Wine Recommendations

[NashVegas]

Hey all -

at this moment I'm drinking an incredibly yummy shiraz - Shingleback, Aussie wine. 2002.

Cost about $25 per bottle in Tennessee. Probably less where you are.

Mmmmmmmm. I'm not a trained taster

[Stinky The Clown]

1. I've recently gotten pretty heavily in California Zins

I've found that there's lots and lots of good ones if you pay between $15 and $25 a bottle. Since I'm a one-glass-a-night wine drinker, for me that price is affordable.

I don't drink from wine glasses the size of swimming pools. Mine are about 4 ounces.

edit to add: If you can find it, get Cline's Big Break/2000. Wonderful stuff!

[NashVegas]

2. Try Ravenswood

Their "vintners' blend" Zin has been reliable for as long as I can remember. It's not a 'knock you off your feet' wine, but Zin never really is. How much you pay for it depends on what state you live in. $15 per bottle should be about the highest.

[Beaverhausen]

10. I visited some CA wineries a few weeks ago

There were a few that really had some great Zins and Syrahs.

Peachy Canyon
Castoro
Bonny Doon

Get info here:

http://www.pasowine.com/index.php

[Warpy]

3. Back in the good old days when I could drink without getting a migraine

I vastly preferred the crisp, smack your face Rieslings to the sweeter wines out there. I was particularly fond of the South African Rieslings, which were very reasonably priced.

The best thing to do with wines is to try the varieties and find out what YOU like.

Right now, my fridge is stocked with Cabernet Sauvignon from Cali, a Pouilly-Fuisee from France, and an inexpensive dry sherry. If I can't drink 'em, I can still enjoy cooking with 'em.

[NashVegas]

11. Reislings

I've started getting back into them a little bit. Before I was old enough to legally drink, I have a vague recollection of them being fairly popular.

Funny, though, Reislings always impressed me as being fairly sweet as well. Just minus the tanins, which is a nice change of pace.

[Shakespeare]

12. There are dry rieslings and sweet rieslings....

Just as there are dry and sweet gewurtztraminers (and you are in for a treat if you've never had a well-made dry riesling or gewurtz).

Navarro winery in Mendocino county makes outstanding dry German whites (they also make an excellent dry muscat), and because they're kind of off the beaten wine country path, their prices border on the downright cheap.

If you're in a state that allows wine shipments from California, I HIGHLY recommend giving Navarro's wines a try. You can buy by the bottle, or in their various groupings.

http://www.navarrowine.com

[Sparkly]

4. I like Marlborough, NZ sauvignons

and I'm on a quest to find H2S a Zin he likes with a price I like. (I'm the frugal one.)

[Stinky The Clown]

6. How do you $pell "froogle"?

Can you run that by me again?

[Sparkly]

7. "S-p-a-r-kl-y"

Somebody's got to be frugal, especially when somebody else is a (copper) pothead with a (coffee-)drinking problem...

Just sayin'.

[The empressof all]

5. I've been drinking lots of Italian wine

Masciarelli Montepulciano D'Abruzzo is currently my favorite. At 6.99 a bottle we can afford to go through two a week.

It's very smooth and deeply flavored enough to go well with red meat, pasta, cheese and chocolate.

[Mr. McD]

8. Piesporter Michelsberg Spätlese

Dr. Beckermann Piesporter Michelsberg Spätlese, $4.99 at Trader Joe's

Refreshing, well-balanced, light in alcohol (9%), inexpensive, and delightful.:)

[Jessica]

9. Ca' del Solo -- Big House Red

A yummy red - and no pesky cork to deal with. It's about $10 a bottle here.

[yellowdogintexas]

13. I found a Spanish Red that I absolutly love...the immediate name

escapes me but the label is unmistakeable: a gorgeous flamenco dancer in bright bright red, flouncing her skirts. About $9 a bottle

I also am a big fan of Moselle whites, and Rhine wines.

[Neecy]

14. I've found some great Spanish merlots...

Very peppery, full of spice, just explodes on the palate. Great with beef (and inexpensive).