Novice Wine Drinker--how should I begin? I prefer dry reds to white. Suggestions?!
Answers:
There are a lot of wonderful wines out there to try!. You just have to keep on trying to find the wines you might like!. Here are some recommendations from me!.
As for white wines, for beginners, I usually recommend Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling!. Sauvignon Blanc tends to be fruity, slightly sweet, and crisp and easy to drink!. I always enjoy drinking a glass of Sauvignon Blanc such as Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc ($18), Conundrum ($25), or Chateau St!. Michelle ($15)!. As for Riesling, it is usually sweeter but also plenty of fruit!. I recommend either Californian or German!. A good one to start is Bonny Doon Pacific Riesling (either dry or sweet, $12)!.
As for red wine, I would recommend either Cabernet Franc or Zinfandel!. Cabernet Franc is slightly sweet red wine, with quality resembling that of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot but without such bitterness!. There are a few good Cabernet Franc, including Peju ($30) and Titus ($35)!. As for Zinfandel, that is much more reasily accesible and available, as well as cheaper!. Zinfandel is the grape that also makes White Zinfandel (without the grape skin, the wine is sweeter, with grape skin, it is more complex)!. Red Zinfandel, or Zinfandel as we call it, is a wonderful slightly sweet wine with lots of fruit/berry, but they also tend to be higher on alcohol content!. You can try Zinfandel from Chateau Montelena ($25), Frank's ($35), Rosemblum ($12-30), and Ridge ($20-35)!. Pinot Noir is a good option, but I tend to find the cheaper Pinot Noir to be lower quality!. If you were to try, I would recommend Benton Lane Pinot Noir ($25) or Siduri Pinot Noir ($25-50)!. I would not try most of the other cheaper Pinot Noir to be honest!.
If you want the really sweet wine, then try dessert wine!. White dessert wine such as Ice Wine (Inniskilling $65) and Sauturnes (Chateau Rieussec $50 or their second wine $18/half) are very nice to drink after dinner, while Red dessert wine, hands down, is best represented by Port - Sandeman and Dow makes some cheaper Port costing $15-20!.
Good luck and keep on trying!. !. I hope you will find something you will like from this!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
As for white wines, for beginners, I usually recommend Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling!. Sauvignon Blanc tends to be fruity, slightly sweet, and crisp and easy to drink!. I always enjoy drinking a glass of Sauvignon Blanc such as Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc ($18), Conundrum ($25), or Chateau St!. Michelle ($15)!. As for Riesling, it is usually sweeter but also plenty of fruit!. I recommend either Californian or German!. A good one to start is Bonny Doon Pacific Riesling (either dry or sweet, $12)!.
As for red wine, I would recommend either Cabernet Franc or Zinfandel!. Cabernet Franc is slightly sweet red wine, with quality resembling that of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot but without such bitterness!. There are a few good Cabernet Franc, including Peju ($30) and Titus ($35)!. As for Zinfandel, that is much more reasily accesible and available, as well as cheaper!. Zinfandel is the grape that also makes White Zinfandel (without the grape skin, the wine is sweeter, with grape skin, it is more complex)!. Red Zinfandel, or Zinfandel as we call it, is a wonderful slightly sweet wine with lots of fruit/berry, but they also tend to be higher on alcohol content!. You can try Zinfandel from Chateau Montelena ($25), Frank's ($35), Rosemblum ($12-30), and Ridge ($20-35)!. Pinot Noir is a good option, but I tend to find the cheaper Pinot Noir to be lower quality!. If you were to try, I would recommend Benton Lane Pinot Noir ($25) or Siduri Pinot Noir ($25-50)!. I would not try most of the other cheaper Pinot Noir to be honest!.
If you want the really sweet wine, then try dessert wine!. White dessert wine such as Ice Wine (Inniskilling $65) and Sauturnes (Chateau Rieussec $50 or their second wine $18/half) are very nice to drink after dinner, while Red dessert wine, hands down, is best represented by Port - Sandeman and Dow makes some cheaper Port costing $15-20!.
Good luck and keep on trying!. !. I hope you will find something you will like from this!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Depends if you're doing a tasting, or having wine to go with a meal!.
I recommend something like a pinot noir as a good starting point before getting into the bigger, full-flavoured reds (your cabs); there is decent merlot out there but frankly not as much as there should be (which is another decent point of entry)!.
You could, I suppose, have a chianti if you're having italian food (especially anything with a red sauce); but good chianti isn't the easiest thing to find!.
Good luck, and enjoy!Www@FoodAQ@Com
I recommend something like a pinot noir as a good starting point before getting into the bigger, full-flavoured reds (your cabs); there is decent merlot out there but frankly not as much as there should be (which is another decent point of entry)!.
You could, I suppose, have a chianti if you're having italian food (especially anything with a red sauce); but good chianti isn't the easiest thing to find!.
Good luck, and enjoy!Www@FoodAQ@Com
I started drinking wine 35 yrs ago!. I started with very cheap
Paul Masson, Gallo and whatever was the cheapest on the shelf!. It took a while before I started to understand the many varities of wine!.
Until 3 yrs ago I only did reds and almost exclusively Italian, Spanish and some French!.
If I were to start all over again, knowing what I know now I would start with the European reds!. I still haven't acquired a palate for California or South American wines although I have had some that were very good, especially red blends from California!.
I live in central New York and find it very easy to find Italian and Spanish wines here!. I also travel to Virginia and have no problem finding excellant Chiantis there!.
I do suggest to friends to find something you like and keep your rack in good supply on that one, but never be afraid to always try something new!. Many times you will be surprised at what you find!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Paul Masson, Gallo and whatever was the cheapest on the shelf!. It took a while before I started to understand the many varities of wine!.
Until 3 yrs ago I only did reds and almost exclusively Italian, Spanish and some French!.
If I were to start all over again, knowing what I know now I would start with the European reds!. I still haven't acquired a palate for California or South American wines although I have had some that were very good, especially red blends from California!.
I live in central New York and find it very easy to find Italian and Spanish wines here!. I also travel to Virginia and have no problem finding excellant Chiantis there!.
I do suggest to friends to find something you like and keep your rack in good supply on that one, but never be afraid to always try something new!. Many times you will be surprised at what you find!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Wonderful! So many new wine drinkers drink white, and are afraid of reds:) !.!.!.!.!.!. California red wines are wonderful!. Try Mondavi to start: merlot, cabernet or zinfandel!. !.!.!.!.!. Go to the website for Mr!. Stox restaurant (Anaheim, California)!. They're reknowned for their fabulous wine cellar and gourmet food!. We've gone to many wine tastings and winery dinners there!. Their website has lots of interesting articles on wineries, and they're happy to answer any questions you have!.!.!.!.!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Definitely find a place that offers tastings - wineries, restaurants, wine bars, BevMo!. Some restaurants offer "flights", where you can taste several different wines!. If it's not on their menu, ask! Sometimes they'll accommodate your request!. But I agree with Leafsfan29!. A Pinot Noir is a good starting point!. It is typically a lighter bodied, less tannic wine!. So it won't overpower you compared to something like a Cab!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Find local restaurants that have wine tastings !.!.!. also look for any wine stores that have a wine education class !.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
