ChangeMe  
Grape Picker
Posts: 12
 | | 03-04-2004 02:56 AM |
| Hi guys! Im a newbie to this forum as well as to wine in general. I have had wine before but had no clue what I had or even if it was good. Lately, I have been wanting to get more into the wine scene and start tasting and enjoying this great beverage.
Tonight, not knowing what to pick up, I went to my local store and bought a bottle of Berenger White Zinfandel (I had this on a cruise, so I knew I liked it). The year of this bottle was 2001. When I got it open and tried it, it was sweeter than I had remembered. Is this common? I can taste the alcohol a little, but it is mostly sweet and fruity. Now, I dont mind a little sweetness in a wine because I really do not like a very dry wine...but this tasted overly sweet to me.
Is Berenger White Zinfandel a good wine? Is Berenger a good wine maker? Can you recommend a good wine that isnt too dry?
Like I said, I dont know how to tell good wines from the not so good just yet, so please dont flame me for not knowing. I know I will have a LOT more questions as I go along.
Thanks in advance for any replies!
Allen DiLiegro | | |
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Randy Sloan
St. Helena
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3998
| | 03-04-2004 03:01 AM |
| Welcome, Allen.
Berenger is a very good winemaker. They offer nice wines at all price levels. You might try their white zin with spicey food such as Thai -- it won't seem as sweet. Also, Sutter Home makes a White Zin that my father thinks is quite good.
Cheers. | | Randy Sloan
Match Vineyards | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 03-04-2004 03:02 AM |
| | Who are you really? | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts: 12
| | 03-04-2004 03:05 AM |
| Thanks for the replies, guys...I really want to learn about this and enjoy the finer wines, which I know cant be picked up at my local Publix...LOL. I have been reading these forums and just need to learn. Is there another wine that I can pick up somewhere that is a little more "upscale" and that I will enjoy? Maybe a "starter upscale"?? LOL
Like I said, I am new to all of this, so please dont think Im stupid...just ignorant to wines  | | | |
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Randy Sloan
St. Helena
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3998
| | 03-04-2004 03:09 AM |
| | Allen, try a Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay. They aren't as sweet as a White Zin but not terribly dry either. | | Randy Sloan
Match Vineyards | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1210
| | 03-04-2004 03:29 AM |
| Any of the lambrusca wines would be worth trying. New York wines are excellent here. Also try Niagara for some delightful dry and off-dry varieties.  
Seriously, If you like off-dry wines, I would pick up some estate level (qualitatswein) german rieslings. Look for the 2001 or 2002 Dr. L for example. Also might try a red zinfandel. Might be a revelation.
btw, are you a photographer?
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Bob Bressler 
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts: 4894
| | 03-04-2004 03:47 AM |
| Allen,
Try a Rosemount Syrah from down under. Very reaonably priced, not too dry and a good stepping stone. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts: 12
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts: 12608
| | 03-04-2004 04:18 AM |
| What price range are you looking @?
In all honesty, Berenger White Zinfandel is not a good wine. It is not a wine @ all actually. And, smaug gives good advice, try a “red” zin instead.
There are plenty of wines under the $12.00 plateau that are pretty good wines (especially for a beginner). Even something as common & popular as Beaulieu Vineyard Coastal is a good spring board to discovering the world of wines. But, not Beringer white zin. No. | | | |
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Landshark
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1894
| | 03-04-2004 06:51 AM |
| Welcome fellow photographer, it is nice to have more of us on this site even though we may shoot different things. I shoot entertainment advertising and publicity.
You might want to try a merlot as well. | | | |
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ormbee
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2397
| | 03-04-2004 06:57 AM |
| Welcome,
A good QPR under $10 are some of the Fetzer wines. We like the Gewurztraminer. The Rosemount Shiraz is a good way to get into reds , too. Also, do you have a costco near you? Great prices for the wines. | | | |
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Carl
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 462
| | 03-04-2004 08:11 AM |
| | If you like a little sweetness to your white wines, you might be a German riesling fan who does not yet know it. Two very good and very reasonably priced "entry level" Rieslings are Josef Leitz "Drachenstein" and Loosen's "Dr. L." I think they're each less than $12 in the USA: | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 03-04-2004 02:13 PM |
| | Try a red from Marquis Philips. They are $15 or less and are decidedly off dry. | | | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts: 12445
| | 03-04-2004 04:15 PM |
| | Welcome Allen. | | | Joe-----Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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Al HooKoo
Las Vegas, NV
Wine Thief
Posts: 2614
| | 03-04-2004 04:20 PM |
| Hey Allen,
I would suggest Beckmen Grenache Rose. It's a great fruity wine.
Checked out your website, wish I hired you for my wedding.
Welcome and have a great day,
Alonso | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts: 12
| | 03-05-2004 02:53 AM |
| Quote:
Allen, try a Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay. They aren't as sweet as a White Zin but not terribly dry either.
I DID try one of these tonight. VERY good to my taste buds. I really liked it and now may just go out and get a bottle. Thanks for THAT tip. | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts: 12608
| | 03-05-2004 03:08 AM |
| | 02 Catena Chard about $12.00. Probably the best chard under $20.00. | | | |
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GATC
Wine Lover
Posts: 4740
| | 03-05-2004 03:31 AM |
| Board-O, I was thinking the same thing. I would have bet that it was Vino Me.
Allen, the German riesling suggestion may be a good one. Where are you located? You should join a local tasting group. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Sorter
Posts: 307
| | 03-05-2004 04:00 AM |
| lcc,
i agree and i am not a big fan of chards.
allen,
first welcome to vinocellar, the best wine site on the net. second, i agree with many people above about the german rieslings. i am not a big white fan myself but i enjoy a good kabinett from time to time. it is a real good place to start. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13767
| | 03-05-2004 04:10 AM |
| Welcome adiliegro! I have nothing more to add here, since you have gotten some good advice thus far. One thing you might try is to taste the given wine alone on its own, and then perhaps with your dinner or some other foods. This can show you how the wine (and food) can work (or not) with the other. This will help you better understand what you like and don't as well as how different pairings of food/wine might work (or not).
Have fun in your exploration of wine. We all start somewhere. Be prepared to get hooked by this. Once you do, it is a very slippery slope. And I mean that in a really, most excellent way.  | | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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