for a few good recommendations for someone who is interested in beginning to enjoy wine???
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Not silly - just too simple. It's just nice to give a thorough answer to something like this and most people here are too lazy to get into it 
and some first time posters will write something like this and then they never return.
I am forum lazy too, but I'm hiding from the wife and kids now while they are cleaning. No one can recommend a wine to you if they don't know what you like and what you have access to. I mean they "can", but it's better to do on your own.
I can only speak to what I did that helped way back when. Think back to recent wines you enjoyed and did not enjoy. Style, alcohol, country, grape etc. Go to a good wine store near you and ask to speak to the owner or manager. Don't waste your time on the 19 year old kid at the register. Tell the owner or someone older you want to get into wine and these are the last few wines you have had and tell him what you liked or didn't like about them. He will (should suggest) bottles you may like. They want you to come back of course, so they'll do the right thing. You may not like all the wines he suggests, but that's part of the learning curve. Tell him your price range, although he will most likely ask or will know from the examples you tell him. I'd stay above $15 for red wine to be safe.
Keep a little journal. Go back to the store and tell him what you liked, didn't like etc. and stock up from there. Go on these boards a lot. Read some professional critics, but unlike what others here may feel - reading critics is NOT the first step. Just drink the styles you are liking and what your store or people here are suggesting. Use the search button on tasting notes of producers you have liked and from there you'll wing it like it the rest of us did.
Ok. Now I'm being called down...
Cheers!
and some first time posters will write something like this and then they never return. I am forum lazy too, but I'm hiding from the wife and kids now while they are cleaning. No one can recommend a wine to you if they don't know what you like and what you have access to. I mean they "can", but it's better to do on your own.
I can only speak to what I did that helped way back when. Think back to recent wines you enjoyed and did not enjoy. Style, alcohol, country, grape etc. Go to a good wine store near you and ask to speak to the owner or manager. Don't waste your time on the 19 year old kid at the register. Tell the owner or someone older you want to get into wine and these are the last few wines you have had and tell him what you liked or didn't like about them. He will (should suggest) bottles you may like. They want you to come back of course, so they'll do the right thing. You may not like all the wines he suggests, but that's part of the learning curve. Tell him your price range, although he will most likely ask or will know from the examples you tell him. I'd stay above $15 for red wine to be safe.
Keep a little journal. Go back to the store and tell him what you liked, didn't like etc. and stock up from there. Go on these boards a lot. Read some professional critics, but unlike what others here may feel - reading critics is NOT the first step. Just drink the styles you are liking and what your store or people here are suggesting. Use the search button on tasting notes of producers you have liked and from there you'll wing it like it the rest of us did.
Ok. Now I'm being called down...
Cheers!
well although i am indeed a "first time" poster i certainly appreciate your taking a few moments away from your "pressing duties" to get me started. i am fortunate, i think, to have a good wine store in my neighborhood with an owner who i often see walking the floor helping customers etc..
thanks for the suggestions!!!
do you have a few favorites that you might recommend??
thanks for the suggestions!!!
do you have a few favorites that you might recommend??
quote:thanks for the suggestions!!!
do you have a few favorites that you might recommend??
Thanks for replying
A lot will depend on what your store may carry as most stores don't carry the same stuff, although some names appear on more shelves than others. Price range matter or varietals you have been attracted to? (merlot, petite sirah...). Knowing that helps anyone recommend as even if the one being recommended to you is not available, a substitute (especially on the low price range) is easy.
i have to be honest and say that it has been so long since i have enjoyed a nice glass of wine i am not sure or even confident that i would know where to begin. as for price, i don't hesitate to say price isn't an issue and that my goal is to find a good starting point and work my way around from there. i dont mind paying for quality and something i can enjoy...
i know i'm not helping but.......
i know i'm not helping but.......
For reds that are widely available, lower in price and pretty consistant IMO:
Prices are general
Bogle Petite Sirah ($10)
Robert Mondavi Merlot and Cabernet
Cline Red Zinfandel ($15?)
Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel ($15) - Usually the best Zin for under $20 year after year
Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Cabernet (most of Kendall Jackson is not good, but this one is for the money ($20-$25) which is cheap for cabernet that's drinkable.
Some J Lohr
New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are some of the best white wines for the money.
Others will hopefully chime in, and there are SO many wines but the above produces a lot and are easily available. Any decent store will have them or be able to suggest something.
Prices are general
Bogle Petite Sirah ($10)
Robert Mondavi Merlot and Cabernet
Cline Red Zinfandel ($15?)
Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel ($15) - Usually the best Zin for under $20 year after year
Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Cabernet (most of Kendall Jackson is not good, but this one is for the money ($20-$25) which is cheap for cabernet that's drinkable.
Some J Lohr
New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are some of the best white wines for the money.
Others will hopefully chime in, and there are SO many wines but the above produces a lot and are easily available. Any decent store will have them or be able to suggest something.
Thank You!!!
do
they do any tasting at the store!
great place to start!
the robert mondavi cab napa valley is a good start!
seghesio a nother!
but try to do some tastings!
they do any tasting at the store!
great place to start!
the robert mondavi cab napa valley is a good start!
seghesio a nother!
but try to do some tastings!
thanks for th input. curious, i bought both the mondavi cab and merlot. can you recommend a "refrigeration strategy"
start small
anything from 8-72 bottles frig.
don't forget to go to tasting will be your biggest help!
anything from 8-72 bottles frig.
don't forget to go to tasting will be your biggest help!
thanks for all your help!! there seems to be many differing opinions on this one...is it appropriate to refirigerate red wine and if so, at what "optimal" temp?? How about white wines?? also, once the bottle is open does the "refrigeration question" change???
spent the weekend tasting, VERY right!!!!!
spent the weekend tasting, VERY right!!!!!
You're doomed, mmethan. Doomed! What was once a $20 and 2 hour a week interest will consume your discretionary income and waking hours (and previously non-waking hours 
) as you scour the internet and local wine shops for your next “must have” wine. Anything for your next fix! And don’t bother to run. Resistance is futile, and all of that.
As for your question, conventional wisdom on proper long-term storage for wines seems to be 55 deg. F (within say 51 to 59 being quite acceptable) and 70% humidity (again, within 50% to 85% being acceptable – too high and you risk mold growth). But I’m thinking that you don’t need to worry about long-term storage conditions…yet. If you’re buying wines to be consumed within the next couple of years, a cool interior closet (interior, to reduce the daily temperature swings) is all you really need. Unless you live in Texas, or a similarly wine inhospitably-hot location (as I’ve learned recently) where indoor locations will get too hot (say, above 80-85 deg F) during the summer.
Most likely, you want to ignore wine fridges for the moment and save your budget for tasting a wide variety of wines as you start to determine your preferences. The world of wine is vast, and not everyone likes everything. And it’s not too early to start working on your rationalizations (to your significant other and to yourself) on what you’re spending on wine!
) as you scour the internet and local wine shops for your next “must have” wine. Anything for your next fix! And don’t bother to run. Resistance is futile, and all of that. As for your question, conventional wisdom on proper long-term storage for wines seems to be 55 deg. F (within say 51 to 59 being quite acceptable) and 70% humidity (again, within 50% to 85% being acceptable – too high and you risk mold growth). But I’m thinking that you don’t need to worry about long-term storage conditions…yet. If you’re buying wines to be consumed within the next couple of years, a cool interior closet (interior, to reduce the daily temperature swings) is all you really need. Unless you live in Texas, or a similarly wine inhospitably-hot location (as I’ve learned recently) where indoor locations will get too hot (say, above 80-85 deg F) during the summer.
Most likely, you want to ignore wine fridges for the moment and save your budget for tasting a wide variety of wines as you start to determine your preferences. The world of wine is vast, and not everyone likes everything. And it’s not too early to start working on your rationalizations (to your significant other and to yourself) on what you’re spending on wine!
[QUOTE]Originally posted by SD-Wineaux:
You're doomed, mmethan. Doomed! What was once a $20 and 2 hour a week interest will consume your discretionary income and waking hours (and previously non-waking hours) as you scour the internet and local wine shops for your next “must have” wine. Anything for your next fix! And don’t bother to run. Resistance is futile, and all of that. QUOTE]
Too true!!
You're doomed, mmethan. Doomed! What was once a $20 and 2 hour a week interest will consume your discretionary income and waking hours (and previously non-waking hours
) as you scour the internet and local wine shops for your next “must have” wine. Anything for your next fix! And don’t bother to run. Resistance is futile, and all of that. QUOTE] Too true!!
oh my you couldnt be more RIGHT!!! this past weekend was awash in tasting talking researching etc....
is your "temperature guidance" true for all wine types and how do you feel about temperature once the wine is open, assuming we dont drink at one sitting??
Thank you!!!!!
you couldnt be more RIGHT!!! this past weekend was awash in tasting talking researching etc....is your "temperature guidance" true for all wine types and how do you feel about temperature once the wine is open, assuming we dont drink at one sitting??
Thank you!!!!!
quote:Originally posted by mmethan:
is your "temperature guidance" true for all wine types and how do you feel about temperature once the wine is open, assuming we dont drink at one sitting??
Well, that depends (partially on how lazy I am at the time). But first let's hit the time just before you open it. Obviously, a white wine you're going to want to cool down from room temp usiing your fridge. But the fridge is colder than you want to serve your wine. So about 2 hours in the fridge from the closet before you pop and pour, or take your white wine out of the fridge about 20 minutes before serving if it's been in there overnight.
You'd think the red wines would be simpler - serve at room temp, right? Well, many reds I do like that way, but others (generally, softer, lighter reds, but also ones with too much alcohol or some other characteristic in the aromas and/or taste that I want to reduce) should be served slightly chilled, perhaps all the way down to the cellar temp of 55 deg F. About 20 minutes in the fridge from the closet is a good starting point for this. That's something that you can experiment with and decide for yourself what you like.
After you've opened it and - gasp - not finished it, your wine should go into the fridge. The cooler temperatures will keep the wine in an acceptable condition longer. But try to not let them go for more than a day or two, although the sweeter wines will hold up for longer. Sometimes (this is where my laziness kicks in) I'll let a red wine sit on the counter if I'm definitely going to finish it off the next day. Most times it's fine, but sometimes it will kick the bucket. Again, experiment for yourself.
quote:Originally posted by SD-Wineaux:
After you've opened it and - gasp - not finished it, your wine should go into the fridge.
It could be easily overlooked, but shove the cork back in it first.
quote:You're doomed, mmethan. Doomed! What was once a $20 and 2 hour a week interest will consume your discretionary income and waking hours (and previously non-waking hours Eek) as you scour the internet and local wine shops for your next “must have” wine. Anything for your next fix! And don’t bother to run. Resistance is futile, and all of that. Smile
Sigh. My husband presented me with a printout of the November and December expenses, and the "grocery" line was $500 OVER budget each month, mostly from the wine shop.
I didn't drink it all myself!
Granted, we gave a few wine gifts and had a gathering of friends.
Yes, it adds up fast.
quote:You're doomed, mmethan. Doomed! What was once a $20 and 2 hour a week interest will consume your discretionary income and waking hours (and previously non-waking hours ) as you scour the internet and local wine shops for your next “must have” wine. Anything for your next fix! And don’t bother to run. Resistance is futile, and all of that.
My toes just got stepped on.
quote:Originally posted by Spanky65:
My toes just got stepped on.