suggestions. White is ok, but I'm looking for some good red suggestions. Cabernet is my preferred choice. I'm not looking for a couple hundred dollar bottles, just some moderate bottles to sip with dinner.
OT.... Cutting back on beer. Need some wine
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Wine is gross. Stick to liquor and be a man.
I highly recommend a well made dirty vodka martini.
Just finished a 'dirty Goose', which was a perfect day-ender. But, young Fella, wine ain't gross, it's just costly. ;^)Wine is gross. Stick to liquor and be a man.
Wine is gross. Stick to liquor and be a man.
From time to time, but not a huge liquor guy. Sip whiskey from time to time.
In state, but in NOLA. Club may come in time. I don't need obscure wines, just some you think are ok for a novest or some you know to avoid.
It is a good idea to establish a relationship with your supplier. Solicit the same advice from your local source and give them some feedback on their suggestions. They are in the biz of selling grape juice and they (should) know what the trends are. Stay on the low end of your budget and you will find some very nice surprises as you experiment. Your supplier will appreciate the opportunity to be your guide.
Wine is like pizza and sex; it's always good but some is better than others. Enjoy the experience. You might not LOVE the same cab that I love but the only way to know is to experiment! Learn the art of "decanting" which helps wines to deliver their full complement of flavors. Decanting helps make an average wine above average. Enjoy!
Wine is like pizza and sex; it's always good but some is better than others. Enjoy the experience. You might not LOVE the same cab that I love but the only way to know is to experiment! Learn the art of "decanting" which helps wines to deliver their full complement of flavors. Decanting helps make an average wine above average. Enjoy!
Other than the allegations of too much arsenic in some ot the wine,,,pop on by TJ's in La Jolla and pick up a couple of bottles of "Two Buck Chuck."
Good Value.
,,,,,,,,,,cheers
At my domaine, Estancia is the house wine. Very versatile and under twenty bucks. My favorite reds for about forty-fifty bucks come from a little winery in Napa called Dutch Henry. They are only available through their wine club. I am currently enjoying a gorgeous bottle of Argos. Google them.
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I'd recommend any $15-$30 Bordeaux or Cotes du Rhone. Bordeaux wines are always a blend of traditional Bordeaux grapes - Cab Sav, Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. If you like Cab Sav you'll probably find something you like, but unlike 100% Cab Savs (which tend to be big and bold) the blends can produce some fantastic, more nuanced, flavors and textures. I find French wines a better value than California wines; though California does something similar with blends and calls it 'meritage'.
Don't forget to educate yourself when you are out at your favorite restaurant as well. There is an awful lot of knowledge there to tap!
Try some Australian Shiraz, Rosemount is nice, or a Malbec or Rioja. Check the wine enthusiast rating in the liquor store. Anything in the 90s for about $15 - $20 is worth a try.
I like the Francis Coppola wines, but am more focused on the variety than the vinyard. Merlot seems to be the place most American men start with red wine... I enjoy the simple all around table reds, like Red Truck. My favorite variety is Malbec, but also like other robust reds (Zinfendel, Syrah), and I'm starting to gravitate towards Pinot Nior.
I'm no expert though...
I'm no expert though...
Google Wine Spectator and knock yourself out. Very reliable ratings on thousands of reds. Most beginner aficionados will be happy with most $15 Cabs. We also drink a lot of Shiraz and Merlot in this price range. Excellent steak dinner wines. After your tastes develop, try to find those terrific bargains. They're out there.
Warning... the more you pay for wine, the better it gets. Sad truth. Fun to buy a big boy bottle of Cabernet every now and then though. Special occasion, maybe?
At Penn State, we'd occasionally have a competition where everyone had a box of wine and we raced to see who could finish first. We called it the Tour de Franzia.
Related: I don't recommend Franzia.
Related: I don't recommend Franzia.
If you google "best wine deals" or "best wine bargains" you should be able to find numerous articles about rating wines that are normally priced at $15 or less that have either a decent rating by one of the magazines such as "Wine Advocate" or appeal to the taste of the author/blogger. There's no guarantee that your tastes will align perfectly with the article but at $15 or $20 what's to lose. You may get enjoyment just reading the articles. You can find the same types of articles if you are a craft beer or cigar afficionado. You don't necessarily have to stick to California, French or Italian wines, there are good bargains from Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, South America and Eastern Europe where a mediterranean climate exists. Key things to remember are that marketing muscle and brand recognition don't automatically translate to good quality conversely high volume mass production of a particular wine doesn't necessarily translate to a mediocre quality. That's why they call it "bargain hunting".
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Great suggestions regarding establishing a dialogue with a local wine merchant that will allow you to taste some samples etc.
The problem with CA cabs is that the price:value ratio is not as good as what you see from Argentina (Malbecs), Spain (Riojas), and Italy.
I use this site at times to purchase my everyday quaffing wines. They usually have good values on Italian Brunellos, Riojas and even some U.S. Cabs. Price includes shipping:
Wines Till Sold Out: wtso.com
Another tip: Try Tasting Room until you find a few you really like.
https://www.tastingroom.com
They don't ship to PA unfortunately, but I don't think that's a problem for you.
https://www.tastingroom.com
They don't ship to PA unfortunately, but I don't think that's a problem for you.
This actually made me laugh out loud. Tour de Franzia....lol.
I drank an entire box of Black Box Merlot during the OSU game last year. I was toast and ended up puking all over myself while ranting about the refs.
The Finger Lakes Region is known for its white wine, especially Riesling. But there are a few good red wines produced along the south east side of Seneca Lake known as the Banana Belt. Damiani has produced Pinos & Cabs that have achieved a 90 rating from Wine Enthusiast.
http://www.vineyard2door.com/web/products_browse.cfm?startat=11
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I like Carlo Rossi's Sweet Red. It's the best for the money imo. Doesn't taste like a cheap wine but is usually around $15 a gallon.
I like Carlo Rossi's Sweet Red. It's the best for the money imo. Doesn't taste like a cheap wine but is usually around $15 a gallon.
Something to sip with dinner = sweet wine sold by the gallon?
Eek... I'm no elitist, but drinking wine sold by the gallon is not something I'd recommend. Of course, I drink it willingly at my in laws. It's just not something I'd use as a place to get into wine drinking. Conversely, some box wine (e.g. Black Box) is quite reputable and just as good as many inexpensive bottled wines.
Here are three cabs that are pretty good and are not expensive:
Joel Gott
Castle Rock
Chateau St. Michele
Also tried a bottle of Big Ass Cab for the name alone and it was surprisingly good.
Franciscan cabernet (about $25) is a nice, moderately priced wine available in the state stores. On the higher end of your range I like Turnbull cabernet (if they have it in state stores it is usually in the reserve section).
I am a fan of Pinot Noir. At least one good one I have had recently is Mark West. I m a grocery store oenophile in the finest tradition of lowbrow culture. But the Mark West is really tasty and quite cheap--9 bucks a bottle here.
Rule number 1: Dont waste your money on cheap wine. Life is too short.
Rule number 2: There are no rules. Drink what you like.
As said above, wine is not a substitute for beer.
Rule number 2: There are no rules. Drink what you like.
As said above, wine is not a substitute for beer.
Ah the health benefits of red wine...
First things first....don't buy and consume wine from a box or a pouch or gallon jugs, or even any kind of screw top lid. You will get mercilessly taunted.
One poster compared wine to sex... that all sex is good but some is better is spot on. Another mentioned preference to French wines versus CA wines and I refuse to have anything to do with French anything, but I can say that there are some really great CA wines. I like many of the Sterling products and they fall in your price range. There are some really great boutique vineyards like Palmaz in Napa but I can't afford $375 a bottle and can only drink that when my pretentious rich cousin wants to show off. If you ever get the Napa you have to tour that place. For a high end cab from CA you have to try Stag's Leap. William Hill from Napa also has good offerings.
For PA wines there is a small winery in Lancaster called Waltzs that have great reds. One that is good is called Barred Rock Red but also have Pinot noir and merlot. Higher priced from $16-$30 a bottle.
In the finger lakes there is a winery called Shellstone that U.S. Known for " nothing but reds." A great cab Sav and others.
I like Bollas as well.
Santa Rita Reserve cab Sav
Anything from the Maipo Valley in Chile especially Malbec
Fabre Montanmoya Malbec Argentina
Pinto final Malbec
Oregon and Washington are reported to have some great wines but I won't know about those until this fall when I take tours.
Like another poster there are varieties I like:
Malbec - many good ones but almost anything from the Mendoza region in Argentina is worth a try
Tempranillo- from Spain or from Mendoza Argentina also good
Cab Sav from CA
Syrah from South Africa or Australia
A couple of red table wines at $10 are Apothic Red and Ménage a Trois Midnight.
Now all of that being said, have you ever considered making your own wine? Great hobby. You can actually buy kits that have juice from some of these places. Each kit makes about 30 bottles and after you have the equipment, you can make some great stuff for about $6.00 a bottle. Patience in letting it age is the key though....many cant wait long enough (2 years). I have over 300 bottles aging and will be able to start drinking in December, with two more kits fermenting right now but won't touch those until 2017.
Still like to drink other stuff but once you start making your own you like it more....same with my beer making.
First things first....don't buy and consume wine from a box or a pouch or gallon jugs, or even any kind of screw top lid. You will get mercilessly taunted.
One poster compared wine to sex... that all sex is good but some is better is spot on. Another mentioned preference to French wines versus CA wines and I refuse to have anything to do with French anything, but I can say that there are some really great CA wines. I like many of the Sterling products and they fall in your price range. There are some really great boutique vineyards like Palmaz in Napa but I can't afford $375 a bottle and can only drink that when my pretentious rich cousin wants to show off. If you ever get the Napa you have to tour that place. For a high end cab from CA you have to try Stag's Leap. William Hill from Napa also has good offerings.
For PA wines there is a small winery in Lancaster called Waltzs that have great reds. One that is good is called Barred Rock Red but also have Pinot noir and merlot. Higher priced from $16-$30 a bottle.
In the finger lakes there is a winery called Shellstone that U.S. Known for " nothing but reds." A great cab Sav and others.
I like Bollas as well.
Santa Rita Reserve cab Sav
Anything from the Maipo Valley in Chile especially Malbec
Fabre Montanmoya Malbec Argentina
Pinto final Malbec
Oregon and Washington are reported to have some great wines but I won't know about those until this fall when I take tours.
Like another poster there are varieties I like:
Malbec - many good ones but almost anything from the Mendoza region in Argentina is worth a try
Tempranillo- from Spain or from Mendoza Argentina also good
Cab Sav from CA
Syrah from South Africa or Australia
A couple of red table wines at $10 are Apothic Red and Ménage a Trois Midnight.
Now all of that being said, have you ever considered making your own wine? Great hobby. You can actually buy kits that have juice from some of these places. Each kit makes about 30 bottles and after you have the equipment, you can make some great stuff for about $6.00 a bottle. Patience in letting it age is the key though....many cant wait long enough (2 years). I have over 300 bottles aging and will be able to start drinking in December, with two more kits fermenting right now but won't touch those until 2017.
Still like to drink other stuff but once you start making your own you like it more....same with my beer making.
OK, I am by no means an expert, although I do know one who once told me that less expensive wines were really the best value and in many cases the best tasting.
But to my point. Some years ago my wife and I were eating at a "moderately" priced Italian restaurant in Orlando (operated by REAL Italians). We purchased a bottle of Pino Grigio that was a tad pricy. We have enjoyed Pino Grigio wines for many years. This particular wine was the best by far, according to our taste. The wine's name was Placido , imported from Italy. After returning home to NJ (no jokes please) I began my search for this wine. Liquor store after store did not carry it. I was made aware you could buy Wine online. Once I discovered this I began to purchase this wine by the case through a NY distributor. And the BEST PART it sells for about $8 a bottle.
Actually, writing this has made me thirsty so I think I will have a glass since it is after 12PM
Give it a try, you will not be disappointed. Oops, it is a white wine a bit on the dry side. Most people think white wines are sweet.
But to my point. Some years ago my wife and I were eating at a "moderately" priced Italian restaurant in Orlando (operated by REAL Italians). We purchased a bottle of Pino Grigio that was a tad pricy. We have enjoyed Pino Grigio wines for many years. This particular wine was the best by far, according to our taste. The wine's name was Placido , imported from Italy. After returning home to NJ (no jokes please) I began my search for this wine. Liquor store after store did not carry it. I was made aware you could buy Wine online. Once I discovered this I began to purchase this wine by the case through a NY distributor. And the BEST PART it sells for about $8 a bottle.
Actually, writing this has made me thirsty so I think I will have a glass since it is after 12PM
Give it a try, you will not be disappointed. Oops, it is a white wine a bit on the dry side. Most people think white wines are sweet.
This is good advice. Old World wines are as cheap as I've ever seen right now with better than average vintages for several years running. If you like cabernet sauvignon, try some left bank Bordeaux houses like Chateaus d'Agassac, Peyrabon, du Retout and Citran (all Haut-Medoc) or Haut-Bergey (Pessac-Leognan). All of these can be had for $25 or less and probably $20 or less on sale, and all 90+ rated at WS, which I consider to be the most reliable as well as toughest grader of WA, WE, Parker, IWC and the other reviewers.
Personally, I've been drinking Rioja/Tempranillo like water the last 4-5 years. Just an amazing streak of great vintages and super-affordable.
As much as I like CA wine, the value hasn't been there for years. I just returned from a trip to Napa (wife is from the area) where on numerous past visits I've generally been shipping back a case or more of local wine and only brought back two bottles of zinfandel. Just not worth it when there's so much else that's better for 60% or less of the price.
Argentinian Malbecs are usually a pretty good value red. You can get a decent everyday bottle (Pascual Tosa or similar) for $10. If you have a Costco membership, they actually have a pretty good lineup of wines at varying prices. There is a blog devoted to reviews of wines found at Costco: http://costcowineblog.com/
Gary Eberle makes good wines in Paso Robles. He is a former Penn State football player. http://www.eberlewinery.com/
Honestly I would recommend that you locate your nearest good wine merchant and have a chat. A good wine merchant will not be a snob and will be willing to recommend a decent wine at any price point above $10.
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