Hello,

I just started trying wine recently. I've tried some red wine, and
didn't like that too much. I bought some Riesling and liked that best so
far. I also tried some that started w/ a G, but the name eludes me. Can
anyone recommend some good wines to try for a newbie like myself?

I don't really know the lowdown on the differences between red and white
wines. I guess I like something sweet. I think I tried a brand called
L'De Lyeth. I'm probably wrong, but that was garbage. I told the wine
manager that I was a newbie, and asked what he would recommend. He
recommend the L'De Lyeth, and said it was one of his personal favs. He
said it tasted like some of the more spendier wines. If I find some
cheaper stuff I like, then I'll be more open to spending more. I just
don't want to spend alot for a bottle, and end up not liking it. I'm
open for recommendations, and in the summer I plan on going to a winery
w/ some friends. Any help would be appreciated.

Jay

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 17:55:55 -0800 (PST), wrote:

I bought some Riesling and liked that best so far.

Riesling is a great grape.

I also tried some that started w/ a G, but the name eludes me.

Gewurztraminer? It is very distinctive and likeable, though rarely
suited to food. If you like Gerwurt, keep an eye open for wines made
from Pinot Gris or Viognier.

Can anyone recommend some good wines to try for a newbie like myself?

You seem to be doing the right sorts of things already. Make sure you
try lots of different wines. Not sure I can give general
recommendations here - there's a lot out there. The important thing
is what YOU like, but listen to what other people say too as learning
can help you appreciate things you hadn't noticed before. Try to get
to tastings if possible - maybe your local winemerchant runs some -
then you can get through different wines more cheaply and hear what
people say about them. If you are not so keen on reds, keep off
French reds for now, but don't give up on reds altogether - you may
suddenly discover you like them afterall.

Good luck!

--
Steve Slatcher
http://pobox.com/~steve.slatcher

Thxs Steve. I won't give up on the reds. I think for the moment I'm just
a little reluctant to try another one, at least on my own dime lol. I'm
open minded though, and have good friends. So I'm sure they'll steer me
in the right direction. I'm gonna try a blackberry merlot next, and see
how that strikes me. Thxs again for your help!

I don't really know the lowdown on the differences between red and white
wines.

Not sure how to read this; whether you mean you don't know the dirty details
or much at all - but the big difference between glasses of red or white;

White wine is usually best chilled. Chilled or cold red wine tastes foul
(alcoholic grape juice, ick) - try to serve at room temperature for reds.

Went to the states last summer and stayed with some friends... they took a
bottle of Blossom Hill Merlot and plunged it into the fridge for two hours
before dinner.... Those were the hardest smiles I've ever had to make...

Best of luck - and let us know how you get on. Will be great to hear from
ye.

Kim

On Sun, 28 Mar 2004 13:15:22 +0100, "Silent Raven" said:

[]
] White wine is usually best chilled. Chilled or cold red wine tastes foul
] (alcoholic grape juice, ick) - try to serve at room temperature for reds.
]
]
Kim, I beg to differ. Some red wines are excellent chilled. Beaujolais or
Saumur come to mind immediately.

To the OP, just have a sip of this or that as opportunity affords. Your local
outlets may sometimes offer tastings, that's a good way to try a lot of new
things for little or no money. Tell your wine manager you didn't like his
rec, perhaps why if you can, he may have something you like better.
Once you find a few you like, you'll soon find more and more!

Good luck.

-E


--
Emery Davis
You can reply to
by removing the well known companies

Jay: Rule #1 for wine... If it tastes good to you, it's a good wine. What
part of the world are you in? If you're in western Canada, I can reccomend
lots of reasonably priced, slightly sweet, yummy B.C. whites. Reislings are
lots of fun & range from cheap & cheerfull to expensive & subtle... Try
lots of stuff, keep some notes, enjoy the world of wine

En Vino Veritas
Mathew

wrote in message
...
Thxs Steve. I won't give up on the reds. I think for the moment I'm just
a little reluctant to try another one, at least on my own dime lol. I'm
open minded though, and have good friends. So I'm sure they'll steer me
in the right direction. I'm gonna try a blackberry merlot next, and see
how that strikes me. Thxs again for your help!

Blackberry merlot? Is that a wine?
Sounds to me like grape juice mixed with berry juice...
Steve gave good advice - drink your whites at 50F, your reds at 62F and time
and experience will lead you to what works best for you.
Anders

Kim, I beg to differ. Some red wines are excellent chilled. Beaujolais
or
Saumur come to mind immediately.

lol - Well, I've been told thus on two posts, so definately I'm inclined to
believe it! Thanks for the suggestions; I think a trip to the good ol' wine
warehouse is in order. :-)

Kim/Raven (will be constant with 'Kim' from now on, sorry)

Thxs to everyone here for your suggestions. I'll definitely make notes
of the suggestions, and of course of the wines I try. It's a new and
exciting experience, and I look fwd to doing some tasting hopefully in
the near future. Thxs again!

Jay

I am also fairly new to wine and am developing a taste for red wines.
I am not an expert by any means so I am offering this as a suggestion,
not hard and fast advice.

The first reds I found that I liked where beaujolais. I find them to
be pretty easy to drink, but still flavorful. Georges Duboeuf
Beaujolais Villages can be had for between $8-$10 us and the Louis
Jadot Beaujolais Villages can be had for $10-$12. I have had and
enjoyed both of these wines.


Alan

On 29 Mar 2004 13:54:04 -0800, (Alan) wrote:

I am also fairly new to wine and am developing a taste for red wines.
I am not an expert by any means so I am offering this as a suggestion,
not hard and fast advice.

The first reds I found that I liked where beaujolais. I find them to
be pretty easy to drink, but still flavorful. Georges Duboeuf
Beaujolais Villages can be had for between $8-$10 us and the Louis
Jadot Beaujolais Villages can be had for $10-$12. I have had and
enjoyed both of these wines.

You're quite right! After having warned Jay off French wines, I very
nearly returned to suggest that Beaujolais would be worth trying.

IN addition to your recs, a good Fleurie might fit the bill ( it says
Apellation Fleurie Controllee on the label - but comes from
Beaujolais)

--
Steve Slatcher
http://pobox.com/~steve.slatcher

In article ,
says...

I don't really know the lowdown on the differences between red and white
wines.

Not sure how to read this; whether you mean you don't know the dirty details
or much at all - but the big difference between glasses of red or white;

White wine is usually best chilled. Chilled or cold red wine tastes foul
(alcoholic grape juice, ick) - try to serve at room temperature for reds.

Went to the states last summer and stayed with some friends... they took a
bottle of Blossom Hill Merlot and plunged it into the fridge for two hours
before dinner.... Those were the hardest smiles I've ever had to make...

Best of luck - and let us know how you get on. Will be great to hear from
ye.

Kim

Ah Raven, you didn't mention Blossom Hill in your earlier post /US red wine
serving temps. You may have been lucky regarding that wine. The cooler temp
probably softened a lot of flaws. By the time you tasted it later, some
"aging" had taken place, and you found that favorable. Too bad that they
didn't serve a Merlot from Duckhorn in Napa.

Hunt

In article ,
says...

On Sun, 28 Mar 2004 13:15:22 +0100, "Silent Raven"
.
com said:

[]
] White wine is usually best chilled. Chilled or cold red wine tastes foul
] (alcoholic grape juice, ick) - try to serve at room temperature for reds.
]
]
Kim, I beg to differ. Some red wines are excellent chilled. Beaujolais or
Saumur come to mind immediately.

The concept of "room temp" comes from Europe, where the rooms are likely to be
about cellar temp, or a little above. In the US, room-temp is upwards to 85F.

To the OP, just have a sip of this or that as opportunity affords. Your
local
outlets may sometimes offer tastings, that's a good way to try a lot of new
things for little or no money. Tell your wine manager you didn't like his
rec, perhaps why if you can, he may have something you like better.
Once you find a few you like, you'll soon find more and more!

Good luck.

On telling the retail manager about the wine, I'd urge the poster to be as
specific as is possible. You needn't know "wine-speak" to communicate your
thoughts. Just saying, "I didn't like it... " doesn't tell the clerk anything
helpful, except that that was NOT the wine for the consumer. Give details: too
spirity, too bitter, too sweet, too sour, etc. will help define one's personal
tastes and help the clerk find better wines in the future.

Hunt

In article ,
says...


wrote in message
...
Thxs Steve. I won't give up on the reds. I think for the moment I'm just
a little reluctant to try another one, at least on my own dime lol. I'm
open minded though, and have good friends. So I'm sure they'll steer me
in the right direction. I'm gonna try a blackberry merlot next, and see
how that strikes me. Thxs again for your help!

Blackberry merlot? Is that a wine?
Sounds to me like grape juice mixed with berry juice...
Steve gave good advice - drink your whites at 50F, your reds at 62F and time
and experience will lead you to what works best for you.
Anders

Good temps for general white/red consumption. As for the blackberry Merlot, I
believe you are correct about the makeup. Some producer(s) is blending berry
juice with Merlot (what percentage, heritage, etc. I have not a clue), and
selling it packaged. This is kinda' like the "wine coolers" of some decades
ago. Though, never having tried one, I should not be too critical, as it might
just be a wonderful concoction - I just have my doubts.

Hunt

In article ,
says...

Thxs to everyone here for your suggestions. I'll definitely make notes
of the suggestions, and of course of the wines I try. It's a new and
exciting experience, and I look fwd to doing some tasting hopefully in
the near future. Thxs again!

Jay

Jay,

Another bit of advice is to hang around this NG for a bit. A lot of the TN's
on wines posted will be beyond where you are now, and may even ever want to
be, BUT there are a ton of great wines discussed here. Don't hesitate to chime
in and ask a TN (oops, sorry tasting note) poster to help you decipher his/her
TN's. Also, do NOT hesitate to ask for suggestions. When you have tasted more,
you will be able to more clearly state what you do and do not like. The more
you sample, the better you can define what is pleasent to you, and that is
what is important. The folk here are good, and helpful and will try their best
to point you to good wines for you.

Hunt