The Wine thread

[Rick C.]

Hey folks.  Any wine drinkers out here?  Sherry and I are drinking a glass here or there now-a-days.  We haven't found anything we really like though. We're newbies.

Anyone have suggestions?  I don't even know the different types - Riesling, Chardonnay, Merlot, etc etc.

 

[Kin]

They're not the cheapest wines in the world but I'm a big fan of the Norman Hardie vinyard in Niagara and Prince Edward County. You can order them online and I think the Riesling and Calcaire in particular are really good examples of the minerality of Ontario whites.

Another option if you're into checking out rieslings that's on the more affordable side of things and super commonly available is Deinhard Green Label. It's on the sweeter side of Rieslings(as opposed to dry and most dry rieslings will say as much on the label) but an excellent introduction into the variety.

Something I might throw in just as sort of an all-purpose advice is that I think people go into drinking wine believing all the hype about having to know a lot about it and pair the "right" wine with the right meal but I tend to think that's all bogus. Drink to your tastes, match to your tastes and remember the point, as always, is to drink until your Leafs fandom becomes more palatable.

 

[Rick C.]

Thanks Nik.  I've had a few people mention Yellow Tail as being an inexpensive wine that tends to perform well.  I'm going to look into the Norman Hardie for certain.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

red or white?

red, I like imported Italian ones best (the dryer the better... Valpolicello and Chianti)

white, I actually like Pinot Grigio, and a number of different brands- again, Italian import Ruffino but I also like Canadian ones Copper Creek and Pelee Island winery

I'll do some more research and let you know of others

 

[Rick C.]

Thanks LHF.  I have a good friend who suggested the Pelee Island wines.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Here are some common wine definitions:

Acidic/Acidity
One of the tastes of wine. All wines naturally contain acid, but it should always be in harmony with the fruit and other flavors. The presence of acid is necessary for wines to age and gives it a lively, crisp quality. And is tasted on the sides of the tongue and mouth.


Body
The texture and weight of a wine. The component in wine that gives it body is glycerine.

Dry
One of the more common wine definitions, a dry wine has little or no residual sugar left in it after fermentation.

Fruit/Fruity
One of the wine descriptions used when a wine imparts prominent fruit flavors and aromas.


Full-Bodied
A wine which fills the mouth with flavors and alcohol. A full-bodied wine is also considered ?thick.?

Mellow
A way to describe smooth, soft wine with low acidity.

Reserve
A term with no legal definition in the United States, it is implied reserve wines are aged longer and made better than regularly bottled wines.

Smooth
A wine that feels good in the mouth, generally light in tannin and acid.


Sweet
"Sweet" is one of the wine definitions easily confused with "fruity". Sweet indicates the presence of residual sugar, left over when the grape juice is converted to alcohol. Some dry wines have an aroma of sweetness that in reality comes from ripe fruit flavors.


Varietal
Wine that is made from one dominant grape variety and whose labels states so.


http://www.basic-wine-knowledge.com/wine-definitions.html

 

[hockeyfan1]

...and here are some common wine-type descriptions:
Note: For the full description, click on link at bottom of page.

The Whites
Chardonnay is a very versatile wine grape: its flavor and aromas are easily influenced by where it's grown and how it's made. Fruit flavors range from apple and lime in cooler climates to tropical fruits in warmer places.

Riesling is a crisp, clean wine with green apple, pear and lime flavors.

Pinot Gris is made from grapes that generally produce different styles of wine depending on where the grapes are grown and how they're handled in the cellar.

Sauvignon Blanc is a fresh, crisp, aromatic wine with grapefruit and grassy flavors.


The Reds
Merlot is a soft, supple wine with nice fruit flavors of plums and blackberries and occasionally mint, chocolate and eucalyptus flavors and aromas. Typically, it is ready to drink earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, which sometimes needs a few years for its astringent tannins to mellow.

Cabernet Sauvignon is more assertive than Merlot, with more tannin and greater aging potential.

Pinot Noir, a notoriously difficult grape to grow, made its mark initially in Burgundy, France. The grape continues to deliver single-varietal wines that are among the best in the world. Pinot Noirs are delicate wines that taste of red fruits like cherries, raspberries and strawberries.Shiraz Australianversions are typically big, bold and spicy with jammy fruit and aromas of leather and black fruit.

Other Reds to Consider
Sangiovese is the wine grape that makes Chianti, a tremendous food wine with flavors and aromas of cherries and rose petals.Nebbiolois the grape variety that makes Barolo and Barbaresco, the noble (and pricey) red wines of the Piedmont region of Italy.

Malbec is a star in Argentina, where it produces inky wines with an attractive smoke and leather quality.Tempranillo is a famous grape of Spain, where it is used in wines of the Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions.

Gamay makes the fresh and fruity, raspberry-flavored wines of the Beaujolais region of Burgundy.

Zinfandel has found its home in California, where it produces big, fruity, often spicy red wines.


http://www.winestate.com.au/winenovice/winetypes.aspx

 

[hockeyfan1]

Some good wines to consider (personal experience):


Chateau Timberlay (Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon) France -- medium to full-bodied wine; well-rounded and fruity.

Masi Delle Venezie (Blend) Italy -- another medium to full-bodied wine; balanced and rich tasting for the palate

Chianti Ruffino (Sangiovese) Italy -- pleasant medium-bodied; nicely balanced & dry

Montepulciano D'Abbruzzo (Montepulciano) Italy -- from the Abbruzzi region
Very med to full-bodied; lingering taste of a deep red wine, spicy

Le Piat D'Or (Merlot) France -- a medium-bodied wine; lighter than the Italian reds; pleasing

Le Piat D'Or (Chardonnay) France -- light wine; fruity and easy on the palate

Black Tower (Pinot Noir) Germany -- light bodied; dry and fruity

Montalto Nero D'Avola (Cabernet Sauvignon) Italy -- medium to full-bodied; pleasant and smooth; dry fruity yet spicy

Miraval Provence (Ros?) France -- light to very light pink-peach-coloured wine; fruity with overtone of citrus & berries; smooth to the palate; soft & semi-dry (Expensive.  We received it as a Xmas gift from my Aunt & Cousin.  This is the Jolie-Pitt Estate specialty wine).

Sogrape Mateus Ros? (Ros?) Portugal -- another Ros? wine (slightly fruitier than Miraval); semi to off-dry; pleasing finish

 

[2badknees]

You know what stinks? The government. And traffic is terrible in the GTA. And yesterday, the ring came off my pudding can.

 

[Bender]

Then take my pen knife my good man!