Jim, don't rush to conclusions. Beer and Iced tea sound better than wine to me! Every now and again (every few years) I get to trying wine. The last time was earlier this fall. I drank about a bottle and trying to get up fell over completely! Cheap drunk? Maybe. I had a H**l of a bruise. Never thought it would affect me like that. Anyway, I don't begrudge you if you are getting up in the world, but I applaud a beer and iced tea man any day!

Duane

Jim, I've fallen in love with Chianti in the past year! Or rather the Sangiovese grapes that go into blended Chianti wine. San Appiano is one of my favorites.

What label is yours?

When I worked in the restaurant business, I got quite an education in wine. We had a good wine list, and the wine reps were always tasting us on this or that wine, trying to convince us to put theirs on the list too.

I learned to tell a good wine from an average wine, a great wine from a good wine, learned quite a bit about the different varietals and the wine making process.

I also learned that the price of a wine really hasn't got that much to do with it's quality.

Naturally, there is usually a difference between very cheap wine and very expensive wine. But in the middle, the price has more to do with marketing and name recognition than anything else.

Bottom line, find affordable, drinkable wines and enjoy them no matter if some wine snob might stick their nose in the air or not.

If you like Chianti, you probably like a lighter red wine, with some fruit but not a lot of sugar. You might also like a Sangiovese (which is the principal grape used in Chianti) or a Pinot Noir. You'd probably like Merlot better than Cabernet, but Merlots have become overpriced in my opinion. If you decide to try a wine that is more full bodied, I'd try a nice Shiraz (Sirah...same thing, different country of origin), Barbera or Zinfandel. These have a richness Chiantis or Pinots don't have, but without the heavy tannins of affordable Cabernets (tannin is what makes your tongue feel like you just licked the carpet after sipping a young Cabernet--and young Cabs are about all average people can afford anymore, except for special occasions).

Nicer restaurants will generally be willing to pour you a taste of an unfamiliar wine (as long as it's one they're pouring by the glass) before you order it by the way.

If you live anywhere near a wine growing region, taking a little wine tasting tour is a good way to learn what you like and don't like. Generally speaking, the folks working in the tasting rooms actually have some idea of what they're talking about, unlike a lot of waiters/bar tenders who learn quickly that most people really don't know much about wines and have a tendency to be more interested in "upselling" customers than in actually helping them get what they want.

Another thing, don't let all the lingo intimidate you. Describe what you like in terms that seem right to you and any server or salesperson worth taking advice from will understand what you mean and not take on airs because you didn't toss a lot of foo-foo wine terminology around.

:) A Happy Thread!

Jim: I agree with what rachelellen sez. There was a thread here about a year ago about good inexpensive wines.

To my taste (and there'd be a huge number of people who both agree and disagree with me) one of the best tasting wines per dollar is Woodbridge Zinfandel. (That's a red wine, not the blush White Zinfandel.) It's about $12-14 for a 1.5 liter bottle. No way you'd compare it with a $200 Ch. Margaux, but every time I open a bottle for friends there doesn't ever seem to be any left. Try that.

And since in another thread you directed me to a cartoon about vacuum tubes, allow me to send you to my favorite wine snob cartoon (by James Thurber). If you're ever in the position of having to listen to some pompous gasbag going on and on about wine, quote them the caption to this cartoon and it'll stop them in their tracks.

Here is a link that might be useful: cartoon

Jim, I'm glad you found something you really like. I'm still looking although I found a Moscato di Asti at the wine show this weekend that I could drink like it was 7up. It was sweet and bubbly and only had 6% alcohol, so it WAS kind of like drinking 7up. LOL

Elery's favorite, though, was one that wone "best new wine" at the Cincinnati Wine Show, PKNT Carmenere from Chile. It's a dark red, nearly black. Retail? $7 a bottle and he says it's better than some of the $50 or $60 bottles he's had.

Annie

Chile has some real bargains in wine. For instance, the Rothschild empire has bought several vineyards there and are applying their considerable expertise to crafting some very drinkable wines at very good prices.

LOL Arley!! I must remember that one.

It was the other Jim who started this thread, but I also agree with what rachelellen sez. She did a good job with that reply. Chianti, sangiovese and zinfandel are favorites of mine.

Jim

Thanks for the replies. I like several wines just to sip once in a while. Pino Grigio, and merlot are two. I like wine in food if it's not too overpowering. I just never got into wine with food. It was kind of exiting. I'm going to try some of it tonight with some really garlicy lamb I'm going to cook outside but I have severe doubts about it being good with that.

I drink J Lohr (Los Roblas California?) Cabernet Sauv and I have a glass a day or two...its good for the heart!! LOL!!!