Wine

[uthookem]

When I left Texas back in 2002 to move to northern CA, I never touched wine. When I got married, I toasted my new wife with Lone Star beer in a champagne glass. Then I went to Napa back in 2005, and I'm hooked.

Some of my favorite wineries:
Pine Ridge, ZD, Larkmead, Goosecross (Napa)
Testarossa (Los Gatos)
Vino Noceto (Shenandoah Valley)
Jordan (Alexander Valley)

[uthookem]

Originally Posted by DigiSLR

Would someone be so kind as to possibly provide a quality resource for someone just getting into wines. I enjoy a red or a white now and then, but I have no clue what all the different varieties are or when to drink then, short of Reds go with meat, Whites with Seafood or Pasta. (Yeah, I know I could google, but you can't believe everyhing you read right? Anyone point me to a quality "wine for beginners" resource?)

Thank you!

Just my two cents:

Steak - Cabernet or Merlot (I prefer the cab or meritage blends, which are more similar to Bordeaux blends, mixing all or some of the Bordeaux varietals)

white fish, cream sauces, buttery sauces - chardonnay

grilled seafood (again, lighter) - sauvignon blanc (also a possibility for folks that don't like chardonnay)

apertif (eat with light snacks and starters) - riesling, viogner, sauvignon blanc

spicy Asian food - viogner or riesling

lamb dishes - petite syrah

dessert - port or late harvest wines (dark chocolate also pairs great with a big, bold cab)

BBQ or pizza - zinfandel or sangiovese (chianti)

Greek food - rose or sangiovese

Just my personal faves.

[uthookem]

[QUOTE=kamekaze;1074433]This thread inspired me to bring my camera to work today

The Sequoia Grove cab in your picture (I'm assuming it's a cab) is a 100% cab, and is not bad. Their Reserve Cab is a Bordeaux blend, and is excellent.

Dang...I'm going overboard here...

[srwatters]

I just ordered a case of Sean Thackery's wines. The Sirius is a Petite Sirah, Andromeda is Pinot Noir, and the Pleadies XVIII is a NV blend from old vines and one of my favorites. Check out Robert Parker's ratings. All strong mid 90's. Yum.

[Ahh!]

Which wine is my favorite? The one I will make tomorrow!

[txmama]

Yep, I have my own "little olde winemaker" living here. Last couple of batches over the last few years were wonderful. I'm looking forward to the new batch.

[Ahh!]

Vintage! Vintage! It sounds so much classier than batch!

[ramblinray]

Not a big fan of reds at all. I like most whites. If you can find a good South African white or red for that matter, you will likely have a reasonably priced and excellent wine. Wines from the Western Cape region are quite good. Many of the wineries are hundreds of years old and have well established vines. It makes for an interesting couple of days to travel the wine routes in the area. Beautiful area.

[ChristopherCoy]

When I was drinking, which was over a year and a half ago, my favs were:

Chateau St. Michelle Chard
La Crema Chard
Clois Du Bois Chard
Fat Bastard Chard
And my absolute favorite is a 1995 Reserve Ferari Carano Chard.

I also like Eco Demani Cab, and a few others, but not a big red wine drinker, or wasn't at least.

[ka5txl]

Originally Posted by revjvegas

Wine is just grape juice that knows somebody.
Give me single malt.

Time for a glass of Glenfiddich Might try the 10year old bottle of chivas that i've had for 32 years

[ka5txl]

Originally Posted by uthookem

When I left Texas back in 2002 to move to northern CA, I never touched wine. When I got married, I toasted my new wife with Lone Star beer in a champagne glass.

When my unit deployed to South Korea in 82 I was suprised to find it over there. Drank that or heinken as you didn't want to drink the local brew, at least not in a clean glass