NWR: Wine question

sarlah

So I really want to like wine. It sounds like many of you ladies enjoy a glass from time to time, I was wondering if you had any tips on maybe a good "starter" wine? I seem to prefer whites over reds, but it could be that I'm not drinking the right reds... who knows?? I'm more of a margarita girl myself, but sometimes I think it would be nice to be able to unwind and relax with a nice glass of wine. I know this is kind of a random question, it just popped in my head and I haven't been able to really get my mind off of it.

SandalGirl

Hee hee, Sarah, I love this question.  Unfortunately I'm not much  help because I'm a red winer.  I like Shiraz because its more dry, which is what I like.  I think to figure it out you just have to try a lot of kinds to see which floats your boat.  Some people HATE dry, some love it. Do you live anywhere you can do a wine tour?  Or is there an event you can attend?  Because I have to say, sitting and relaxing with a glass of wine or two is excellent! I hope you find something!

lmydogally

A lot of people who are new to wine start with whites and that's perfectly fine.  I perfer Red but I love all wine.  If you want to move over to reds you may want try something like a White Merlot first.  If you have local winerys near you, I recommend trying a few different wines.

FutureMrs.McC

Like pp said most people like whites first.  Most are too sweet for me, so I typically stick with Reds (I'm a beer girl at heart).  But it sounds like you like sweet drinks so try Riesling.

captainleela

I'm a white wine girl. Reds are too bitter for me. Good starter whites are a Reisling, and Barefoot makes a really good (and inexpensive) Pinot Grigio that's really yummy...it's sweet and goes down really easily.

Kahtie41

Ditto on the Riesling! I think wine is another one of those "acquired taste" things, so you have to work your way up to the dry/red wines. I'd start with a Riesling or even a bubbly wine like a Prosecco, and anything that is supposed to be chilled (unlike a red) is usually going to be a little sweeter. This website has a whole section on how to work up to a red: [url] http://www.wineintro.com/ [/url] Go to "Wine Basics", then check out the links under "Starting out". This link goes straight to the sites Sweet to Dry tasting chart: [url] http://www.wineintro.com/basics/sweetdry.html [/url] Good luck finding a wine you love! And fall is the time to hit up a winery so gather some friends and have fun tasting!

ginaherman6

I'm a total wino so I have to throw my two cents into this one especially after enjoying a bottle with FI . Wine is definitely an acquired taste and something you have to ease into. Whites are definitely the best to start with, very easy finish and not too harsh on the palette. My favs for beginners are Pinot Grigio or Reisling. They are a little too sweet for me now, but I do enjoy them from time to time when I want to change it up or would like something lighter. I'm really into cabernet and merlot, but if you'd like a lighter red to try, give Pinot Noir a shot or Shiraz. But please understand, quality and price do go hand in hand with wine. You can definitely find a good affordable bottle, but the "house" wines or cheap stuff at the grocery store aren't the best if you are trying to find what you enjoy. (although Barefoot is about the best wine I've ever had under $10). Try the range btw $12-20 and you should find some nice varieties. If you have a Meijer where you live, you can always find a $16-$18 bottle on sale for $10-$12.  I'm a bartender, so I've attended numerous wine tastings and I can't tell you how good they are to really understand wine, how they are different paired with food, and what works for what you are looking for. HTH and enjoy!!

sarlah

Thanks ladies! I think I know where to begin now.