Wine Suggestions for Usual Non-Drinker

20 years ago

I don't normally drink alcohol of any sort -- I've just never acquired the taste for it. But I need to drink some wine next week (don't ask why; it's a legitimate reason that I prefer not to go into; and no, grape juice won't do), and am in search of a wine that would be appealing to one who doesn't really like the taste of alcohol. Do you have any suggestions for a wine that is sweet tasting, and doesn't taste strongly of alcohol? A good "beginner" wine? And hopefully something I can easily find at Trader Joes or a local grocery store.

Thanks!

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Comments (13)

fedup321
20 years ago
lol...good luck...This question of yours...sounds like a topic on the old game show.."I've got a secret"...I assume by the last part of your suggestion is that you want to buy something at a local store? If your going to try to impress someone with wine for dinner (just a guess).Why don't you just ask them what they pefer..that way you can please them and pour a glass for you and fake it..pretend to drink it..and if you get a chance water a flower with it or pour it down the sink..On the other hand..If you HAVE to drink it..and you're going to buy it..for YOUR pleasure.... Never mind...I give up... Whats the "legitimate" REASON??..lol

Maybe a white zin with a little sugar mixed in?? Or a bottle of Thunderbird?
rivkadr
Original Author
20 years ago
Nope, not for someone else, it's for me :)
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Buttery...ok it's kind of what it sounds like. Picture warm melted real butter. Think of drinking that...it's very rich with an almost overwhelming rich "butter" taste to it. Now take a drink of grapefruit juice right afterwards....how would the butter coat your tongue? Almost a cloying thing butter....you can't necessarily cut it, it's just that rich that it makes other tastes pale in comparison. Butter brings out rich flavors like vanilla and nut flavors. Grapefruit on the other hand is going to overwhelm butter and only strong flavors like apricot and herbs will be able to stand up next to it. This is an oaked (Chardonnay wine aged/developed in oak barrels) will have going for it. Suck on a lemon, then an almond....see what oak or that toasted nut imparts? If the chardonay was aged in stainless steal it would develop the crisp flavors of acid like grapefruit, apricot, green apple...but not to the extent another grape (ie a Pinot Gris) will develop but the key is oak...which makes butter on the mouth. A frisking grape can be heavy or buttery as well but what they are really known for is their sugars. You start with the grape and develop what you want from it and with reislings you develop the sugars. The burgundy Chardonnay just means a French burgundy, which is Chardonnay in steel verses oak but from the burgundy region (you can't call your wine burgundy if it's not from burgandy). But you like butter and vanilla...so California oaked chards are your ticket to heaven :).
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centralcacyclist
20 years ago
Beginner wine, eh? How about a Dubonnet on the rocks? Or a spritzer of equal parts 7-Up and white wine with a twist of lime? A dessert wine like Muscat might be good. Quady Essensia Orange Muscat, maybe. Really sweet, though. Less sweet than a dessert wine but still sweet is Gewurztraminer. Blue Nun (Liebfraumilch) was the classic beginner wine of the 70s twenty-somethings. Sweet again, drink chilled. Riesling and Viognier will also be on the sweet side.

You could always go for the 80s decade beginner wine: Sutter Home White Zinfandel. Koolaid for grown-ups.

If you want to bother you could make a Kir Royale: 1 part creme de cassis, 5 parts sparkling wine. Put the creme de cassis in the flute first and then gently pour in the sparkling wine. Or drink some Ballatore, a sweet dessert sparkling wine. Bubbly and sweet.

Whatever you do, don't drink too much of any of this sweet stuff! You might end up with a headache.
rivkadr
Original Author
20 years ago
How much is too much? ;) Thanks for the suggestions! This definitely gives me something to work with.
centralcacyclist
20 years ago
More than two 8 ounce glasses will probably be too much. Make sure you eat something before you drink and while you sip. Remember that women metabolize alcohol differently than men, they get drunker faster on less and it has nothing to do with body mass.
bonelady
20 years ago
For a light white wine tray a Pinot Grigio. It is lower alcohol and lightere than most whites.
centralcacyclist
20 years ago
What did you end up drinking?
Tim
20 years ago
I'd recommend a White Zinfendel (labeled sweet or semi sweet at least). My wife finds she likes a sweet sparkling wine, the "fiz" covers up some of the alcohol taste and looks elegant like Champaign. Unfortunately most Champaign's are dry but occasionally you can find a sweet sparkling wine. Austi Spumonti can be tolerable. Just be careful and don't do more than 2 glasses sipped. I found over the years that wine was an acquired taste.
winemaster
20 years ago
Don't mix !
cecilia_md7a
20 years ago
Why hasn't anybody suggested a German Riesling? That's what got me (and a lot of other folks) into wines. This was back in the stone ages, before White Zinfandel, which is probably most younger people's "starter wine."
centralcacyclist
20 years ago
I did suggest a Riesling! I'd love to know what was finally consumed and why!
bizzarbazzar
20 years ago
I would love to know what was decided on as well. I would have suggested a nice (sweet) dessert wine like a muscat. IMHO
cecilia_md7a
20 years ago
Oops, sorry, barnmom. I guess I didn't see it the first time around.

Wine Suggestions for Usual Non-Drinker

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fedup321

rivkadr
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Wine Suggestions for Usual Non-Drinker

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