wine recommendations?

[Ice]

maybe i was just brought up in a test tube or something but I do not know anything about wine. My doctor recommended to me I drink some red wine before bed to help me sleep, but I swear I have no idea what to buy.

can anyone recommend something to me?

[marpr]

hey mate,

i work in brand communications for a wine company. SO i think i can help you out a bit.

were you thinking of having a whole glass (125ml)?? because if not, it really wont matter.

two questions:
Red or White and fruity or dry?

PM me if you like.

cheers

[Ice]

well the doc said red wine, maybe it doesnt matter im not sure, lets go with red

and fruity, i have had wine before but it has always been like at someone elses house or at a resturant

[marpr]

well the doc said red wine, maybe it doesnt matter im not sure, lets go with red

I would probably go with a 'merlot', 'sangiovese' or 'shiraz viognier' blend

They tend to be on the light and fruity side and they wont break the bank.

[Shindig]

well the doc said red wine, maybe it doesnt matter im not sure, lets go with red

Do you have Trader Joe's in your neck of the woods? I buy most of my wine from them and they have great wines at prices that fit into this graduate student's budget. No, I'm not going to suggest Two Buck Chuck. My favorite red wine is Purple Moon Shiraz, less than $4/bottle, but I've only seen it at Trader Joe's. La Boca makes a great Malbec, about $3/bottle, and I've seen it at both TJs and at supermarkets. J.W. Morris has a nice Shiraz for about $3/bottle. You may want to go get vacuum stoppers for your wine, too, so a bottle can last more than it would otherwise, unless you're drinking a whole bottle before bed (which even I suggest against).

[b_diddy746]

I hate to be cliche' but Greg Norman makes a pretty good wine for the price...

[Ice]

far as i know there is no trader joes around here, however, they are building a huge shopping area like 20 miles south of here perhaps one will open

[Golf Yokel]

You could always drink Brandy and use the excuse,

"Well... it's made from wine!"


*I am a distinct wine-hater*

[The Rambler]

maybe i was just brought up in a test tube or something but I do not know anything about wine. My doctor recommended to me I drink some red wine before bed to help me sleep, but I swear I have no idea what to buy.

Nothing from a box

[dirtfrmr]

Lot's of good red wine in the $8 to $15 range.

Nmaes that come to mind
Meredian
Houge
Sterling
Yellow tail is getting good reviews


Go to a wine tasting in your area

[jlt1971]

I'd second the Shiraz recommendation or maybe go w/a Pinot Noir. They tend to be less dry (sweeter) than most of the Cabernet's you're going to find.

Go to a wine store and tell them a general idea of what you're looking for (a red) and your budget. Contrary to the perception of wine people as snobs, wine salespeople are generally very helpful.

[Rusty2228]

Carlo Rossi.

Nothing says class like a wine bottle with a handle.

I am partial to Pinot Noirs.

[dirtfrmr]

really depends on what you want to spend

Best bottle i ever had was Tom Eddy

[beaker]

Some of the finest I have had&most; expensive happened to be some of the most tart.Now some of the best although seems that the most reasonably priced wines were some of the better tasting.Might it be age,that represents quality?I have collected some...I would have to recommend modest priced...

[golfEnthusiast]

don't worry, my mom is the same way. we went to the liquor store one day, and she had no club what so ever about wines. i'm no expert or anything but my personal favorite is pino grigio.

[g-funk13]

The best wines I have had were always from the winery itself. ESPECIALLY if they don't have phosphates, which are used to preserve the wine. You can usually taste what they have and then buy a few bottles of what you like. Cutting out the middleman is always nice, and I have never spent more than $25 for a bottle at a winery.

[michaeljames92]

man go for aussie wines all the way. western australia make fantastic wine such as leeuwin estate. http://www.leeuwinestate.com.au/ Chile also seem to make a fine wine.

[shortgame85]

Evelyn Waugh's son, Harry, a fine English writer whose primary subject was wine, once said that a wine's first responsibility is to be red. Having determined the color, we must now determine the varietal. The classic reds include Cabernet and cabernet blends ( the most traditional include cabernet, merlot, petit verdot and malbec ), Pinot Noir ( the great grape of Burgandy ), the Rhone varietals ( which include, but are not limited to Syrah [ the Aussies call this shiraz ], Grenache, Cinsault, etc. ), the Spanish reds ( tempranillo ) and the Italian reds ( including Sangiovese, chianti, etc. ).

Now all that BS aside, the Spaniards, the Chileans and the Australians are making some really good inexpensive full bodied, flavorful wines. A Spanish wine I tried recently, very good and very inexpensive, is Borsao. Also, I endorse the idea if not the regular practice of drinking, Yellow Tail ( a very good Australian industrial wine [ my review: generally clean, simple and easy to drink] ).

One bit of advice: most people in America drink the reds too warm and the whites too cold. Aim to drink your red at about 60 to 65 degrees Farenheidt. Any warmer and the alcohol becomes too pronounced and the fruit suppressed.

Don't be afraid of the screw caps. Personally, I hate them; but, then, I'm a bit of a traditionalist. The screw caps are better closures for the bottles than cork. Alas.