white or red

[stylinsam]

which wine do you prefer and can you name them as im thinking about trying something newx at the moment im drinking blossom hill

[eash]

I prefer white wine usually go for Pinot Grigio. Or sometimes I fancy some champagne, any type will do but pink champagne is the best i find!

[fayelc123]

I like Pinot Grigio too, although Liebfraumilch is lovely aswell

[Drusilla1S]

I enjoyed a glass of the South African, Meerlust Rubicon 1998 Stellenbosch last weekend, but at �17.99 a bottle, I don't think I'll be sipping it and watching the TV this weekend. More's the pity!

[flipflop104]

I like both red and white depending on my mood and the weather.

To try new and different wines, try Morrisons as they often have offers on more expensive wines whereby you can get them for �3 or �4 instead of �7+ and it kinda "forces" you to try different wines if you go and say I'm not going to spend more than �x amount on a bottle - you then have to try all different sorts.

[jules1968]

i love red wine although i couldn't drink it up until about 4 years ago. I'm making up for lost time now though. My favourite is very cheap at about �2.90 per bottle. Its Asdas cabernet sauvignion! God, i'm a cheap date! I have tried more expensive wines but find the ones i've had a bit too woody for my liking. Tescos chillian red is good too! worth a try!

[Champagne]

Reserve rioja priced around �15 a bottle, or Faustino V if you want the cheaper version at around �9. Mmmmm� lovely jubbly!

[Champagne]

D'oh!! Should have read:-

For a nice red: Faustino I Gran Reserve rioja priced around �14 etc. etc.

[sunflower68]

lol jules! The only label I really look at is the price! There are some lovely cheap ones, though I know you didn't set a price range stylinsam. The Chilean Chardonnay from tesco is lovely and under �3.

[waimarie]

Hi stylinsam, If you are unfamiliar with drinking wine I would suggest one of your first steps would be to spend a bit of time finding out what grape varieties are grown in which areas. Beaujolais is made with gamay grapes for example. I have a theory that one of the reasons many people do not like French wines is because they do not know what grape variety they are drinking.

My favourites are the southern Rhone reds, predominantly made from the grenache grape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras for example.

Try out different grape types on New World wines because they name the grape variety on the bottle. Something the French AOC wines do not do. In this way, you might say "I like that Australian Shiraz", in which case you would then know this would most likely be the same grape used in the Rhone, but never in the Bordeaux, Loire or Burgundy.

Many people start off with sweetish whites such as Liebfraumilch or Muscadet and then develop their taste further. Don't be afraid to try out different wines but I would suggest you keep some sort of record of what you are drinking, otherwise you will repeat mistakes (which can be expensive) and forget some you may well want to try again.

It's a mammoth subject and worth spending some time in a bit of research. The best book available on grapes is by Jancis Robinson, called 'Guide to Wine Grapes'. A fountain of knowledge and was reasonably priced when I bought my copy about 8 years ago. Enjoy !!

[jules1968]

well sunflower68 i drink too much of it to be spending upwards of �7.00 per bottle!!! I'd be bankrupt!!!! LOL

[jules1968]

in fact, i'm just about to have one now!!!!! cheers everyone ;-)

[stylinsam]

just to let evryone just drove up to tesco and got myself a bottle of wine first time i ever tried anything new i picked up a bottle of white wine called frontera sauvignan blanc and im having a glass now and its delicious its very fruity but light which i like so thankyou 4 all of your suggestions now im going to enjoy my wine you never no i mite finish the whole bottle offx

[stylinsam]

i forgot to say it was only a fiver

[sunflower68]

cheers to you Jules and Stylinsam, thinking of you as I enjoy Elephant Trail Chardonnay, courtesy of Coop and a steal at �2.99 :))))

[dzug]

I'd steer clear of the big names like Blossom Hill and E&J Gallo - nothing wrong with them, but bland and inoffensive.

Look for a grape type rather than a maker's name. My own favourites are probably gewurztraminer for white and something merlot based for red. Neither need set you back a fortune.

[nickmo]

And bargain wine of the century - get to Lidl and buy up all their stock of Barolo....

Selling at �8 a bottle!!!!!

Usually get this for �15 for the standard and easily �30 and up as a normal price at the very least.

Why buy? Nebbiolo is the grape behind Barolo and Barbaresco and is hardly ever seen outside the confines of Piedmont. It takes its name from "nebbia" which is Italian for fog, a frequent phenomenon in the region.
A notoriousy pernickety grape, it requires sheltered south- facing sites and performs best on the well-drained calcareous marls to the north and south of Alba in the DOCG zones of Barbaresco and Barolo.

Nebbiolo is a late ripener and produces wine of high acidity and with high tannins. The best Barolos and Barbarescos are perfumed with aromas of tar, rose, mint, chocolate, liquorice and truffles. They age brilliantly and the very best need ten years+ to show at their best.

Get some lay it down and enjoy..big, tasty red wine with tons of flavour.

[sense4all]

Nickmo is right about Lidl's Barola,sadly I have developed some expensive tastes of late, but surprised some wine snobby friends by producing this - they had to agree it was good!

For a guide to value for money - versus taste - check link :- http://www.superplonk.co.uk/home/home.asp

[harrassed]

hock is one of the nicest wines and from Sainsburys its �1.95 a bottle hic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[waimarie]

Well now, I'm a regular at Lidls and haven't seen the Barolo as yet. Have to agree nickmo, Barolo is a classic wine from a very small area. Often considered to be 'rustic' and needs several years laying down but at that sort of price surely is a must. The sad thing is, at my age I'm not sure I can wait that long!! Must be worth a case and bequeath a bottle or two for close friends to enjoy later. I'm off to Lidls in the mroning.