Snarf
Dystopia
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So I've been trying to expand my palate a little lately and have been drinking some white wine and a little red.
I know basically nothing about wine, maybe I could get some advice or recommendations?
I like white wine, slightly chilled. Pinot Grigio is a little sweet, Chardonnay is a little dry. I found a bottle I really like that is a blend "60 pinot grigio 40 chardonnay" from Italy - Ecco Domani or something, I like that a lot. Is there a similar style I could keep my eyes open for? Etc.
lisathewaitress
SoHud
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alborino! but also....
dry riesling
white burgundy (usually chardonnay)
vermintino
gruner veltliner
gewurztraminer
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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There was an AWESOME Slow Food event a few months ago at The Twisted Vine that was a flavor pairing - basically, how certain main flavors either work with or against flavors in wine. An example would be a very acidic wine that tastes like melted ass on it's own, but if consuming very acidic food (we had lemon wedges), completely changes the flavor of the wine. It was fascinating. Sciencey. If you have any interest in learning about that stuff, I'd highly recommend a tasting of that nature.
Outside of that, going to wineries taught me that I generally prefer whites that age in stainless casks, and reds that age in oak (although had a stainless red that was fab).
I tend to just buy random bottles, if I'm purchasing for a meal. If I make it to one of the places that has a knowledgeable wine person, I'll work with them, and have rarely been steered astray.
I would add traminette to Lisa's list o' grapes (although she was on the MONEY with dry riesling - my all time fave)... traminette can be sweeter or dryer, but has a great flavor, in general.
jarsloth
west side
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For whites, I'm a big fan of the sauvignon blanc. We were in New Zealand wine country last year and had some amazing ones, though we found out our favorites were upward of $40.00 a bottle here, which is just a little too much for our budget. For a more reasonable priced bottle try the Kim Crawford (NZ) or Chateau Ste. Michelle (Washington) - you should be able to get either for under 20.00 and get an idea if sauvignon blanc appeals to you.
Landon Proctor
Olde North Columbus
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Hey Snarf,
As I'm sure you know, there are a lot of variations in flavor between wines, even among wines that are made from the same grape or produced in the same region. If you've had a bunch of Chardonnays and they are all too dry for you, that's a great preference. I know a lot of people who think Chards are too sweet! If there's something you like about a grape, I might recommend trying that same grape from a different winery or a different place - it will be somewhat similar but not the same.
Do you have a local wine shop? Grocery stores are often useful for the convenience factor but it sounds like you could use a personal touch. Anyone who works at a decent store would love to listen to what you like about each wine you've had and suggest something that is up your alley based on that. Then you can come back to them with feedback on what you got and they get to know your preferences and really dial in on what works for you.
Sometimes it's cheaper and easier to go to a wine tasting in your area to help pin down what you like. If someplace nearby is pouring a lot of wines one night, it's often less expensive to taste a little of each one and get one bottle you actually like than to buy wines blind and be disappointed by a lot of them. You can try a lot of wines that way without spending too much.
But given all that, maybe you're just looking for something new and interesting. All of the above mentioned wines are great. If I might add to that list: I have had lots of customers who have expressed liking your style. For each of the following wines, at least one person with your taste has come back and said they enjoyed it.
Joet Gott Sauvignon Blanc
Similar in weight to Pinot Grigio: light, fruity without being sweet. Easy to drink a lot of it.
Novellum Chardonnay
An unoaked Chard with lots of floral and fruit aromas, not so much oaky or buttery stuff.
Sergio Mottura Orvieto
Orvieto is a medium-bodied blend from Central Italy. Well-balanced, clean, and not OVERLY anything (e.g. nutty, grassy, lemony, yeasty, etc.)
White Knight Viognier
Very, very pleasantly aromatic and fresh. On the fruity side. Medium to full bodied like a heavy Chard.
Indaba Chenin Blanc
Inexpensive, tropical, and medium bodied. More lively than most Chards.
San Felice Vermentino
Lemony and crisp like Pinot Grigio, but definitely dry.
Abad Dom Bueno Godello
Godello is awesome. This one comes off like a cross between lemon and pear but light to medium bodied. At its best with food.
Snarf
Dystopia
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Excellent suggestions, thank you all for the help.
I'm heading to Andersons to grab some stuff for dinner and will bring my notes from this thread with me to show the helpful wine guy there and pick up a few misc bottles.
Another plus to drinking wine (vs beer) is it makes you feel... good, different good lol.
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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I like Spanish wines, especially the white and rose wines. They're cheap ($8-20) and delicious especially recently.
I've also had excellent luck with red table wines from Italy. I really like Nebbiolo wines from Barolo ($40-?) and Barbaresco ($25-?) DOC. There are plenty of other great wines from Italy. I'm digging on Barbera wines which can be less expensive ($18-40?)but still pretty damn tasty. I look for ones from Barbera D'Asti.
I like some French wines but I don't know much about them. I tend to buy estate bottled Champers though. Veuve is nice I guess, but I prefer to pay some dude to make wine, not print magazine ads.
Can't stand most Cali Chardonnays. Over-Oaked badness. There are some nice wines from Cali I've had, but in my experience they tend to be spendy. Aside from that it's a black hole for me.
I like Oregon and Washington wines though I don't know much about them. It just seems like Spain to me. Every wine I pick up is at least ok.
Oh, and everything Lisa said..
Aside from that, go out, talk to people and taste wine. Twisted Vine and House Wines are great places to do both.
When it comes right down to it, it's what you like. If you like big oak-y Chards from California, don't let me talk you off of it. Taste a bunch of wines and buy what you like.
in the end, Andrew Hall and Chris Dillman would probably be the best people to post here.
P.S. I haven't even gone into buying wines for cellaring. I know very little about it, but it can be fun to open something that has been sitting on a shelf for 3 years that you picked out because you though you might see what it was like in a few years.
EmZeeGee
Clintonville
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I think the best wine advice I've heard is to drink as many sorts of wine as possible (I know, it's hard, but you can cope) and to not rule out any varietal after one, two, or even three "meh" tastings. So if you have a brunello you don't like, don't give up on brunellos. Try another one. Go to tastings (I like House Wine's and Gentile's, and Weiland's casual 25-cents per on weekends, but lots of shops have great tastings) and be as adventurous as possible.
Also, I LOVE this wine blog. So much fun, and Gary has taught me a lot.
Have fun!
KSquared
Literally Hell
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I agree that you should taste as many as you can. I've learned a TON just in the past few weeks going to Landon's tastings. I've posted this in other threads - just really enjoy the selections and the information that goes with them. He also puts up with the many dumb/nerdy questions I ask and I've loved every recommendation he's given me.
Developing a relationship with a wine shop really helps - find a place that's convenient and someone whose personality works for you. I've also enjoyed the folks at Twisted Vine and House Wine, as well as Carnardo's in Upper Arlington. I am sure there are many more good shops as well.
And it's fun to learn while you drink!!
TaraK
probably at the coffee shop
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lisathewaitress wrote >>
gewurztraminer
Yessssssssssss.
Snarf, you might consider stopping by Vino 100. They have little sliding bar displays with each wine showing where it is in terms of fruity/sweet or dry. Good for a beginner who might be more able to say, "I like something that's kind of ... here. Yeah, here." There's another excellent wine shop in Worthington called House Wine that does similar display, has great prices and specials, and has good tastings deals. (More here on them.)
Snarf
Dystopia
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Last nights experiment was a success! I picked up a Gewurztraminer from Washington state, which pairs well with asian food says the bottle and I had made green thai curry, it was okay - tasted too appley and kind of flat tasting.
Followed that with a Gruner Veltliner from Austria that was amazing.
FUN!
KSquared
Literally Hell
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Snarf wrote >>
Last nights experiment was a success! I picked up a Gewurztraminer from Washington state, which pairs well with asian food says the bottle and I had made green thai curry, it was okay - tasted too appley and kind of flat tasting.
Followed that with a Gruner Veltliner from Austria that was amazing.
FUN!
Gruner is awesome. It's my new favorite white.
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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try pairing them with a good cigar.. now that is fun :)
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