bubbly, very sweet red. Way too sweet for my taste, but beginning wine drinkers love the stuff...

[jbmagic]

I like to chill it for at least a couple hours in the fridge.

I'm afraid I can't help you with sweet reds.


thanks i just bought a bottle, putting in the refrig to chill

its a Fetzer gewertztraminer 2003. that the only year they had.

good year ? or the older the year the better?

does different brand of gewertztraminer or Reisling, etc make it taste different? or pretty much they all taste the same?

[WSUCougar]

I wouldn't worry about the age of the Fetzer Gewurtz too much. My only personal rule with wine ages is if you find a particular wine vintage you like be sure to note the year so you can look for it again.

The different brands (called labels, usually) definitely have different tastes! That's part of the fun...determining who has good ones of the wines you like.

[jbmagic]

I wouldn't worry about the age of the Fetzer Gewurtz too much. My only personal rule with wine ages is if you find a particular wine vintage you like be sure to note the year so you can look for it again.

The different brands (called labels, usually) definitely have different tastes! That's part of the fun...determining who has good ones of the wines you like.


thanks

so the different wines like Reisling, Gewurtz, etc will have similar taste but will be a little different with different labels?

whats a great red wine you recommend? label and name

[WSUCougar]

What I'd recommend you do is check out the different offerings of a solid, inexpensive label. There are several big wineries that are pretty consistently good across the board for a decent price. I rarely spend more that $8-$12 a bottle, and usually hunt for good deals in the $6-$9 range. A lot depends on your home area and the place(s) you shop for wine. In St. Louis we have grocery stores that have excellent wine selection. There are also places like World Market that have good sales.

Anyway, try a label out and see different varieties you like. A few generally-inexpensive labels to suggest: Fetzer, Columbia Crest, BV, Rosemount (or most anything Aussie), Smoking Loon, Barefoot.

Don't be intimidated, and if you don't like something don't be afraid to try it again with a different label. Have fun!

[jbmagic]

Fetzer Gewurtz was only 5.99 at Rite-Aid

good price :)

[WSUCougar]

Yup, that's a good price. :)

Not to threadjack, but one of the crappy things about being in Virginia is that you can't ship wine in from out of state. Some law to protect Virginia's wine industry (or at least enable them to drive up taxes). It makes it very frustrating when you want to find a nice bottle that isn't sold at Total Wine & Beverage. Grrr....
Interesting...I just checked and Wine.com will ship wine to Virginia no problem.

[rlfreeze]

Mostly reds. My pride and joy bottles are: (4) Chateau Branc - Cantenac Margaux '97, (2) Chateauneuf du Pape - Mont Redon '98, and (1) Opus One '97. By far the best bottles of wine I have ever had. Just waiting for special occasions to open these. :)

[Kevin]

Kevin

how the taste of it, when you make your own?

I'm still fairly new at this, so they still haven't aged enough for a final judgement. However, I was very pleased with the Pinot Gris and Bergemais. I didn't think the blush turned out as well, but it is drinkable. The Liefraumilch and Reisling still taste quite 'new', but I think they will be good in two to three months more of bottle aging.

Some friends who are more attuned to wine tasting than I have said the Bergemais was very good, and were shocked when I told them it had only been in the bottle for a month.

If you do your research and read reviews of kits made by various suppliers, you will certainly get decent results. The most important thing is to always be very particular about cleanliness and sanitation of your equipment and bottles.

For $3-$4Cdn a bottle don't expect the quality of a premium collector's wine. You can expect similar quality to a bottle of recent vintage put out by some of the larger scale wine producers.

Taxes on store bought wines in Canada are what make the hobby so worthwhile as you can make it for one-third of the price or less of a similar quality wine. If you have the patience to let it age for a year, the payoff is that much better. That's why I'm producung like mad right now in order to build up enough stock ahead to let it fully age.

[Alf]

no. LO, just what I expected :D

[Alf]

It's my understanding that Gewurtztraminer is a bit sweeter than Riesling... It is indeed. And we say "Gewurtz" :), much easier to spell or pronounce.

[Alf]

double dola

Now, you just started me about wine (remember I am French, born and raised in Bordeaux, wine territory).

I have purchased a wine cabinet last summer (holds roughly 200 bottles) for my top red wine (to avoid temperature fluctuations, and then give better aging of the wine). And now it is already full.....

I have probably 200 bottles of red wine (80% of them being Bordeaux red wine). I also have 50 bottles of white wine (most of it being "dry" wine, not sweet as my wife does not like "sweet" wines) and 20 bottles of Champagne (always one in the fridge, you never know what could happen :D)

Most of it is not ready to drink yet and is maturing slowly (starting in 2007-2008, I should be starting drinking them). If I had more money to put into wine, I'd buy some Burgundy red wine (Gevrey-Chambertin is one of my favorite, but extremely expensive).

I'll post a recap of my Wine-cellar when I load up my cellar-wine management software :D. yes, we do nned that in France !

[Alf]

tripe dola on serving temperature for wine in general

Red
Cotes-du-Rhone : 18°C
Bordeaux : 16-17°C
Burgundy : 15-16°C

White
Most of them from the fridge : 6-8°C
Jura (a bit like Tokay from Hungary) : 15-16°C <<<== surprising but true

Rosé
Well, usually, from the fridge as it is most commonly served with barbecue in the summer (I don't like rosé)

[JeeberD]

What kind of wines would you compare Bordeaux and Burgandy to? Are they more similair to merlot, chianti, cabernet, pinot noir? Just curious...I've only had French wine once and it was a Riesling. Very apply Riesling at that...

[scooter]

What kind of wines would you compare Bordeaux and Burgandy to? Are they more similair to merlot, chianti, cabernet, pinot noir? Just curious...I've only had French wine once and it was a Riesling. Very apply Riesling at that...

Bordeaux and Burgundy are regions of France and not types of grapes (like merlot, shiraz, etc.). Within those regions they grow multiple varieties. Some regions make both red and white wines (like Burgundy). The convention of naming a wine after the grape is "new". In the old world, wines are named after the region and the winemaker.

I hope Alf can help us out here though, France makes the some of the best wines in the world and it would be great to understand them better. When my wife and I were in Paris two years ago, we went into a wine shop to get a couple bottles for our stay. My wife had studied over in France for a year in college so she had tried wines from a number of different regions. We were still overwhelmed by what we saw. We did what any newb would do and asked for help.

[kurtism]

Not French, but I can help, jeeber - Bordeaux wines are typically made from some combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. Burgundy reds are primarily Pinot Noir. Rhone reds are usually Syrah, although I believe Grenache is in the mix as well (and not the pink kind you find in a box ;)). For whatever reason (mostly tradition and wine laws, I believe), European vinyards classify wines by region over grape content, while we colonials tend the other way.

[scooter]

One of the interesting things about naming wines after the grape variety is that a number of styles of wines are actually blends (typically reds). Cabernet Sauvignon is sometimes blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, but if the percentages are small enough, they can still label it as a Cabernet Sauvignon.

I'm going to a wine release party next weekend (this will be our third year with this winery). In past years they have done something interesting. They have samples of "wine" from various vineyards within a growing region. They will have three young Cabernet Sauvignons to taste and each one will be very different. It's the winemakers job to blend those different "wines" to give their wines depth and character.

[moriarty]

Yup, that's a good price. :)


Interesting...I just checked and Wine.com will ship wine to Virginia no problem.

Hmm.. I'll check it out. I have tried to ship wine from Napa before and they wouldn't send it to Virginia. But i do know a friend who was in a wine club and they shipped it to his office address (but wouldn't ship it to his home address??).

I'll have to look into this a little bit more.

[Alf]

Not French, but I can help, jeeber - Bordeaux wines are typically made from some combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. Burgundy reds are primarily Pinot Noir. Rhone reds are usually Syrah, although I believe Grenache is in the mix as well (and not the pink kind you find in a box ;)). For whatever reason (mostly tradition and wine laws, I believe), European vinyards classify wines by region over grape content, while we colonials tend the other way. That's perfect. I am proud of you.

Although I would just add that all the work & craft of the vineyards towards quality resides within the blending of all this "cepages" (grape types). To us, single "cepage" wines, such as Merlot or Sauvignon, are just wine that lack the "finesse" of blending which makes all the difference between a good vineyard and a great vineyard. (Edit => that's just waht scooter said, good guy !). I did appreciate some Napa Valley wine when I was overseas (at your place), but I rarely drink anything foreign (some Chilean wine, some Spanish).

Go Vineyards !

[JeeberD]

Cool, thanks for the explanation, guys. Now I know to stay away from Burgandy wines...I can't stand Pinot Noir... :)

[kurtism]

Cool, thanks for the explanation, guys. Now I know to stay away from Burgandy wines...I can't stand Pinot Noir... :)

Ack, then you are missing out! Pinot Noir is one of the great grapes of all time, notoriously difficult to work with but yielding rewards unmatched by virtually any other grape (except perhaps Nebbiolo, the Italian varietal in such great wines as Barolo). Seek out a great pinot noir, jeebs - it will reward you. For starters, at around $20 a bottle, try the Wild Horse Pinot Noir, very fruit forward and a tasty option (plus, the wine my wife and I drank on our first date!).

[SunDancer]

I've always been curious, are more expensive wines better tasting? The ones that cost hundreds or even thousands a bottle, to the $10-$15 ones.

[kurtism]

I certainly perceive an increase in quality as wines get more expensive - but that doesn't mean that good wines are not out there in the $15-20 range. $100+ bottles can be truly amazing, but I certainly don't have the ducats to drink that kind of wine more than once or twice a year (at the most). FWIW, I find that you can find some really excellent wine here in the States in the $25-40 range. Just ask the wine guy at a quality local liquor store, he will usually guide you well.

[scooter]

I've always been curious, are more expensive wines better tasting? The ones that cost hundreds or even thousands a bottle, to the $10-$15 ones.

It kind of depends on a few things. Sometimes a wine will get a "cult" following and with that the price goes through the roof. That doesn't mean it's a bad wine (probably far from it), but there may be other wines that are more reasonably priced that are just as good. Also, wine is sensitive - it doesn't like light, extreme heat or cold, and it likes a certain range in humidity. If you spend a lot of money on a bottle of wine, you have to take into account where you are buying it from and how you plan to keep it. If you are buying it at your local grocery store, there is no guarantee that it hasn't spent the last 6 hours sitting in the sun on the loading dock.

As far as whether they taste better, someone else may be able to tell you a little better than me. I'm a little afraid to invest anymore than about $60 in a bottle of wine for the above reasons. That being said, my wife and I do have a bottle of '96 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon waiting for our 10th anniversary next year, so I'll get back to you...

[jbmagic]

Wine Aging Question


when you buy a Wine, how do you know if you can drink it right away or know you have to age it?


the longer you age the wine, the better the taste?

does wine go bad if you dont open it for a many many years?

[kurtism]

Wine Aging Question


when you buy a Wine, how do you know if you can drink it right away or know you have to age it?


the longer you age the wine, the better the taste?

does wine go bad if you dont open it for a many many years?

You probably won't like my answer, but honestly: it depends. Most wine sold in the US has been made to drink right away, and very few wines are built to age more than a few years. Thus, unless you are spending more than $20 a bottle, you can probably drink up without worry. For wines that are built to last, yes, they do get better with age. The natural aging process (for reds, at least) tends to mellow out the tannins and bring forth more complex flavors and textures in the wine. As for wine going bad, several factors enter into the equation there. Wine that has been aged past its prime tends to go bland, rather than bad, as the flavors just fade after too long. However, wine can and regularly does go bad when it is "corked" or improperly sealed... Imagine vinegar with an attitude.

Hope that jumble is helpful.

[moriarty]

I've always been curious, are more expensive wines better tasting? The ones that cost hundreds or even thousands a bottle, to the $10-$15 ones.

I find it's a little like becoming an audiophile. If you're a novice, you probably won't notice a significant difference between a $400 receiver and a $2000 receiver. But the more you dig into it, understand and again to appreciate the subtleties, the more you'll value the high end stuff. So in short, don't take a wine tasting class, and be content with the $10 stuff. :)

One idea to get a feel. Have a party where you buy (or have people bring) multiple bottles of wine varying from two buck chuck to whatever $$ level you are comfortable with (try to get wine that doesn't need aged). Brown bag the wine, so that the guests can't read the label, and mark them A, B, C ...etc. Then have everyone taste and write down ratings for each bottle. Compile the ratings and do the big reveal to everyone of the group's ranking, brand and price. You'll end up having a good time, and you'll come to a consensus on what the best wine value is. In my experience, bottles typically in the $10-15 range come out on top w/ casual drinkers over the $3-5 and $20-40 bottles.

[Desnudo]

I've always been curious, are more expensive wines better tasting? The ones that cost hundreds or even thousands a bottle, to the $10-$15 ones.

It depends. Some wines could be considered overrated because of the label reputation or because they are trendy. Often times the price does reflect the quality though. That doesn't mean you can't find a $20 bottle of wine that can compete with the best in the world.

[rkmsuf]

After 3 or 4 glasses I break out the box of wine.

[Desnudo]

Wine Aging Question


when you buy a Wine, how do you know if you can drink it right away or know you have to age it?


the longer you age the wine, the better the taste?

does wine go bad if you dont open it for a many many years?

The general rules of thumb are that you want to drink whites within a few years of purchase and that quality reds can be stored for a long time. If you're spending $5-10 for a bottle, then drink it soon since all wines in that range are meant to be consumed as table wine.

[jbmagic]

thanks

i try the Fetzer Gewurtz. and it was really good white wine.

the bottle said 2003, so that means i need to drink in 2005 because 2 years has pass?

how do you know when to age a bottle and for how long? is there something i look at on the bottle?

[Desnudo]

thanks

i try the Fetzer Gewurtz. and it was really good white wine.

the bottle said 2003, so that means i need to drink in 2005 because 2 years has pass?

how do you know when to age a bottle and for how long? is there something i look at on the bottle?

No, you'd want to drink it within a few years of purchase. So it's good to drink now.