Suggestions for an inexpensive off-dry white wine for the girl?!
I want to buy a bottle to go with a nice dinner I'm making, but I don't want to spend more than $20 on it. This is primarily to see if there's something out there she'd enjoy.
Any suggestions? (And please no white zinf, I want something a bit classier. It's always a fall-back, of course, but I'd rather stay faaaar away from it.)
Answers: The girl doesn't like dry wine (or reds in general). I have experience with (and love the taste of) reds and dry whites, but very little knowledge of off-dry whites.
I want to buy a bottle to go with a nice dinner I'm making, but I don't want to spend more than $20 on it. This is primarily to see if there's something out there she'd enjoy.
Any suggestions? (And please no white zinf, I want something a bit classier. It's always a fall-back, of course, but I'd rather stay faaaar away from it.)
Several suggestions:
1) Sauvignon Blanc - which is a nice fruity, not so dry, slightly sweet white wine, well liked and well made in California. Sauvignon Blanc is a nice priced wine that I like to use to introduce people to wine, since they don't have the acidity and driness of Chardonnay nor the tannin bite of red wines. I would suggest Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc ($15-18), Chateau St. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc ($12-14). If you want to go higher price, try Caymus Conundrum ($22-25).
2) Viogneir - which is a French grape also made by some Californian wineries. These are not as sweet as Sauvignon Blanc, but equally as floral in smell and taste. It also has the crispness that I like in chilled white wine. Try Miner Viogneir ($20), Fess Parker Viogneir ($25).
3) Riesling - a wonderful German white wine. There are several different classes, so you will have to ask the salesperson, but some are sweeter and some are less sweet. The key is to look at the alcohol content - the higher alcohol, the less sweet. You want to find Riesling with less alcohol for your purpose. I would suggest some German Riesling such as Gunderloch (personal favorite is about $60, but there are a variety of other types), Leitz (again, personal favorite is about $30/half, but lots of variety), Strub ($25-35). Also can try some US Riesling, such as Wilamette Valley Riesling ($15), Chateau St. Michelle Riesling ($15). Whatever you do, AVOID BLUE NUN!!!
Good luck
My favorite wine in the world is a semi-dry white called Prairie Fume` (pronounced FOO-may). It's awesome! The only problem is I don't know if it's available outside of WI. I haven't found any in Vegas since I moved here. You could also check out a slightly drier Riesling. Both of these wines are very fruity. Oh, and the Prairie Fume? $7.50 a bottle in WI.
Bricco Riella Moscato d' Asti. It is lighty sweet with a hint of sparkle. If you can't find Bricco Riella, look for Marco Negri. Or find a lightly sweet Riesling - Graff Piesporter Goldtrofken Spatlese - from Germany or Hogue Late Harvest from Washington State. All under $20.
Yellow Tail, it's austrailian and rather inexpensive, but not cheap. I enjoy it and try to keep a bottle in my bar at all times. They make a great reisling and it only costs around 14 bucks.
Try a German Riesling