"DaleW" > wrote in news:1164634552.414659.167520
@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com:

> Here are examples of 10 types of whites and 10 reds that one can obtain
> for $20 or less retail. A variety of choices, a few geeky but many
> chosen for familiarity (important in restaurants- geeks are few and far
> between). Trying to walk the tightrope between blandness and financial
> suicide. I starred 4 of each to choose for by the glass.
>
> What is available in NY is not the same as in Delaware, so I didn't
> list specific producers. Your friend should go to a good wine shop and
> price what is available there.
>
> White
> 2 Chardonnays: 1 French (Macon or Chablis), 1 US*
> 1 Gruner Veltliner*
> 2 Pinot Gris: 1 Italian P. Grigio (not Santa Margherita) ,1 Oregon
> 2 Sauvignon Blancs: 1 NZ*, 1 Loire
> 1 Southern Italian : Falaghina or Greco di Tufo
> 2 Rieslings: 1 dry (Austrian, Alsace, or Australian), 1 off-dry German
> (Kabinett level)*
>
> Red
> 3 Cabernet Sauvignon based wines: 2 CA (*1 by glass), 1 Medoc Bordeaux
> 2 Merlot based wines: 1 CA, 1 Libournaise Bdx
> 2 Pinot Noirs: 1 Oregon*, 1 Burgundy*- a base Bourgogne or Cote
> Chalonaise is fine
> 1 Barbera
> 1 Chianti or Cotes du Rhone*
> 1 more off-beat red (by US restaurant standards): maybe a Zwiegelt or
> Loire cab franc
>
> Then the reserve list, of which you would not need to stock much.
> Retail could range from $25 to well over $100 for the mature Bordeaux,
> Burgundy, Barolo.
>
> Reserve List
> White: One Smaragd or similar Gruner Veltliner, one upper end Alsace or
> Austrian Riesling, 1 top German Spatlese Riesling, 2 white Burgundies,
> 1 demi-sec Vouvray, 1 expensive CA Chardonnay, plus a couple of geek
> specials (maybe a mature Savennieres and
>
> Red: Couple mature Bordeaux, couple Nebbiolo ( maybe one pricey mature
> Barolo or Barbaresco and one from a forward vintage like 1997 or 2000),
> couple Burgundies ( again maybe one mature from a good vintage and one
> from a more recent forward vintage), one upper end OR PN, one similar
> CA PN, two Rhones, 1 Amarone, 1 Brunello, 1 blockbuster Shiraz, 2 CA
> Cabs (one mature), plus a couple of geek specials ( say a Taurasi and a
> mature Loire Cab Franc).
>
> Dessert wines (half-bottles or 500ml best):
> 3 or 4 :German, Sauternes ,Tokaji, US, Loire. Maybe one less expensive
> (Monbazillac, Loupiac, Beaumes dVenise, etc) by glass.
>
>

<keeping post in its entirety because it's so nice>

Also - something sparkling, because there will be diners who are
celebrating - perhaps a prosecco, a US sparkler and a Champagne?

One more thing - just because that fancy restaurant downtown charges $15
for a glass of Ridge, that doesn't mean you can charge $15 for a glass of
Mondavi Woodbridge </grr>

d.