I thought I'd try a little crowd-sourcing for some assistance with the wine selection for our son's upcoming bar mitzvah. The venue where we are hosting the event does not permit me to supply my own wine and is forcing me to choose one red and one white from the options below. I'm not really familiar with these wines, so any help would be appreciated.

REDS:
- Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon
- Bogle Petite Syrah
- Cetamura Chianti
- Willowglen Shiraz
- Firestone Select Cabernet Sauvignon
- Peller Estates Cabernet Merlot

WHITES:
- Oyster Bay Chardonnay
- Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc
- Cusumano Angime Chardonnay
- Wolf Blass Chardonnay
- Santa Margharita Pinot Grigio
- Firestone Vineyard Selection Chardonnay
- Peller Estates Chardonnay
- Antinori Casasole Orvieto

The menu has not yet been finalized, but suffice it to say that we are looking for wines with broad appeal that can be both sipped on their own as well as paired with food. I expect that the appetizers will include red pepper soup, mini burgers, vegetable rolls, and the mains will include lamb, salmon and a butternut squash ravioli.

Many thanks!

Slan: Why don't you ask them to let you and your wife sample them. They are "meh" wines, but all you really want are crowd pleasers. Trust your own palate.

Based on the food served and the limited selection, I would go with the petite sirah and the sauvignon blanc. Both would fall into "crowd pleaser" territoty and are decent enough wines in their own right. IMO, they are also varietals that can perform consistently well at lower price points. Good luck!

Bogle Petit Syrah is rather strong and has very deep blackberry flavors. It's inky in color. Always gets 86-88 pts from WS. It would go with the soup and the burgers and the lamb. But, sipping it on its own might be a bit dicey. I don't know the Peller estates wine, but since it is likely lighter, might be a better walking around and sipping choice.
The sauvignon blanc is a very drinkable wine.
Inexpensive chardonnay really tastes like crap.
And...Mazal Tov.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: irwin,

Don't overthink this---it's just....wine.
These should suffice and congrats!

--Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon

--Santa Margharita Pinot Grigio

Have had the Bogle many times. Not that bad. None of teh other reds.

As for the White I like Oyster Bay products. Chard would be a better crowd pleaser. Avoid the PG at all costs. The stuff is crap.

I like DoktaP suggestion, have a tasting.

quote:

Originally posted by mike p:
Don't overthink this---it's just....wine.
These should suffice and congrats!

--Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon

--Santa Margharita Pinot Grigio

I acutally agree with these two also

that pinot grigio is always a big hit amongst quaffers at big parties

the wolf blass is a decent volume producer.

Thanks, everyone. I will definitely try to arrange a tasting, although they may not all be available for that, so please keep the suggestions coming!

BTW, Mazel Tov to your entire mishpachah

The venue has added another red for me to choose from: McManis Cabernet. Does that change anyone's view?

It changes mine.
I think that McManis makes some lovely wines and I think since this is lighter than the petit syrah of Bogle, it is a better wine for the hors d'ouevre portion. A much better "walk around" and sip type of wine.

No Israeli wines? Shame some of those I tasted there are not available here, though Edna Valley Red used to be.

Bogle and Santa Margarita. (SB if the PG is much more $, just not worth the dollars if that is the case.)

quote:

Originally posted by DoktaP:
BTW, Mazel Tov to your entire mishpachah

Slan,

What he said.

For reds, Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cab is a safe crowd pleaser IME.

Whites... I would go unoaked chard or a pinot grigio.

Congrats!

Slan:
What did you choose? When is the event?
How did it go (if passed)?

Thanks, everyone. We're still six weeks away from the big event.

Our venue added a couple of additional selections, so here's what it looks like we're going to go with:

Red: 2010 Duckhorn "Decoy"
White: 2010 McManis Chardonnay

Mazel Tov, Slan & son. I think those are better wines than what I remember ever being served at a bar mitzvah.

Was there no Carmel or Manischewitz available?