so i'm trying to get into wine drinking so i can be a huge snob.

anyone have any advice on the area? i'm looking for where to buy, what to buy, etc. so i can see what fit my preferences.

[Edited on December 16, 2006 at 4:49 AM. Reason : ]

12/16/2006 4:47:54 AM

Short answer: start with white wines that are sweeter and eventually work your way out.

No shame in starting with a Zinfandel or German Riesling.

12/16/2006 6:28:24 AM

yeah will fuck you

12/16/2006 6:38:49 AM

Zinfandel is not a white wine.

For that matter, neither is White Zinfandel.

As far as advice, just try a lot of different wines and go with what you like. If you want to be knowledgeable about wines, pick up a book or poke around the web. But everyone's tastes are different, so there's no substitute for trial and error.

12/16/2006 9:33:01 AM

I'm aware that it's a red wine but I don't want to get into the whole fiasco of why they blended it years ago. The point is that it is the gateway wine.

12/16/2006 9:59:01 AM

MOSCATO

12/16/2006 10:17:44 AM

I know there have been SEVERAL "I'm new to wine, help me pick stuff" threads in the last year or so, I remember replying to several. Might want to look at a few of them to start with, I seem to recall some pretty good info in them.

12/16/2006 10:43:27 AM

Retsina

12/16/2006 10:51:15 AM

MD 20/20 or Thunderbird. Then move your way up to Arbor Mist.

12/16/2006 11:03:57 AM

http://www.winemerchantraleigh.com/

they've always got a few cheap bottles that are damn good, and good service as well

I started with red, and if you want to go that route I'd try something lighter like a Pinot Noir

12/16/2006 11:52:00 AM

Charles Shaw

12/16/2006 1:42:01 PM

red truck

or white truck

i also like the duplin co. wines

12/16/2006 2:00:21 PM

man, go to total wine, you wont know what the fuck to do in there

12/16/2006 2:04:33 PM

the internet was a hell of alot more helpful than this thread. thanks anyways.

12/16/2006 2:06:59 PM

^ what websites did you find helpful?

12/16/2006 2:41:07 PM

Buy a "Wine for Dummies" book. I work at a wine bar and it was a requirement before I started working there. Extremely helpful. Then start trying and tasting wines (go to wine tastings, do "flights" at wine bars, and just drink different wines and ask the servers/bartenders about them), and go back to the wine book and read over it.

12/16/2006 3:37:34 PM

i'm a girly girl and hate 99.9% of alcohol so i drink white zinfandel when i have to but i also recommend a reisling because i have never had a bad one. total wine in cary has a ton of wines and they can help you find something you like. i hate red wines but that is just my opinion

12/16/2006 4:25:21 PM

i'm sorry hon, but STRIPPING pretty much disqualifies you from claiming to be "girly girl"

12/16/2006 4:28:06 PM

you dont have to actually like the wine you drink.. Just act snobbish and buy really expensive wines and the wine snobs will think you're cool. Also helps if you mention "regions" and "soils" when talking about the wine, that'll really get the wine snobs hot.

12/16/2006 4:29:22 PM

i'm a girly girl and love 99.9% of alcohol



[Edited on December 16, 2006 at 4:49 PM. Reason : pinot noir ftw]

12/16/2006 4:48:50 PM

^^ and varietals

I like wine but I'm too poor to be a snob. There's some good stuff < $10/bottle at Total Wine. The employees are really helpful if you're not too snobbish to admit you're a poor college student and want to spend $5-10/bottle.

12/16/2006 5:31:17 PM

http://wine.woot.com i guess sometimes there are decent deals there?

12/16/2006 5:57:54 PM

Quote :

"start with white wines"

if you are a girl.

12/16/2006 6:00:27 PM

I'm not big on wine, but my g/f likes it. A good red wine is a Shirah or Syrah, not too overpowering or bitter, but also has a pretty strong body.

12/16/2006 6:09:55 PM

You can't just claim a varietal is going to be good. It always depends on the actual winery and vintage.

If you're new, start with whites (as has been said). I'd recommend a lightly-oaked chardonnay. If you can find an unoaked one to try, go for it (I recommend Daniel Gehrs).

You're going to like fruity wines first and probably will dislike anything spicy (like most Shiraz/Syrahs). You'll start liking them later. After liking some of the fruit-forward whites, switch to something grassy like most Pinot Grigios.

The way I got into wine was by going to Total Wine for a tasting each and every week and bugging the shit out of them about each wine I tasted.

12/16/2006 8:16:51 PM

The best way to get into wine is to actually go to some place like Sonoma, Livermore, or any place that has a high concentration of wineries to taste (fuck Napa--many places charges and their wine is no better than any other region). I prefer dry and semi-dry varietels such as Chardonnay, Petite Syrah, Pinot Noir, Voigney, and Cab. Most of the wine I drink is from my own backyard--Livermore Valley--and in the 10-20 price range.

12/16/2006 8:19:05 PM

You should go to a wine tasting at Total Wine...you get to sample a bunch of different kinds of wine and see what you actually like.

12/16/2006 8:48:25 PM

^ do they allow wine tasting anytime or is it an event they hold from time to time?

12/16/2006 10:08:15 PM

haha pinot noir is for fags. just because it was in a movie doesn't make it a good wine. it makes you stupid and a market if you drink it. i'm drinking merlot in protest. fags.

12/17/2006 4:18:21 AM

Doing the converse is no better, chief.

You're still letting a movie dictate your choices.

And that's gay.

12/17/2006 8:30:12 AM

why does everyone say to start with whites if you are new to it? I started by drinking red wines and to this day love reds. When I started really enjoying wines I was drinking Pinot Noir and Chianti for the most part

12/17/2006 8:35:27 AM

Most people say to start with Whites because, on average, a fresh palette will find reds distasteful. Sure, you can find some light fruity reds that a new wine drinker might find good, but you won't find too many wine n00bs sucking down cab/mer blends and thinking it tastes good. You first need to get used to fruity whites, then move to a dry white, then head over towards the reds.

If you jump right into reds and really like it, great, that's where all the great wines are anyway. But if you find you don't like reds, don't give up, just go to whites first.

12/17/2006 11:37:17 AM

If you get a red, get it from Morocco. It comes highly suggested by myself.

12/17/2006 5:25:17 PM

Quote :

"No shame in starting with a Zinfandel "

yes, yes there is

12/18/2006 9:30:10 AM

The wine tastings are weekly, only at specified times though. I cant remember when they are. Call and ask.

12/18/2006 9:38:01 AM

^^ Why is there shame in starting with a Zinfandel?

And keep in mind that Zinfandel and White Zinfandel are VASTLY different.

12/18/2006 9:43:45 AM

nobody likes the taste of wine.....its all gross, and people just bear the cringe because they feel its sophisticated

whites are bearable....reds taste like piss

12/18/2006 10:13:19 AM

Quote :

"Age : 20 "

12/18/2006 10:36:28 AM

At Total Wine in Cary, you don't have to go at their specific time to do a wine tasting. Just go whenever and find the older dude with grey hair. He's never been hesitant to let me try whatever they have open at the time.

12/18/2006 11:08:33 AM

Quote :

"nobody likes the taste of wine.....its all gross, and people just bear the cringe because they feel its sophisticated"

I used to think the same thing, but this is incorrect. Through consistent tastings, you will develop a love for wine, especially reds for most people. I drink red wines because I like the taste of them. I like dry, mild-oak, dark red wines-particularly if I can get just a hint of tobacco or chocolate. Some people dislike wine but drink it to feel sophisticated, but most of us enjoy it and wouldn't drink it otherwise.

I am certain the same goes for cigars. No matter how pricey a cigar I smoke, it tastes terrible to me and I dislike it. However, I know people actually can distinguish cigars and relish the opportunity to smoke certain ones.

12/18/2006 11:33:52 AM

Nobody's mentioned this...but Spanish wines are my favorite...mostly their reds. If you're a big "wine person" and haven't dived into Spanish wines yet, I highly recommend it.

12/18/2006 1:39:10 PM

Riesling

Its a German white wine with a sweet aftertaste, not the "Winey" bitter aftertaste you are accustomed too, it will quickly become your favorite wine

Some good brands include Schmitt Sohnne, Liebfraumilch and Blue Nun

you can get them starting at about $6.99 a bottle

serve chilled

[Edited on December 18, 2006 at 3:21 PM. Reason : .]

12/18/2006 3:21:10 PM

Spanish wines are very good. I've been extremely impressed with the Reds coming out of Chile and South Africa, as well.

12/18/2006 4:47:54 PM

i personally have always liked a merlot or a cauv sauv. they are great wines. the best place to buy great wine at a very low price is in tarboro. it is called "on the squre". it is the most amazing restaurant with great wine. the people who own it were the (not sure of spelling) somiliets...they were the people who ordered wine for the restaurant on top of the world trade center and were fortunate enough to be on vacation when they went down. now they run the restaurant and sell wine.

my girlfriend and i ate there and bout a case (12 bottles) of wine. if you buy a case there, they give u 10% off the total purchase. our most expensive bottle was $15 (pretty cheap for great wine) and she obviously knows her shit. great wine for a person on a budget. she also is the only person that carries several of the bottles that i love in all of north carolina.

12/18/2006 5:42:07 PM

cline - viognier

[Edited on December 18, 2006 at 7:03 PM. Reason : ill also second the red truck recommendation]

12/18/2006 7:02:35 PM

Quote :

"haha pinot noir is for fags. just because it was in a movie doesn't make it a good wine. it makes you stupid and a market if you drink it. i'm drinking merlot in protest. fags. "

what movie are you talking about? Pinot Noir is okay... I kinda like Cabernet Sauvignon myself. Not a huge merlot fan.

Also, I tend to shift between darks and lights depending on what season it is - During the summer i'm more likely to drink a white wine, like Pinot Grigio.

During the winter/autumn it's usually a red wine, like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir

one man's opinion

12/18/2006 8:11:05 PM

Schmitt Sohnne is my favorite riesling

12/18/2006 8:19:15 PM

"We're not drinking any fucking merlot!!!!"


I'm kinda impressed. Some of you folks actually know something about wine. And good wine doesn't always mean it's expensive. There are shitloads of good inexpensive wines out there.

Go to some tastings, get to know some of the local wine merchants or wine bars. They will be a big help in guiding you to the wines you will really enjoy.

12/18/2006 8:21:36 PM

You bastards need to try some goddamn scuppernong or muscadine wine.

Fuck all the straight California varietals and the European provincials.

Get you some fuckin stompfoot, NC style.

12/18/2006 8:49:20 PM

http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=450636&page=1#9719049

i like scuppernong wine very much

12/18/2006 8:54:51 PM