ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:20
 | | 12/23/2005 6:48 PM |
| It seems it will take me a lifetime to learn all there is to know about wine. From what to drink to what kinds of glasses to use...Can someone just give me the basics on glasses? I have a few that were given to me by my MIL, but they look nothing like the ones I see everyone using. Mine are small and round.
What are the best glasses to use? Im going by the wine store today and I want to pick a few up, but dont want to look stupid...also -
I wonder if you could lead me in the right direction for some wines to get? I want to get a few bottles tonight for the holidays. Im into the sweeter varieties of wines. What is a good Red that is not real dry? I am very new to wines, but I want to learn. The dryer wines are hard for me to drink because all I taste is the alcohol. I want to be able to experience the fruits and the tastes of the wines and not the alcohol burning my mouth...know what I mean? Any suggestions on wines to get? Red or white or even a Rose...I just want it to be good. I would prefer Red though.
Thanks! in advance for putting up with a newbie!
Allen | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10573
| | 12/23/2005 7:09 PM |
| Hi Allen - Welcome to VinoCellar!
Quote:
What are the best glasses to use?
There are many glasses but ideally you want glasses with a large "bowl" so that you can swirl with gusto and stick your nose in them. Also no "rolled" rims. Riedel, Speiglau and places like Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel all have glasses that will work.
There are lots of wines that we could recommend but it is a bit difficult to narrow it down. To drink with my family this weekend (note they are not really wine drinkers) I bought bottles of Sangiovese, Champagne, Port and some German Rieslings. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15709
| | 12/23/2005 7:19 PM |
| Where are you located BD? It will help a great deal to point you toward where to go to learn.
Buying glasses: The best bet for beginning in my opinion is Spiegelau. You can get Riedel for a little more money if you want. They are the same company. A decent Spiegelau will cost $7 to $10 a glass.
You look for five things when you pick out a wine glass. First you want a clear bowl so that you can see exactly what the wine looks like. You want it on a stem also so that you don't get fingerprints on the bowl. You want the bowl to be tulip-shape (ie narrowing at the top) so that the aromas of the wine become concentrated. You want the bowl to be as thin as is practical (especially at the top of the glass) so that the wine will flow into your mouth better. It is nice if the glass is crystal.
Your five senses is what you can think about. Sight=clear clean bowl, Smell=concentrated aromas at the top of the glass. Taste=wine flowing into you mouth smoothly. Touch=the thin glass allows one to feel the wine better as it flows into your mouth. Sound=crystal glass so you can make beautiful music when you toast.
If you can affford it you should start with sets of three different glasses.
If you want to have just one glass you should buy a "Bordeaux" glass like the one pictured in the middle. That glass is an all purpose glass but is specifically designed for Cabernet Sauvignon.
The glass on the right is a "Burgundy" glass. It is designed for the more amomatic Pinot Noir wines.
And the one on the left is for Chardonnay. It is smaller because most people like to refill it more often so the wine is always chilled. As you buy better Chards though you won't nescessarily need this glass because you will learn that Chard tastes better if served at a warmer temp.
This is a set of Riedel wine glasses on Amazon.com. Four of each glass (12 glasses) is $39 (just a little over $3 a glass). This is a pretty good deal for a starter set if you ask me. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15709
| | 12/23/2005 7:28 PM |
| Quote:
Hi Allen - Welcome to VinoCellar!
Quote:
What are the best glasses to use?
There are many glasses but ideally you want glasses with a large "bowl" so that you can swirl with gusto and stick your nose in them. Also no "rolled" rims. Riedel, Speiglau and places like Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel all have glasses that will work.
I wouldn't recommend Port WineTex. Granted it is somewhat sweet but it definitely smaacks pretty hard with alcohol.
Try a white like an Auslese or something just off dry. Look for a Zin (red) but check the alcohol % listed on the bottle first. If it is over 15% iy is not for you... yet.
Pinot usually shows the most fruit but some say it is an acquired taste. If you can find a Loring Wine Pinot Noir at the wine store try it.
Everybody seems to start out drinking Cabernet Sauvignon. There are Cabs that you will love but the chances are you will get one that is very heavy with tannen. This is what really makes a wine "dry". It is the tannins that can hide most of the fruit. Can he buy a Neal Cab at retail? Maybe a Merlot would be the better way to go. What's a good soft Merlot available at retail.
Back on the subject of glasses. They will probably try to sell you the Riedel "O" line of glasses. Don't buy them. You want something with a stem. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:20
| | 12/24/2005 1:44 AM |
| Thanks guys...I live in SC so it may be hard to find something good. We do have a cool wine store called "Totally Wine" and you can pretty much get anything there. Im gonna go peruse that place tomorrow to see what I can find as far as glasses and maybe even a few bottles of wine.
I thought cabs and merlot's were for more advanced wine drinkers. I have always stayed away from them because of that. Hmmm...can you recommend any by name so I can look for them?
thanks for entertaining the newbie, guys...most places arent this nice! | | | |
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TBird
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5169
| | 12/24/2005 1:50 AM |
| | SC? south carolina? i was born and raised there. you are right, it will be hard to find good stuff. get on some mailing lists. SC is now "legal", right(for direct shipping?)? | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12352
| | 12/24/2005 1:54 AM |
| Yep, keep your eyes open. Various web sites run specials on wine glasses. Just about 2-3 weeks ago there was a sale on Amazon in a deal with a retailer from CT. And, about 6 months ago or so, Board_O posted a sale on Lenox glasses.
If you are new to wine, I suggest NOT to spend a lot of money on glasses. Really, I suggest small steps, small steps. Rather than spending money of wine-related toys, spend it on wine.
A lot of good info here for newbies. Of course, your wallet & savings acc will NEVER be the same.  | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:20
| | 12/24/2005 2:05 AM |
| Yep, Tbird...good ol' South Carolina. I live in Lexington right now, but work in Charlotte, NC...I should be able to find some good wines in Charlotte, right? It's a big city, right?
Love cab...I wont spend a lot on too many toys, but glasses I think will only help me to enjoy wine more...Im the kind of person that will buy everything that I see when i get into something...LOL. I really just want to buy a few glasses...Im the only one here who will drink wine, so I dont need but a few glasses.
Funny story for you...my wife doesnt like the taste of wine at all...We were at a restaurant in the North End in Boston and I ordered a bottle of wine for the 4 of us (two friends were with us). I looked over at my wife and her friend and they were putting ice in their Red wine...I also saw her friend putting sugar in it. I almost DIED!!! Even then, I knew better than do what they did, but whatever makes her happy I guess...:) | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12352
| | 12/24/2005 2:41 AM |
| Quote:
I looked over at my wife and her friend and they were putting ice in their Red wine...I also saw her friend putting sugar in it
Wufa?!?   Unfortunately, I think most of us have seen similar.
Re, glasses: have patience, a sale will be around the corner, I am sure... | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:20
| | 12/24/2005 3:44 AM |
| Can someone recommend a cab for me to try? I seriously want to get one tomorrow at the wine store if I can find what you guys recommend...maybe recommend a merlot as well, since you guys said that they are maybe what Im looking for. Why did I think they werent for beginners? Why did I think they were an "aquired taste"?
Anyway, I need some names of good ones to look for. | | | |
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TBird
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5169
| | 12/24/2005 6:10 AM |
| Quote:
Yep, Tbird...good ol' South Carolina. I live in Lexington right now, but work in Charlotte, NC...I should be able to find some good wines in Charlotte, right? It's a big city, right?
Quote:
uh oh, we may be related! i have about 1000 friends, neighbors, and family in lexington(i'm from, ahem......cayce....  )!
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Seek
Upstate NY
Wine Thief
Posts:2772
| | 12/24/2005 11:49 AM |
| I have always loved the Riedel Vinum series Bordeaux as my all purpose glass. If you want a glass of similar style, but a little more strength go with the Spiegleau Bordeaux.
A wine that went over real well at a party last weekend was the Sebastiani Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. You will either find the 2001 or 2002 on the shelf for about $12-14 per bottle. Also look for the Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Napa valley 2002 for about $17-20. Both of these Cabernet Sauvignon are easy drinking wines that do not show too dry, but still possess enough balance to please many savvy wine drinkers. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:20
| | 12/24/2005 1:11 PM |
| Quote:
uh oh, we may be related! i have about 1000 friends, neighbors, and family in lexington(i'm from, ahem......cayce.... )!
Just please tell me you arent one of those nasty Gamecocks...:) | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15709
| | 12/24/2005 10:29 PM |
| Quote:
Im the kind of person that will buy everything that I see when i get into something...LOL
You know what they call a person who has never tasted a good wine?
Lucky. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:20
| | 12/24/2005 10:47 PM |
| | I think you could be right, David...LOL. | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12352
| | 12/25/2005 6:15 AM |
| | Good one, David. And, very true. The bank acc will never be the same. | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 12/25/2005 7:15 PM |
| Quote:
SC is now "legal", right(for direct shipping?)?
Yes, but the license is $600 biennially, so a winery needs enough business in that state for it to make sense - which might be a chicken and egg problem. | | | |
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TBird
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5169
| | 12/26/2005 12:55 AM |
| Quote:
Quote:
uh oh, we may be related! i have about 1000 friends, neighbors, and family in lexington(i'm from, ahem......cayce.... )!
Just please tell me you arent one of those nasty Gamecocks...:)
i never got into the clemson/carolina rivalry. but i do own a few shirts, for entertainment value.
"you can't lick our cocks".
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15709
| | 12/27/2005 10:53 PM |
| | Uhhh, ok. Whatever jerks your light cord. | | | |
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