Choosing a wine - wine connoisseurs...

[Baby France]

I don't know that much about wine (other that I like drinking it )

I quite like a white, rose or red, dependant on where I am and what mood I'm in.

For recent months its been rose but the last few weeks has been red.

I've always picked up a bottle that's not cost the world, but isn't the cheapest either.

I prefer californian rose.

BUT...my sisters new BF says that when he chooses a bottle, its always got to be over 12% with room at the bottom so that you know its usually served in restaurants (so waiters can holder the bottle with thumb and hand).

How do you choose your wine, do you stick with one or try whats on offer?

 

[xSin]

I've never heard the type of bottle impacting the wine inside it.... and one of my best friends is a Master Sommelier.

Wine is a tricky one... if you're picking it for yourself, you obviously go with what you like. If you're trying to choose it as a gift for someone who you aren't sure even likes wine it's a lot harder, because who knows what their palate will be like? (lots of people THINK they hate wine, but simply haven't found one that's agreeable to their tastebuds, easy enough to do when almost every wine on a restaurant list is a variety of Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, neither of which I am overly fond of)

I worked in a liquor store for a couple years and also worked as a laborer making wines for a year back in 2005.

Usually once I find a particular grape I like, I'll explore within that grape and if I find a brand I particularly like I'll explore within that brand and sort of 'network' my way through wines that way.

Cupcake wines for instance, are spectacular (imo) -- Their Cabernet Sauvignon is amazing, I find the "Red Velvet" a little too dry for me... Their Angel Food Cake white blend is spectacular, and in an odd twist they've managed to get the only other Chardonnay I enjoy (The other one is La Crema Chardonnay) -- Based on the level of enjoyment I've had with the wines of theirs I've tried, I'm absolutely willing to try more such as their Petit Syrah which is a grape I don't typically go for.

Malbec is a grape that's pure win no matter what (I have yet to find a bad one) ....yes some is still better than others, for instance as long as it comes from Chile or Argentina then it's gold... if its from any other country, its not going to be "gold" but it'll still be okay simply because of the characteristics of the grape itself.

Certain brands I'll stay far far far away from (Yellow Tail) -- Money spent on marketing, does not make a good wine.

My most commonly purchased wines are at the $10-$12 range, if I'm feeling like splurging I'll go up to $30 (CAD prices vastly different from USD) and the most I've ever spent on a bottle was $80 which I wish I'd gotten to taste but it was a gift for a guy I had a crush on at the time lol

 

[tina_h75]

I am mainly a white wine drinker and it has to be dry so I go for a sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio. One of my favourite whites is Nobilo but anything New Zealand Marlborough region is really nice.

I am not much of a red wine drinker but I can recommend Campo Viejo Rioja


Chardonnay is just vile!

 

[hel_5]

There's a name for the thumb hole thingy at the bottom of the bottle, it generally means it's a better quality of wine (as the bottle is more expensive to make) but not all bottles that you serve in a restaurant have them, the more expensive bottles o but generally the house wine doesn't

Tbh I just stick to what I like, same as you a cali Rose, or whatever is on offer, obvs I don't say this to guests at work

Most expensive wines, I generally find, have much more depth and are fuller bodied which are fab with a big meal but not for sitting on the sofa watching telly! Xx

Eta just remembered it's called a bunt!!!

 

[wishuwerehere]

I would say in my experience the thumb space thing is a load of blarney perpetuated by people who want it to look like they've bought fancy wine when really they haven't a clue

 

[Bevziibubble]

I've never heard of the space in the bottle thing but my MIL did tell me that red wine is served in large glasses so it has room to 'breathe' in the glass.
My favourite wine is a Shiraz

 

[suzib76]

Most of the supermarkets have a guide with the basics about each wine on the shelf which is really handy to start. Once you get a kind you like you can they different varieties of it. I love a red wine which should be opened and left to breathe then like ppt said in big glasses

The thing about the bottle, during proper restaurant service you would never ever put your thumb in that space, so I think that's a load of bull.

I usually spend between 6 and 10 pounds on a bottle, but it's usually a half price bottle from Sainsbury I get so am actually drinking a 20 wine some nights.

 

[Sinead]

I like heavy chocolatey reds. Usually south American. If i have the cash and there is a decent offer i will ordermixed crate from laithwaites. Have also tried naked wines too. Both more expensive but if you can get a decent deal its a good way of trying new wines

 

[smokey]

Im not realy a wine fan but mostly because I just dont drink.
Having worked in bars and resturants for many years though we have had to do wine tasting of what we stock so we can answer questions about our wines or reccomend which one.
Wine training nights used to get a bit fun though, can you imagine 15 of us with about 60 bottles to get through of about 10 types, more got guzzled then spat back out

I generaly dont like white wine as a choice but I can tollerate riesling or white rioja with reds I prefere merlot or malbec
and with rose its normaly a merlot
Mostly its south african wines I end up getting but mainly because thats what I have more experiance with