Questions first, some explaination follows... I want to buy my girlfriend some wine...

A. I know is that she likes... White Zinfandel. Can someone suggest a good bottle of White Zin to buy for her?

B. If she likes white zin... What's a good alternate wine to buy that she might also enjoy? (I might buy two)

C. What's a good amount to spend on a bottle of wine? Mainly I don't want to be a cheapskate (but I guess I don't want to look like a show-off either). I'd rather spend too much than too little though, to be honest.
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So, I know pretty much zero about wine. I'm a beer and rum guy, and... Have only drank more than a sip of wine once in my life.

I have read enough about wine (in my search for the perfect bottle(s) to buy) to know now that... White Zinfandel is kind of looked down upon. It's quite possible to you guys that the phrase "a good bottle of white zin" sounds like an oxy moron So please bear with me

Also, it might be good to note that... I think I might buy two bottles seeing that I'll see her for two nights. One night we'll go out for dinner, so most likely we'll drink after dinner. The next night, she's going to make me pizza from scratch (which I know she tops with chicken), so maybe... You could aim for something that might go well with that. I don't know if that's of any help, but... These are possibly things that the wine gurus might think of that... I just wouldn't

I really appreciate any constructive suggestions and input and thanks for reading my topic and will be indebted to your advice!

quote:

Originally posted by protocoldoug:
The next night, she's going to make me pizza from scratch (which I know she tops with chicken), so maybe...

When you say chicken, is that like whole bird? If so you should consider covering chicken with another pizza dough slab and making a chicken calzone. It should be fine with White Zinfandel or any Rose for that matter. Enjoy your calzone!

quote:

I have read enough about wine (in my search for the perfect bottle(s) to buy) to know now that... White Zinfandel is kind of looked down upon. It's quite possible to you guys that the phrase "a good bottle of white zin" sounds like an oxy moron So please bear with me

Well, you're certainly right. But it seems your post is genuine and you're trying to do a nice thing for your girlfriend.

If you must stick to white Zin, try Beringer. They also make a sparkling, if you think that would suit the occasion.

You might try getting your girlfriend to try a few German Rieslings. Many have residual sugar and would be a good introduction/transition into "real" wines.

Pizza wise, if she uses a tomato sauce as a base there are many red wines that people use to pair with pizza. To keep it simple, perhaps get a bottle of red Zinfandel? Try Ravenswood, easy to find and good qpr.

good eating and drinki-....er, well have fun anyways!

That is weird,
I was going to say the same thing about German Reisling that Jump said. You may also want to try some U.S. Rieslings. I understand Covey Run put out a reisling that was rated 91 points by WS. In your case since you guys are not connosueirs I would suggest not spending too much on any one bottle of wine. Get her a Reisling, A White Zin and maybe a White Merlot. Present the trio as a gift. Maybe even add a Chardonnay to it. The Napa Valley Vineyards Chardonay has a pleasing flavour for wine new-comers.

Enjoy.

I almost forgot Bonny Doon- Vin Gris De Cigare. Get this rose instead of a white Zin to present something different.

quote:

Originally posted by Opus Two:

When you say chicken, is that like whole bird? If so you should consider covering chicken with another pizza dough slab and making a chicken calzone. It should be fine with White Zinfandel or any Rose for that matter. Enjoy your calzone!

bones, baby, bones! when you spit them out sometimes you get some of the partly digested dough in your spit and let me tell you no woman is really going to be impressed with that. I wont even order calzones any more when I'm on a date, just in case there's bones in it.

Chicken's gotta be for pizza only.

Or kebabs. Nothing wrong with chicken kebabs. Unless you try to swallow the skewer. Nobody wants to watch that.

quote:

Originally posted by protocoldoug:

C. What's a good amount to spend on a bottle of wine? ...

You can get a good bottle of wine for $10 give or take. Check out the Australian Wines in the supermarket wine aisle. Rosemount Estates puts out some decent starter wines.

A perennial favorite cheap wine for me is a little spanish number called Protocolo. Given your name, I expected you to mention it. Great with pizza. I've only had the red one, but they also put out a rose and a white.

How about Rose d'Anjou? It's a light rose wine from the Loire in France. It's usually under $10.

Alternatively, how about a nice bubbly? Chandon and Mumm each make both a rose (which they call Blanc de Noirs) and a slightly sweeter white (Chandon's is called Riche and Mumm's is Cuvee M) which might do the trick. You can probably find them in your local Safeway.

quote:

Originally posted by jump:

. But it seems your post is genuine and you're trying to do a nice thing for your girlfriend.

Maybe. But yesterday someone with no info in his/her profile starts a thread looking for good $5 wine; now someone with no info starts a thread looking for good white Zin. Can you see where I'm going with this?

Pardon my skepticism, but...

Where IS grunhauser just when we need him?

quote:

Originally posted by Seaquam:

quote:

Originally posted by jump:

. But it seems your post is genuine and you're trying to do a nice thing for your girlfriend.

Maybe. But yesterday someone with no info in his/her profile starts a thread looking for good $5 wine; now someone with no info starts a thread looking for good white Zin. Can you see where I'm going with this?

Pardon my skepticism, but...

Where IS grunhauser just when we need him?

<thread drift>

Do you think grunhauser has a spreadsheet on his computer listing all of his alter egos complete with logins and passwords?

Jump, thanks for the suggestion on the red zinfandel (sounds logical to me!), and also on the Beringer brand, and... of course also on the Rislings.

spo1977, I really like the idea of multiple bottles of wine. And really appreciate all the suggestions. I have a lot of reading to do A friend of mine said that Merlot is pretty easy to drink if you're not a wine drinker (such as myself), seeing that I will most likely have to partake in it... Hoping I will enjoy it, sure is fun to read about and talk about, just have to acquire the taste

Spencer, $10 eh? Wow, I guess I'm out of the loop, but... I really had no idea you could get anything worth drinking for so little. Making spo1977's multiple bottles of wine idea even more attractive. Protocolo, does sound appropriate for a guy with protocol in his name

Dave Tong, thanks for the suggestion... I'll think about the champagne.

Seaquam/wineismylife, hehe, I promise I'm not a sock puppet. I just am, ultra new to anything in the wine world.

opus two and coldbrunson, hahah about the chicken. too funny guys. on an informational note... the pizza is tomato sauce based... and the chicken (i assume) is no longer on a bone, heheh.

Thanks all for the quick responses! I'll make sure to keep you all posted on what I decide on, and let you know how it goes over And also I really really appreciate the suggestions, keep them coming!

My wife likes White Zin, but has been willing to try different things.

One recent one that she liked was the 2004 SIMI Sauvignon Blanc. You should be able to find it for approx. $11 to $14. Thus, this might be a possibility for your to consider.

if your girlfriend is going to make you dinner (and from scratch at that) I would recommend heading down to your local wine shop and doing a bit of research into some wines she might like. I'd recommend picking up for dinner:

1) A nice German Riesling (maybe a Spatlese) to sip pre-dinner (screw the white zin, go for something new)

2) A nice Chianti or Pinot Noir to drink with dinner

3) A nice dessert wine to enjoy after dinner

quote:

Originally posted by Sharkey:
My wife likes White Zin, but has been willing to try different things.

What kind of things?

If she likes White Zinfandel, buy White Zinfandel.

If she likes white zinfandel, ditch her.

There is no immediate need to ditch anyone just yet. From my experience, and Sharkey clearly knows what he's talking about, chicks who like to party on White Zins are usually pretty adventureaous lovers.

quote:

Originally posted by Opus Two:
There is no immediate need to ditch anyone just yet. From my experience, and Sharkey clearly knows what he's talking about, chicks who like to party on White Zins are usually pretty adventureaous lovers.

Chicks who like to party on Captain Morgain Spiced Rum are also reputed to be pretty adventurous lovers. Can I get a pair of these babes for alt_entertainment?

quote:

if your girlfriend is going to make you dinner (and from scratch at that) I would recommend heading down to your local wine shop and doing a bit of research into some wines <snip>

Mattach, you hit the nail on the head Exactly my line of thinking. Also thanks for the pre-dinner/with-dinner/after-dinner combo of suggestions.

cdr11, probably a good call... I think I will get her a white zin, just cause I know she likes it. But... I am having fun learning of all these different vinos, so probably I will wind up buying her a little combonation of them (plus I had no clue how inexpensive the bottles were. I won't even say what I thought a bottle would cost, cause I'm so out of it I had some weird numbers in my noggin)

Sharkey, appreciate the suggestion knowing your wife likes the white zin, thanks.

JFTR, I do recall my girlfriend saying precisely these words "...I happen to be a semi-closeted fan of White Zinfandel"

Opus Two and D. Cody, HAHAHA you guys are some serious busters, quite amusing *shakes head, laughing*. I've got to say the combo of good info and good humor is giving me quite the great impression about this forum *thumbs up*.

I converted my fiancee from white zin to others by getting her to try a decent white first. The one that switched her over was Evolution 9. It is still a little sweet, and will make her experience other grapes.

Good call joshtpa. Evolution #9 is a nice bottle of juice. It should do well with a yet-to-be wino.

It definately converted mine. She went from there to many whites (conundrum being her fav), and then in the last two years many reds.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by Sharkey:
My wife likes White Zin, but has been willing to try different things.



What kind of things?

I knew that 'things' was the wrong word choice as soon as I hit the post button! Or, was it just a Freudian slip?