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I fell in love with wine when living in the Napa Valley of California in the early 60's. At that time the Valley really had only about 20 wineries of particular note. Today there are over 300. I can truthfully say that I have never had a wine that I did not like, some are just better than others. Here in New Zealand there are some great white wines that can (and do) compete with the best on an international basis. There are good reds as well, but the climate is better suited to the whites. The Aussies seem to have an endless choice of excellent red wines. There is so much competition today that prices for good wines have plummeted. I keep trying new wines and will not live long enough to sample the endless supply.

In the mid 60's, one of the wineries from the Napa Valley competed in France against the best that France had, and won, judged by all French judges. What a shock to the French. Repeat testing produced the same results. France and Italy while still producing good wines no longer have a monopoly on quality wines.



If you have a favorite wine, I would like to hear about it.

DRY DRY DRY! white or red, never that pink drek. a lovely beaujolais, a soft merlot, a burgandy with beef or lamb, chablis with fish or a pasta alfredo, willing to try any international varietal...and good champagne of course! salut!

[QUOTE=lady cop]DRY DRY DRY! white or red, never that pink drek. a lovely beaujolais, a soft merlot, a burgandy with beef or lamb, chablis with fish or a pasta alfredo, willing to try any international varietal...and good champagne of course! salut![/QUOTE



Next time you are having fish for dinner, see if you can find at the wine shop, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc by either St. Clair or Nobilo winery. If either one is priced at under $15 for a bottle, it's a great buy and you have my personal guarantee that you will love it.

Thanks Lon, i'll look for it, never had a NZ wine, would love to try one.

I used to be a wine lover. i thought i was a fairly good wine snob, an oenophile. but it turns out, i have no palate. i can't tell good wine from bad. a few years back i had to ask a friend if a bottle i'd just opened - laid down fifteen years before - was any good; i'd just taken a sip. he said it was vinegar! of course, i was on my second martooni, so perhaps my senses had been dulled. but ever since then, when dear old friends or family come over, i just hoist out the remaining case of twenty-plus year old bottles and tell them to choose what they want. Safeway $3.99 table red is indistinguishable to me to a twenty year old cabernet sauvignon.

okay, not indistinguishable. but the difference isn't enough to warrant spending ten times that for good wine. cheap red keeps the heart healthy just was well!

anastrophe wrote: I used to be a wine lover. i thought i was a fairly good wine snob, an oenophile. but it turns out, i have no palate. i can't tell good wine from bad. a few years back i had to ask a friend if a bottle i'd just opened - laid down fifteen years before - was any good; i'd just taken a sip. he said it was vinegar! of course, i was on my second martooni, so perhaps my senses had been dulled. but ever since then, when dear old friends or family come over, i just hoist out the remaining case of twenty-plus year old bottles and tell them to choose what they want. Safeway $3.99 table red is indistinguishable to me to a twenty year old cabernet sauvignon.



okay, not indistinguishable. but the difference isn't enough to warrant spending ten times that for good wine. cheap red keeps the heart healthy just was well!
Last year I was able to sample at someone else's expense, a bottle of $250

cab. It was good, but not good enough for me to want to pay the $240 difference from what I pay for cab. I just couldn't taste $240 difference.

Nobilo is great stuff although it is getting a bit expensive over here now, any big red for me, in addition to the ones metioned I do love Rioja. As far as whites are concerned anything dry and not, not, not the ubiquitous "Oak Aged Chardonnay" that is just everywhere nowadays and most of it is bloody dishwater. If I had the cash it would be Montrachet.

I also became a wine lover about ten years ago. I have recently given it up. Ill explain that in a moment. It didnt take me long to realize that Australia, and South Africa produce many of the best wines to be found. I am good at discovering inexpensive wines that zoom up in price once people discover how good they are. I have been able at times to sample very expensive wines from all over the world and have never been majorly impressed. Mid range wines seem to be the best topping out at a maximum of 15.00 per bottle. I gave it up recenly for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it became too much of a hobby. Secondly because of weight. Thirdly because like many of my friends have experienced.. it was causing heart palpitations. 4 ounces is good for heart health. 14 or 40 become a horse of a different color.

The NZ Sauv Blancs are great. Friends of mine visited and returned with some.. amazing.. big citrus flavors. Now.. if you can find them try some of the wines coming out of the Finger Lakes region of NY.. The reds are finally coming into their own.. Knapp, Goose Watch, Shalestone, Thirsty Owl all wonderful wineries.. Shalestone does reds only and is turning out some incrediible varietals..All of these are located on Cayuga Lake. Seneca Lake had Fulkersons and Glenora.. the latter offers one of the better Blanc de Blanc's I have tasted..

Lately..my taste buds have been on a Tempenillo (sp) tear.. but, having lived in Spain in my younger days.. I did develop a taste for spanish wines..especially the reds....

DRY also, Sauvingon Blanc is my favorite. I cannot digest red wine & if i can get a glass down, i need a long nap. Chardonnays soaked in oak barrels, too heavy. The lighter the color the better the wine for me. Some French wines are good, i cannot name them all, but my standard at home is Kendall Jackson Sauvingon Blanc. I have had African wines, anything with sweetness i do not order. I have always been a wine drinker, i had stopped for a bit and was having Grey Goose. I am back to the wine. It is something not allowed on a yeast free diet. :yh_clap

LON,

You got that right. I have had the opportunity to drink many of New Zealands wines and champagnes I must say they are wonderful.

We have very dear family friends who live in Wellington. He is a chef who sold his "FISH MARKET RESTAURANT" her in Del Mar to open a different kind of restaurant (MEXICAN) in Wellington(his wife is from New Zeland). Well when were there we go through a TONS of Champagne and Wine.. along with the best food I have ever eaten.. I go for the CHAMPAGNE.. my favorite..

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc by either St. Clair or Nobilo winery. If either one is priced at under $15 for a bottle, it's a great buy and you have my personal guarantee that you will love it.

Recently I had someone pour me a glass of wine, she was a little

embarrassed I think and kind of hid the label, but when I teasingly

bugged her to show it to me, it was "Two Buck Chuck" and it was

surprisingly good!!



But I rarely drink plain wine, red makes me flushed and I don't like

that and I'd just rather have bubbles in mine!

valerie wrote: Recently I had someone pour me a glass of wine, she was a little

embarrassed I think and kind of hid the label, but when I teasingly

bugged her to show it to me, it was "Two Buck Chuck" and it was

surprisingly good!!



But I rarely drink plain wine, red makes me flushed and I don't like

that and I'd just rather have bubbles in mine!


Many folks can not drink red wine, some times it is the tannin, other times in a mfg's wine as opposed to a home brew it is preservatives and coloring.

Personally give me a good shiraz, merlot, or a girwertzdiminer made by my father and I am set :-6

PS higher prices does not mean tastier only better quaity it is all a matter of personal opinion so drink up and enjoy.

minks wrote: Many folks can not drink red wine, some times it is the tannin, other times in a mfg's wine as opposed to a home brew it is preservatives and coloring.

Personally give me a good shiraz, merlot, or a girwertzdiminer made by my father and I am set :-6
and the white wines, on the other hand, tend to have a lot of natural sulfites, which cause a host of bad reactions in many people (me included). i suspect though, with both reds and whites, that very gradual introduction can help in building a 'tolerance' for whatever causes ails due to drinking either.

anastrophe wrote: and the white wines, on the other hand, tend to have a lot of natural sulfites, which cause a host of bad reactions in many people (me included). i suspect though, with both reds and whites, that very gradual introduction can help in building a 'tolerance' for whatever causes ails due to drinking either.


Yes and I am looking forward to total immunity to the affects of alcohol

i also enjoy shiraz & merlot, have you tried the shiraz/merlot mix ?

hi there, going by your tastes mentioned, perhaps you should try some of the very excellent 'rose' wines available, i take it the one you mentioned is by blossom hill? im no great expert on 'rose' unfortunately, some of my girlfriends are & i will consult with them tonight & post there thoughts on good one's for you to try, in the meantime, bubbly sounds good to me, hope your dropping a strawberry in the glass, really does bring out the flavour :p yum

well the girls are here & the general opinion (& it caused some lively debate) is ch du rouet cotes de prov rose 03 as a good all rounder, as i said, i personally dont know but they obviously do as its caused quite a stir regarding your requirements lol

February_Stormz wrote: I have tried Merlot and it is much to dry for my taste. My fav's are white wines particulary White Zinfandal and Pies Porter. Its the only thing I will drink when I'm out. Bubbly champayne is very good too.



Does anyone know of a semi-dry red wine that I could sample? I don't like the dry varieties. Red wine is supposed to be great for the heart smart.
Try a "Pinot Noir". It's a red that may be more acceptable to your taste buds.

There are many brands, but don't go too cheap on price.

It can probably only be bought in Britain but when i was in Yorkshire i bought some raspberry wine, its made in Holy island Northumberland by a firm called Lindisfarne.

I brought a few home with me, and the strawberry is to die for! the peach is also yummy.

I'll put the link up for you to have a look, if you get the chance give it a try.

www.lindisfarne-mead.co.uk