What kind of wine is good for a "first timer"?

[BlondieK143]

I've never drank the stuff before, but I'm having a few friends over after work and I want something that I'll like (hopefully). Something sorta fruity and not too bitter preferably. Help would be nice!

[terrya]

1. Depends on whether you want white or red.

I don't like white wine, but you can't go wrong with a burgundy or a cabernet.

[gWbush is Mabus]

33. you want pink White Zinfandel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

trust me

[BlondieK143]

35. lol

Okay, now tell me why. What does it taste like?

[curse10]

42. you don't want that

trust me :-)

Wine enthusiasts of any sort (amateur, like myself or pro, like someone else) will sneer at anything with the words "pink" and "zinfandel" in it

[BlondieK143]

44. Then you suggest...

?

[curse10]

46. since it's fall/winter

I suggest a red. For a reasonably priced wine, that's not too shabby I would go for the Yellowtail Merlot.

If you want something a little more exciting it would depend on what is in your local shop. If you have a decent wine store in your area I would go in there and ask the clerks. They have often tried a lot of the wine and have an opinion. I use the people that work at my local shop quite frequently and they've turned me on to some great bottles.

Also, the Beaujolais is out right now. This year it is particularly fruity. It's a very light, sweet red. I'm not a particular fan, but my brother, who generally doesn't drink wine, loved it.

[BlondieK143]

47. Thanks!

:) I'll definitely have a chat with the clerks. We just got a new store in town and it's wonderful!

[gWbush is Mabus]

34. you want pink White Zinfandel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

trust me

[BlueEyedSon]

55. Please, NO WHITE ZINFANDEL

if you're into that, just buy red Hawaiian Punch & cheap vodka (in the plastic bottle)....

[Magrittes Pipe]

2. I was loaded on Thunderbird my first time.

Oh wait, you mean first time drinking wine. Sorry.


Pick up some Ravenswood Vintner's Blend zinfandel. A spicy, fruity red that goes with just about any food, and costs about $8.

[Bridget Burke]

Good choice.

The Zinfandel, not the Thunderbird. It's not quite as dry as many reds but still not sweet.

And, if you've got a wine shop nearby, ask for suggestions! You don't have to spend a lot for a decent wine.

[goodboy]

24. thunderbird....about about Ripple...hahahaha

[lapfog_1]

3. Try a light Chardonnay

with plates of fruit, cheese and crackers.

Grgch is one of my favorites, but there are many good choices.

[Richardo]

29. Sauvignon Blanc is also good - more fruit, less oak and spice

(God listen to me - almost like I know what I'm talking about.)

Ahyhoo - I'm a big S.B. fan, and you can get some good ones that are relatively inexpensive.

[Brewman_Jax]

4. G'day, Blondie!

:hi:

You could try a bottle of zinfadel. It's not too sweet, but not dry at all. It doesn't require a lot of wine knowledge to pick one.

[BlondieK143]

12. Hey hun!

How are ya?

[Brewman_Jax]

14. You're up and about

early this morning. Doing fine here. Getting the car ready for a road trip to New Orleans next week. :hug:

I saw the wine question. What's the occasion?

[Brewman_Jax]

13. dupe

nt

[BlondieK143]

16. :) Of course, of course!

You know me! No sleep for the weary! :D Gotta work 9 hours here then 6 hours at the serving job tonight. Joy!

Road trip, huh? Bet you're stoked! Sounds like sooo much fun!

And the occasion is that I haven't been able to go out or drink in almost 2 months so I'm having a little drink with friends (or if I don't want company, I'll drink by my damn self) and just stare at the apartment which is decorated in Christmas stuff so nicely. :D

[Brewman_Jax]

21. Sounds like fun

I wonder how much strength you'll have left after working 2 jobs in the same day. Zinfandel is good, even if you aren't sharing. :D

[BlondieK143]

22. What are you doing tonight?

You can come keep me company!

And strength. HA! It's actually quite the opposite. Though I have noticed my arms getting a little more toned. How's work?

[Brewman_Jax]

23. Slowing for the season

I still have enough paper and trade journals to read to keep me busy. That, and new component testing and tech manuals are quite entertaining. :eyes:

I finally get to use some vacation time before time expires. Mom being sick all summer and uncooperative family killed any earlier plans.

Tonight is an early night (thanx for the invite!) so I can train more taichi in the morning. Too bad you're a LITTLE out of the way. LOL ;)

[BlondieK143]

27. At least you're not bored.

:) Glad to see work isn't working you too hard though!

And I'm reallly glad you get to take time for you! It's about freaking time! Turn off the cell and be out of range.

And you're welcome. I'm not completely out of the way... just a few hours lol. I'm totally worth it!

[Brewman_Jax]

31. The workouts are hard

I drive a desk and computer, not very strenuous. I get to workout to work off the company holiday luncheon and couple of days ago. I was running on the treadmill yesterday. Because of the luncheon, I missed the photo shoot in the gym. :P

[BlondieK143]

32. Photo shoot?

Aww man! Bet that means you missed some good looking girls... so sorry about that!

How'd the luncheon go? Those are funny (at least here anyway), everyone pretends to like each other.

[Brewman_Jax]

37. The photo shoot

is one of my running jokes. As the trainers are abusing, uh, I mean exercising us during the abs session, I always ask, "When's the photo shoot?" or "You're training us like there's a photo shoot next week!" They just had a photographer taking pictures of the workout classes. No big prep and stage.

The lunch was great. One room was the Foods of the World, which had food from West Africa, Caribbean, South Asia (India and Pakistan), Middle East (Persian and Mediterranian area), British Isles, and East Asia. :9

And everyone pretends to mingle with the other groups. :D

[BlondieK143]

38. Sounds like a blast!

:D At least good food was had by all!

[Brewman_Jax]

39. The main hall

had the pot-luck food, like sandwiches, casseroles, salads, and a tables of desserts. Cheesecakes, pies, cakes. I'll be working that off for the next few days.

[BlondieK143]

40. MMMMMM!

Why oh why did you have to mention cheesecake? I LOVE it! Especially with caramel on top. Damn you!

[Brewman_Jax]

41. No caramel cheesecake

there was a bourbon chocolate pecan pie. :9

Just thinking of that makes me want to workout.

[BlondieK143]

45. LOL!

Ewwww. Wish I could say that sounds appealing.

[Brewman_Jax]

48. Still on

I see that this is your long day. When do you get to leave and take a nap before your next shift?

[BlondieK143]

49. I leave here at three.

And no nap for me. Have to be at job 2 at 3:30. :(

[Brewman_Jax]

51. Oh, no!

Hope that big red cape is ready for the rest of the day. You're gonna need it. Coffee or mountain dew is okay, but, of course...














No doughnut for you! :P

[demnan]

5. Try Rhine wine

try a German Rhine wine (not California!) It has German writing on the label.

German Rhine wine is sweeter than most white wines and goes well with a light meal or entertaining.

On the red wine side try a Merlot (from France or Virginia - can't you tell I don't like California wines!)

[jmowreader]

6. Stay away from anything marked "dry" for your first time

Dry means "not sweet" and can mean anything from "kinda tart" to "bitter as hell."

A white zinfandel or white merlot would be a good choice.

And don't get the $2 a bottle stuff--look in the $7 range.

[Champ]

7. I have once, it was pretty good

But I don't remember the name. How are you doing on a fine Friday morning :hi:

[loftycity]

8. German wines

Sweet, fruity and light.

[tjdee]

9. Yellow Tail Shiraz... a DU poster recommended this, and a wine person here

(are they called sommeliers? wineists? I don't know)

said that Yellow Tail was a good moderate wine. It's fairly inexpensive (less than 20 bucks), have bought two bottles of it and am blanking on the price though.

It's a nice red.

But, many people like a white zinfandel for entertaining. That seems to be the standby everywhere I go. I don't really like white....I even have red with pasta, which is apparently terrible. :)

[flvegan]

26. I like this one, too. Fat Bastard makes a good Shiraz as well.

And the name's funny for post empty-bottle conversation.

[ret5hd]

10. go to a quality liquor store and ask for a may wine...

they may not have it but if they do it will be just the ticket. $5-$12 a bottle. trust me.

[BlondieK143]

11. Thanks guys!

You all ROCK! :D

[bunkerbuster1]

15. Yago Sangria.

Got me good and polluted my "first time."

[rainy]

17. for a first timer I recomend a light white

generally speaking the sweeter the white the taller and skinner the bottle. If it is a dry white such as a chardonnay, the shoulders are wider and the bottle fatter. If the white is made of red grapes the bottle will have rounded shoulders as most, if not all reds are bottled in the tall, round shouldered bottles.

[BlondieK143]

18. Nice!

That helps me out A LOT. :D At least I'll know what I'm looking for!

[sendero]

19. Formula 109..

... otherwise known as Boone's Farm and so called because in my youth a bottle could be had for $1.09 :)

Seriously, probably of the most commonly available varieties, something like a Chardonnay would go over well. If you want something pretty sweet a "white" Zinfandel would be good too.

[tjdee]

20. Ah Boones...the high school/collegiate favorite...

Cheap younguns!

I didn't start drinking until I was over 21 (I am a prude) but even I was very well versed in Boone's Farm wines.

Funny.

[AntiSmirk]

30. That was my thought when I saw wine & first time

I was WAY underage in the mid-70's when I had my first taste of Boone's Farm. Maybe that's why I still prefer beer.

[goodboy]

25. maybe a Coppola Merlot...not too expensive...

[HomerRamone]

28. Two-Buck Chuck!

Try the varieties of Charles Shaw at Trader Joe's, $2.99 a bottle here and cheaper in some places. Not bad, especially for the price. No joke...

[curse10]

43. that's true- it's a pretty good bottle for the price

an excellent choice for an everyday bottle

[mopinko]

54. one more vote for chuck

really. it is up to almost $4 here in chicago, but we served it at our art sale last weekend. is really is as tasty as any $10-15 bottle i have ever had.
or, find a large liquor store near you that sells a lot of wine, and go taste. most places that sell a lot of wine have a well educated and helpful staff.

[rndmprsn]

36. Aussie Merlot

[RUDUing2]

50. get a German Riesling

http://wine.about.com/library/types/bl_ries.htm

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1216/is_n5_v198/ai_19554059

[StopTheMorans]

52. mad dog

[genieroze]

53. White Merlot is a safe bet for whatever you are serving.

[NoSheep]

56. Nuveau Beaujolais