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I must admit to NOT really caring to drink red wine when I met my husband over twenty years ago, but all that has changed. Of course, the only red wine I had really drank up until that point had been CELLA LAMBRUSCO or BOONE'S FARM STRAWBERRY HILL. But that sure has changed and so has my pallet. So, I made this thread in hopes when any of us find a particular wine that we think others will like to try then we could pass it on as a recommendation. My husband has turned a darkroom in our home that the previous owners bought into a "chiller" room for our wines. Now, our wines can be held in wine racks at room temperature at around 55 degrees. I must tell you that there are many places to buy not only quality wines but ones that are very drinkable and at affordable prices. Suprisingly one good place is WHOLE FOODS and WHOLE MARKET. I know TARGET is now carrying wines but I haven't found anything either unusual or innovative at TARGET but they could suprise me. I was at the grocery store which I seldom am because my husband likes to do the marketing because he is the cook(I really DO know how lucky I am and he is a gourmet cook to boot). I found a wonderful little merlot that I would like to tell ya'll about ST. FRANCIS Sonoma County MERLOT 2005. We had it with Ribeye's pashed sweet potato, brocolli, and ceasar salad. I thought the steak and salad would surely overwhelm it but as usual my husband's suggestion was right on. Now I am very familiar with ST. FRANCIS as years ago I worked for a company who sold wines and this was one winery we represented. The thing that was so great about this job was when we did "tastings" because we needed to know the wine to sell it. I will tell you right now that if you turn a bottle of red wine over and it says that it is distributed by the KOBRAND COMPANY(I worked for a wholesaler not a distributor)then BUY IT and you will NOT be disappointed. Each day I will let ya'll know about a particular wine or some informaation that I have learned if you are interested. What do ya'll think are ya'll interested?

yes i am very interested, my hubby likes dry red and i like dry white, we have a number of winieries (NYS) about 2 hrs from here, we try to get there once a year, the wine tastings are so much fun

do you get NYS wines where you live clic and puddy?
i should have told you we go the the finger lakes region, many wineries there, also watkins glen where we always attend a vintage car race

ok, we got this wine as a gift, hunt country 2007 chardonnay
finger lakes, i really liked it

Yes i was a HUGE wine lover last night.

This morning, not so much.

clic, that sounds like a great idea, i will be waiting for your weekly post

I live in the heart of California wine country and love visiting all the wineries - especially the gift shops, lol. Seems like there is a wine tasting place around every corner - I'm allergic to reds so stick with the whites. Years ago tho, I loved a good Rose' or Rose' spritzers and a good Cold Duck. My neighbor makes his own Merlot and even has his own label. He bought all his bottles from Raymond Burr's old winery. Fess Parker has a fine winery just a few miles south of here and is quite highly rated.
Salute everyone and cheers!

I like Yellow Tail, wines from Casella vinyards in Australia.
I enjoy red wine, so my picks would be the Cabernet Savoign, Shiraz, and the Merlot. I also enjoy their blends, Cabernet/Shiraz, and the Cabernet/Merlot.
They are very flavorful, and pretty inexpensive.

If you have the opportunity Oliver Winery's Catawaba is wonderful blush wine and goes well with just about everything. I am not sure how available the brand is outside of Indiana, though. Oliver's Hard Apple Cider is also very good if you want something a little different.

Hello fellow wine lovers. Since Friday is my anniversary I have decided to talk about CHAMPAGNE'S and SPARKLING WINES.
CHAMPAGNE

The first thing is "real" legitimate CHAMPAGNE must come from the CHAMPAGNE region in France, or specifically the GRAPES which make up the CHAMPAGNE come from this region. The three main grape varietals are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. I won't go into the specifics about "treaties" to protect the name but they are in place and most countries abide by them. Many of ya'll may be familiar with Italian sparkling wines known as Spumante and some may recognize an inexpensive Asti Spumante which is just a sparkling wine made from the muscat grape. Most CHAMPAGNE HOUSES have both a vintage and non-vintage champagne and a top-tier champagne, which I will give recommendations.
TOP-TIER CHAMPAGNES Recommendations
My favorite and one that I highly recommend is not even the most expensive TATTINGER(pronounced Tat-in-J)COMTES de CHAMPAGNE, VEUVE CLICQUOT La GRANDE DAME, KRUG VINTAGE BRUT, MOET & CHANDON DOM PERIGNON, and lastly but I have always believed it to be highly over-rated LOUIS ROEDER'S CRISTAL(loved by rappers & celebrities).


Second/Third Tier Recommendations
Vueve Clicquot Brut, Perrier Jouet Grand Brut, Tattinger Brut La Francais Champagne, Michel Arnould Grand Cuvee Brut Champagne, Louis Roederer Brut Premier Champagne, moet & Chandon Imperial, Pommery Pop Rose Champagne, Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose, Ruinart Brut Rose Champagne, Bollinger Rose Champagne, pol Roger Rose Champagne, Perrier Jouet Blason Rose, Moet & chandon White Star.

California Sparkling Wine Recommendations
Roeder Estate Brut, Chandon Blanc di Noir, Chandon Brut, Gloria Ferrer Brut Royal Cuvee, Schramsberg Brut Blanc de noir, Schramberg brut Rose Mirabelle, and a value producer like IRONHORSE and some MUMM's. Many people like Korbel but I am not a fan, it sells very well though and can be found at most grocery stores. Most of what I have recommended can be found in fine wine shops or the larger sections of the wine department in specialty grocery stores. I have tried ALL of the ones I recommend and like them very much. Not only did I use to work in the winde industry but many of my husband and I's friends still do in various capacities(distributors, wholesalers, or owners). Every year on NEW YEAR'S DAY we go to a "CHAMPAGNE PARTY where every guest brings at least one bottle of CHAMPAGNE, that way we get to drink many different kinds throughout the duration of the all-day party. We usually go through anywhere between 55 up to the all-time high one year was 91! We have been going to this party for over 20 years, lots of fun.
Degrees of Sweetness
Many people get confused by the terms EXTRA-DRY and BRUT. the thing to remember is that the dryest is BRUT Natural, then EXTRA Brut, then Brut, then Extra Dry, then Sec, then Demi-Sec, and the sweetest is DOU. I hope this helps you in the joys of CHAMPAGNE & Sparkling wines because they are delicious and enjoyable for many special occassions. To enjoy the wonderful taste & the CHAMPAGNE EXPERIENCE might I also recommend using the "flute" type of CHAMPAGNE Glass so the bubbles rise to the top. I hope ya'll are able to try some of these and remember if you are unsure ask the wine expert at your favorite liquor store/wine shop or even friends for recommendations. ENJOY!

happy anniversay!! we have enjoyed iron horse, i get a headache from korbel, , i remember the days of asti spumante