I want to start buying a variety of wines and spirits.?!
Answers: Can anyone recommend a few different wines and spirits that would be good to start out with? Some major "must haves".
Several wine 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).
As for other spirits, you have to try, since they are all so different. A few suggestion to start out:
1) Cognac, which is a distilled wine (sort of) from France, wonderully complex and much higher in alcohol
2) Brandy, which is also a distilled wine, also more fruity and less dry.
I never personally get into Tequila or Whisky, even though I do enjoy Tequila in my Margarita and occasionally try a martini or two. It takes some getting used to. However, getting a bottle of Tequila with Margarita kit may be fun to have around the house.
Good luck
For the wine I love White Merlot from Beringer. It is not red, and it is not sweet or dry. It is so good with fish or steak. All time fav. Other drinks .... Malibu Rum and OJ. Or Cruzan Confusion... Cruzan Rum and Cruzan Mango with OJ..... YUMO!!!!!
You dont have to pay a lot for a nice wine and dont be fooled
that they are somehow better from overseas. California produces some great wines. franzia brothers and Gallo are
some cheap staples along with some others that I cant remember the names of just off hand.