What wine do I like...wine experts? I need your help!

[nellypope]

I would like to know which wine's I should choose when buying red or white, as mostly it seems to be hit or miss. I like sweet, full tasting wine. When buying a bottle (usually red) for an occasion most people recommend a Shiraz or merlot but they tend to vary so much! someone recently said to me that if I like them sweet then they have to be "old" or "older" than usual.

Can anyone tell me, what type of grape I should tend to go for, which country of produce and region....etc.

Many thanks
Nelli :-)

[funnygirl]

It was fellow Abers that recommended White Zinfandel, a rose wine to me after my query.
It is lovely and sweetish. The best makes are Echo Falls and Gallo.

[Bewlay Bros]

To be honest (and I may be criticised heavily here) I believe it is just trial and error. I am not a great fan of white or rose, but certainly enjoy a good red.

It is the word "good", however, that is so subjective. The forst thing is to ignore price. I have had bottles worth over �100 which taste like cat pee and bottls well under a tenner that are sublime. I adore Paul Masson, which is a cheap Californian red and you get a nice carafe free!!!.

My advice therefore is ignore price, ignore reviews and ignore the label and just go and venture!!!!

[Lucy Thomas]

Nelly, there is no apostrophe in the plural of wine.

[shanx]

think yuu are right there lucy , explain nelli

[Donquixote]

I'd say the best way to approach it is, firstly, to find the grape variety or blend that suits your palette. Secondly, try a few wines of that grape variety from different regions, be it New World or Old World, or just differing regions from within a single country.
My particular favourite is pinot noir, and i favour the robust, earthy reds of Burgundy - especially the Cote D'Or.
Now, pinot noir is grown all over the world, but the majority of wines from the New World made with this grape do nothing for me whatsoever! So just because it says pinot noir on the label doesn't mean i'm going to enjoy it.

Very generally speaking, New World reds (Australian, South African, etc) tend to be quite fruity compared to their European counterparts, which are usually a little earthier. But this is an gross generalisation and quite often you can find the opposite to be true!

I'm an Old World fan, so i'd say try maybe a good Barolo (Italy), a Burgundy pinot noir (France), or a good vintage Rioja (Spain). Look for DOC, AOC, VQDS or such on a label as this ensures that the area the wine was produced in is subject to quality controls. Most of all, have fun...and happy hunting!!!

[kaztuz]

Ruby Cabernet is a lovely, rich, red Californian wine. I don't see it in many places so you will have to have a scout round. Co-op do one called Fab Cab.

[nellypope]

LUCY there is NO "y" in Nelli!!!!

Sorry do forgive me!!!! I had no idea I would be "Marked down" for poor grammar.

Get a life sweetheart!

[nellypope]

Funny, Bewlay, DonQui and Kaz!

Thanks guys, exactly the info I needed.

Your stars!!!! ;-)

[whiffey]

Well, actually, there IS an apostrophe in the plural of wines if you care to put one there. Wine's. Language needs modernisation. Wine's. Looks fine to me.

[whiffey]

Whoops, obviously I meant the plural of wine, not wines, which would be wines's I suppose.

(hangs head in shame, I'm having strange mood's today)

[nellypope]

You may join me in the corner of shame if you like ;-)