ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:12
 | | 03/05/2004 4:17 AM |
| | im in PoDunk South Carolina. About the only wine tasting clubs here start out with a nice Boones Farm Strawberry Hill and work their way up to the mad dog 20-20...no thanks...LOL | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Fermenter
Posts:567
| | 03/05/2004 3:22 PM |
| Quote:
im in PoDunk South Carolina. About the only wine tasting clubs here start out with a nice Boones Farm Strawberry Hill and work their way up to the mad dog 20-20...no thanks...LOL
First, Welcome!!
Do you have any good wine shops in your area? Usually wine stores will host tastings. This is a great opportunity to learn more about a particular varietal(cabernet, zin,chard, etc) or region (bordeaux,champagne, etc). It is also a great way to get exposure to different styles of wine.
If you know of other people who enjoy wine, you could start your own wine tasting group. Select a theme (for example, one evening everybody brings a bottle of chard, the next time everyone brings a bottle of cab), you can set a price threshold so nobody feels as if they spent more than the other guy.
If you really catch the bug(LOL) there are primers on the web regarding different types of varietals(grapes) and the different wine making regions.
Also, some good books are available. Hugh Johnson and Oz Clarke are two authors who come to mind, I am betting others will have more recs if you want them. | | | |
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ormbee
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2397
| | 03/05/2004 3:58 PM |
| I always recommend Wine for Dummies
I still read it on occasion | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:12
| | 03/06/2004 1:27 AM |
| | Was at Carrabbas Italian Restaurant tonight and had the chance to get a Kendel Jackson Pinot Nior...Really liked that wine. Had a nice taste to it but just a bit dry, which I didnt mind at all. Went GREAT with my Steak Marsalla. Im liking this wine thing more and more...LOL. | | | |
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texaswino
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2184
| | 03/09/2004 2:31 AM |
| adiliegro,
You are on your way now. No turning back. I got started on White Zin also ( I hate to admit). The wine world is vast and can be intimidating. Don't fret though. Check out the posts on this site often and you will find knowledgeable and very good advice. I have to second the recommendation of Rosemont Shiraz as a good starting point for red wines. Pinot noir can be tricky but some of them are very good and a good transition wine from whites to reds as they have some of the characteristics of both. Enjoy the journey. Taste as much as you can and enjoy yourself. Welcome to the obsession.  | | | |
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winebrat
Sacramento, Ca.
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2326
| | 03/09/2004 8:12 AM |
| | be afraid...be very afraid... | |
"Everyday is worthy of a glass of sparkling wine" - Andrea Immer MS | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11834
| | 03/09/2004 10:34 AM |
| I agree with texaswino... Everybody has to start somewhere.
I was buying 4 liter jugs of Gallo Chablis in the 80s. In the early 90s,
I was up to Fetzer Proprietor's White.
Now I'm on Bob Bressler's mailing list!!!!
I think winebrat got it right. Be VERY afraid.
This hobby/obsession can be very challenging to your budget (but it's worth it)!  | | | |
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KillerB
Barrel Racker
Posts:1533
| | 03/09/2004 1:21 PM |
| Budget? What budget? I allocate no budget to my wine buying. Admittedly, I may have nowhere to put it soon as the mortgage company aren't too happy. I'm sure that I can find a nice, cool spot near to my park bench that will house the racks. Must remember to hide the corkscrew and a stem or two from the bailiffs.
Welcome aboard Allen. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:12
| | 03/11/2004 12:34 AM |
| Quote:
Now I'm on Bob Bressler's mailing list!!!!
Can someone fill me in on this? | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts:1210
| | 03/11/2004 12:58 AM |
| Bressler is a forumite that has started a major-league napa cabernet winery. First results are that his wines are in cahoots with the top names in california.
More info:
Here
Here
Here
AAAAAND Here | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:12
| | 03/11/2004 1:08 AM |
| Thank you!
OK...I just bought a Rosemount Shiraz (2002) as was advised by some on here. I LIKE it! Thanks for recommending it to me. Now, how Do I keep it? Should I put it in the refrigerator? Is it supposed to be serverd cold or room temp? Im such a newbie...LOL.
Think Ill start another post with some questions for general knowledge...LOL | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 03/11/2004 1:39 AM |
| You should drink it... all in one gulp
Not really. The ideal thing is to drink half of the bottle and put the remains in a half bottle (one of those mini bottles) you have and recork that. Then place it in the frig. You shoudl probably drink the remainder within a day or two. | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 03/11/2004 2:15 AM |
| | There is actually a little kit you can buy that has a 1/2 bottle stoppered decanter and a 1/4 bottle one. Plus this cute little funnel. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:11169
| | 03/11/2004 2:19 AM |
| | Room temp. | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 03/11/2004 2:22 AM |
| | wold that be a room in a western european castle without central heating? | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:11169
| | 03/11/2004 2:36 AM |
| | Not for me. I prefer my reds at 65 degrees, maybe even a degree or three higher. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 03/11/2004 4:05 AM |
| board-o,
the problem for me is room temp in my house is around 74 degrees. i like it warm  | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:11169
| | 03/11/2004 4:17 AM |
| | Well, we're out of the house during the day and we turn the heat down. At dinnertime, it's mid to upper 60s. In the Summer, I take wine out of the cellar, but leave it in the basement, which is about 65 degrees in Summer, til dinnertime. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 03/11/2004 4:53 AM |
| | now the summertime is a whole different story. i like to keep the house borderline ice cold. | | | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11834
| | 03/11/2004 10:00 AM |
| | AI... What's that for you... 74 degrees??? | | | |
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