Wine

[BigJohn&TheLions]

I'm getting to the point in life where screw-top wine is not doing anything for me. I'm 32 years old and damn it, I feel ready to use a corkscrew on a regualr basis!

Can anybody suggest decent, if not good brands to buy that are relatively affordable? I like both red and white. In white I love Chardonay. In red I like more of a fruity, sweet taste than the heavy and bitter.

Any suggestions? I don't feel like blowing a lot of cash here either. I'm not looking to impress anybody... (the odds of getting a dame to my pad are pretty slim.)

[RendeR]

Well hell dude...I'm 36 and I get a dame to come to my apt and she BRINGS the wine.....





ok FINE, so what if its my mother-in-law......

[MrBug708]

White is so hit and miss that you should find a store that has a broad selection and just pick random wines that you think you might like. Not sure if you have Trader Joes out there, but they have a great selection. Mass produced wine like Calloway just isn't very good.

[Cringer]

Funny, my wife and I were joking about wine the other day. The only time I have ever had wine was in about the 9th grade, getting drunk off of Boone's.

Then I graduated to kegs.....

[rlfreeze]

Wines from Robert Mondavi and Rodney Strong are not bad wines. I drink exclusively red wine and find them to be good wines. They are relatively cheap and can also be found in the grocery store.

[BucDawg40]

I'm on a Yellow Tail kick lately, preferrably the merlot. Cheap and effective!

[jbmagic]

Charles Shaw at Trader Joe. great wine for 1.99 only

They have Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz flavor.

http://www.traderjoes.com/new/chuckshaw.asp

[Honolulu_Blue]

Charles Shaw at Trader Joe. great wine for 1.99 only

They have Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz flavor.

http://www.traderjoes.com/new/chuckshaw.asp
Agreed. Two Buck Chuck aint too bad at all for the price. Trader Joe's has a bunch of decent, cheap wines.

[miked]

Bogle Merlot for a Red is pretty good. Screw tops are actually all the new rage, preserve the taste better than cork and you don't get bits of it in the wine. Bonny Dune Reisling (I probably killed the spelling) is a nice, cheap white, but it's screw top.

[WSUCougar]

There was a wine thread a couple months ago that had a lot of good suggestions, as I recall. Might try a search.

[Draft Dodger]

in white, I like a Riesling...but I don't really have a brand preference - Schmitt Sohne is good, but there's also an Australian brand I like as well (all I remember is that the bottle is blue)

[Flame Eater]

Sutter Home is a California label that I have always liked; esp the White Zin.

[moriarty]

Charles Shaw at Trader Joe. great wine for 1.99 only

They have Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz flavor.

http://www.traderjoes.com/new/chuckshaw.asp

Dear god, he just got out of screw tops and is 32 years old and you're directing him to 2 buck chuck? (sigh). 2 buck chuck is a baby step above wine in a box. If you're going to "step up", there are plenty of bottles in the $8-14 range which are significantly better IMHO.

Like WSUCougar mentioned there was a wine thread a while back which suggested several very good wines. I personally would recommend a light red Shiraz from Rosemount. If you have a Costco or World Market near by you can often buy it for a reasonable price.

[QuikSand]

Go to a wine shop (as opposed to a package store that happens to have a few bottles of wine), tell the manager or assistant what you tend to like and tell them what you would like to spend. Don't be shy, it's okay to say that you would like to try some affordable wines for $8-12 per bottle. There's nothing wrong with that at all.

For the most part, people in thw wine business are not sharks -- this isn't used cars. You are pretty likely to get decent advice, and the more honest you are, the better results you are likely to have.


Right now, I think there are some nice wines coming from Washington state, that tend to be good values. Columbia Crest is a label that is pretty consistent and pretty affordable -- a 750ml bottle of their Merlot/Cabernet blend generally goes for $9 around here, and I always feel I get my money's worth with it. But your mileage may vary, by all means.


From a movie I liked from years ago Eating Raoul, I remember a line from the main character: "A poor wine at a cheap price is no bargain."

Of course, there's also "I'm NOT going to drink fucking Merlot!" from Sideways, so my advice need to be placed into context, as I do enjoy a Merlot from time to time.

[st.cronin]

Ecco Domani is a very solid label, around 9-10 a bottle.

Most wine shops host wine tastings where you can usually find some things you like.

[Glengoyne]

Ecco Domani is a very solid label, around 9-10 a bottle.

Most wine shops host wine tastings where you can usually find some things you like.
Ah their Pino Grigio is one of the few whites I can stomach. I don't like dry white wine, so my selection is limited.

As for the Two Buck Chuck. I think most folks would taste it without knowing what it is, and consider that it was in the $10+ price range. Most everything my wife and I drink falls in the $10-$20. We found a couple of relatively local wineries where we enjoy a good number of their offerings, and have lately been stepping up to the $20-$30 range for special occasions.

I think QS has given you the best advice. Head to a quality Liquor store/Wine Shop, and ask questions. Many of them have tastings on a weekly or monthly basis. Take the plunge.

[mrsimperless]

Dear god, he just got out of screw tops and is 32 years old and you're directing him to 2 buck chuck? (sigh). 2 buck chuck is a baby step above wine in a box. If you're going to "step up", there are plenty of bottles in the $8-14 range which are significantly better IMHO.


Although it's only two bucks, I'll second the Trader Joe's wine. I'm not an expert by any means, but I steered clear of this stuff for a long time becasue of the price. Usually the very minimum I'd spend on a bottle was $8-$10, but I had enough people recommend this that I finally gave it a try. Although it's not the greatest in the world I definitely wouldn't categorize it as "2 buck chuck". If they started selling it for $10 a bottle I would still buy it.

[JeeberD]

Wines from Robert Mondavi and Rodney Strong are not bad wines.

Yup, Mondavi Private Selection Cab is a very nice, fruity cab. Dry, but not overly so...

http://www.brogsitter.de/products/9890_00_g.gif

[jbmagic]

Dear god, he just got out of screw tops and is 32 years old and you're directing him to 2 buck chuck? (sigh). 2 buck chuck is a baby step above wine in a box. If you're going to "step up", there are plenty of bottles in the $8-14 range which are significantly better IMHO.

Like WSUCougar mentioned there was a wine thread a while back which suggested several very good wines. I personally would recommend a light red Shiraz from Rosemont. If you have a costco or world maret near by you can often buy it for a reasonable price.

you wil be surprise if you try charles shaw wine. the wine is great. dont let the low price fool you.

[Franklinnoble]

Wine drinking is faggoty.

[BigJohn&TheLions]

Wine drinking is faggoty.
Henry Earl is not gay!

[QuikSand]

Wine drinking is faggoty.

What is the definition of trolling around here, again?

[Franklinnoble]

What is the definition of trolling around here, again?
Strictly a matter of interpretation.

I honestly feel like a homo sitting around with a wine glass, swirling it about and sniffing it like some bourgeois prick. But that's just my opinion.

[flere-imsaho]

I honestly feel like a homo sitting around with a wine glass, swirling it about and sniffing it like some bourgeois prick.

There's your problem, then. Just try drinking it without all the poncy mannerisms.

[st.cronin]

Strictly a matter of interpretation.

I honestly feel like a homo sitting around with a wine glass, swirling it about and sniffing it like some bourgeois prick. But that's just my opinion.

I think you're confusing wine with cognac.

[JeeberD]

Wine drinking is faggoty.

:rolleyes:

And from the guy smack in the middle of wine country, to boot...

[JeeberD]

Dola-

There's your problem, then. Just try drinking it without all the poncy mannerisms.

Bingo!

[JeeberD]

I know you aren't there by choice, but you would think that with so much wine country around you would have tried to enjoy it...

Edit: FTSB :mad:

[Franklinnoble]

:rolleyes:

And from the guy smack in the middle of wine country, to boot...
I've said it before and I'll say it again... I'm here as a matter of circumstance. I've only lived here three years. I'm not a native, and I don't care for most of the local customs, culture, or government.

[Franklinnoble]

I know you aren't there by choice, but you would think that with so much wine country around you would have tried to enjoy it...

Edit: FTSB :mad:
Actually, I don't drink at all... so it's all wasted on me.

[Franklinnoble]

http://polophonic.8bit.co.uk/photogallery/wine%20tasting/images/wine%20tasting%20paul%20and%20ian.jpg

[JeeberD]

http://www.yaboogie.com/smap/rd.chug/images/chug_darren_jpg.jpg

Now this is the proper way to do it, Franky... ;)

[Franklinnoble]

http://www.yaboogie.com/smap/rd.chug/images/chug_darren_jpg.jpg

Now this is the proper way to do it, Franky... ;)
Nah...

Maybe this way:

http://www.danceandski.co.uk/wine-box-1.jpg

[moriarty]

you wil be surprise if you try charles shaw wine. the wine is great. dont let the low price fool you.

I have tried it and I'm not a fan. Of course I did know the price but I'd like to believe that it didn't influence me.

Don't get me wrong, if you like it that's great (I know a lot of people who do) and I'm hardly a wine snob, so if you find something you like at a cheap price go for it.

I was just thinking if the guy is looking to move up from 'screw tops', there are some nicer (again IMO) wines out there for a little bit more.

[kurtism]

A decent red that is available simply everywhere is Rosemount Shiraz, black bottle with the black and red label. Cost anywhere from $7 - $12 a bottle, depending on local listings, and is a very nice, low-tannin, fruit forward wine. Won't blow anyone away, but rarely disappoints. As for whites, I am a huge fan of Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand, they always have nice fruit (particularly grapefruit), and you can usually find good bottles in the $9-$12 range.

[MrBug708]

I'm a TA in a Wine and Spirits class. I've already taken the class and it's rather interesting. Most people dont do well because all they want to do is drink. It's pretty funny to see people bitch and moan about the test that is super hard.

Wines from Chile, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand are starting to become very prominent and they are very affordable. Easy to drink wines.

[jbmagic]

i never bought an expensive wine or try one.

is there a big difference in the quality and taste of the wine when going up in price? can you tell the difference between a low price wine and an expensive one?

[Pumpy Tudors]

i never bought an expensive wine or try one.

is there a big difference in the quality and taste of the wine when going up in price? can you tell the difference between a low price wine and an expensive one?
I don't drink, but I would certainly hope that there is a notable difference.

[Alf]

i never bought an expensive wine or try one.

is there a big difference in the quality and taste of the wine when going up in price? can you tell the difference between a low price wine and an expensive one? generally yes. Isn't it surprising ? http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

To me , I have reached the €10 plateau. I used to be at the €7.5 mark lately. However, I am looking to buy some wine to keep for a few (15) years (for my daughters 18yo fiesta) and then I would need to buy €25-30 / bottle wine. Most probably Margaux or Pauillac (those are from the Medoc area in France, North West of Bordeaux). I drink 90% Bordeaux red wine and 10% rest of France (Cotes du Rhones, Pays de Loire, Fitou)

In terms of whites, I don't buy many sweet wines as my wife prefers dry and mineral wines and I am pretty satisfied with wines for the "Loire" area (Savennieres, Quincy, Menetou-Salon, Pouilly-fumé), and I also appreciate some Burgundy wines such as Pouilly-Fuissé, St Véran or Chablis. Most are in the €7-€10 range.

That's for what I drink. And, yes, that's french wines, but I am a bit biased :p


For local wines, I guess QuikSand summed it up correctly.