I have no idea what I like, need wine crash course!?!
Answers: So, I have gotten myself into a pickle. I told a guy I preferred wine to beer. Then he asked me all these questions...and I have no idea noooo idea. I'm seeing him today. Need help.
Just tell him that you don't really know all that much, just prefer the taste. That being said there are three types of table wines: dry, semi-dry or semi-fruity, and fruity.
Dry: (Red wines) Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Bordeaux, Burgundy, (whites) Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio (though some Pinots are sweeter than what I'd call "dry")
Semi-dry: Reislings, most of the blush wines like white zinfandel, white merlot, rose
Fruity: anything labeled as a dessert wine, sweet port
Really, the best thing you can do is keep a notebook of what you drink and record your likes and dislikes! Don't be afraid to read labels in the store. Wineries usually give good descriptions of what their wines taste like, and foods they pair with well.
Have fun...just enjoy the experience and don't be afraid to admit you're new at this. Just because you like wine doesn't mean you have to analyze it to death. Don't worry about being labeled "cheap." If you like it, drink it. Some of my favorite wines are the $5 specials at Trader Joe's!
There are so many kinds of wines..... what do you prefer? If you like, send me an email with specific questions, I'll try to help.
I prefer wine to beer myself, but I don't know that much about it. My favorite is Lambrusco red wine. It's mild and not too overwhelming for the casual wine drinker. I don't like the more bitter kinds like Cabernet and Merlot very much. If you have to drink some, I would try the kind I mentioned above first. It's pretty tame.
And hey, don't feel weird about just coming out and saying that you don't know jack about wine! He might think it was funny.
Have you actually had some different wines & know what they taste like, or no? You could come clean with your guy and just tell him the truth...otherwise, I found some links for you that should help you out a bit...
http://www.neworleans.com/Wine_-_Types_o...
http://www.frenchscout.com/types-of-red-...
http://www.frenchscout.com/types-of-whit...
Those have a lot of basic info without being overwhelming~I hope they help you out! The 2nd and 3rd links also give you an idea of what they taste like. Good Luck to You!
Oh - and if you live in the US here are some popular, inexpensive wine brands that you can find almost anywhere:
http://www.yellowtailwineusa.com/wines/i...
http://www.alicewhite.com/home_intro.asp...
http://www.columbia-crest.com/
http://www.ravenswood-wine.com/
Well I can't throw out any major names but I do know that red wine has a sweeter taste and white wine is usaually more bitter so if u don't want to sound to crazy go with swetter but white do taste better with fruit
I think it's okay to admit that you don't have a broad knowledge of wine. However, be specific about what kind of wine you DO like. For whites, a basic pinot grigio or chardonnay are good. (My favorites are viognier and champagne) Maybe state what characteristics you like (dry, crisp, fruity, sweet, oakey, light, etc). For reds, maybe a shiraz, syrah, or a malbec.(full-bodied, spicy, chocolate, etc.) Or impress him by saying you are quite fond of the new red blends (cabernet/merlot, etc.) Tell him what you enjoy and suggest he teach you about wines he enjoys. Wines mean different things to different people. Just stay away from blush or white zinfandel. They are perceived as cheap. Lots of luck and have fun!!
OK, so what you need to remember, if you don't know anything, act like you do. A white wine like a Riesling is a little sweeter than many. Also a blush is a little sweeter. When he or the waiter asks what you want, just say a Riesling or a blush.
Personally, I like a red but they can be a little astringent if you don't know what you prefer. I'd lay off those at first.
Don't try to complicate things with wine names or years.
The best thing you can do is get the book "Wine for Dummies." It is actually a good book. There are so many introductions to wine but they are not written in a way that makes them easy to sit down and read the basics quickly.
I bought Wine for Dummies because they have it at the commercial wine brewing shops in town as a reference.
Don't bother reading about the regions of wine growing right away. Just the basics of tasting, buying, types of glasses and that stuff.