BootsnAll Travel Community

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I could go on all day, but i dare not give away all my secrets...

Oh, please do...I feel like I have insider trading information here. I am definitely going to try (it may be a bit of a challenge in SC) many of the favorites listed so far!

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This is actually going to be one of the more exciting parts of my RTW. I can't wait to try some delicious wines from all over the world I might not get to try otherwise. YAY

Lucky you! I'm jealous!

I second that! Please share your wine secrets!

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Originally posted by chrissy2k5:
Anything by D'Arenburg, McClaren Vale, Australia. these people just know what they are doing. The whites are good too, but australians know their Shiraz.
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I'll second that! When I went to NZ earlier this year I bought several bottles of red wines, shiraz included. There was only one decent bottle among them, which was from, you've guessed it! Australia. NZ doesn't have the climate to produce full-bodied reds which fortunately Australia is blessed with.

But I did find a white which wasn't too bad. A Montana Chardonnay. Although I do prefer a red.

Grant Burge (Barossa Valley) - The Holy Trinity, which is Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre; 2000 vintage. I've one bottle left.

Brown Brothers (Victoria) A really delightful wine is Dolcetto and Syrah -They have a companion white called Moscato



Wolf Blass (S.A.) Grey Label Shiraz - 2002
There is also Black Label and Platinum Label which are more expensive

Langmeil (Barossa Valley) make a good Liquer Shiraz Port. A 1985 vintage 375mls costs about $30.00 from their cellar door.

Chateau Yaldara (Barossa Valley) also have a good vintage port. Paid around $50.00 - $60.00 for a 1975 a couple of years ago.

For champagne drinkers, you cann't go past Grant Burge
Pinot Noir Chardonnay- Methode traditionelle, around $50.00 a few years ago.


You can also get decent cleanskins too. I purchased a bottle of French Champagne Brut for $9.95 (non-vintage) and it was one of the best I've had . Tasted similar to vintage Bollinger. I went back and bought several bottles.

Not a great fan of WA wines, nevertheless Houghtons make quite a decent white called White Burgundy. Unfortunately they have now had to change the label to White Classic. Something about the French wine industry wanting a monopoly on certain wordings.

If you are in the Hunter Valley (NSW) You can get
Dr. Jurd's Jungle Juice, which is really nice Port Wine With Spirit. Naturally they will get better over time (unopened of course)


Quite enjoy the old "singing syrup" and remember - many a friend is found over a Bottle of Wine.


Have a nice day, Whistler.


If you can keep a sense of humour and see the funny side of life, you will never be old. SMC.

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but australians know their Shiraz.

I second or third this...noone does a Shiraz like the Australians!

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Originally posted by bigmaude:
Mine is a red from Chateau Morrisette (VA) called "Black Dog" - doesn't matter which year!

im going to the c.m. in a couple of weeks! i'll try the b.d. for you! cool.
zopa

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im going to the c.m. in a couple of weeks! i'll try the b.d. for you! cool.
zopa

Lucky you, Zopa! Have you been there before? Isn't that view incredible? Try everything...you can't lose at c.m.! Have fun! I'm jealous...

Oh, forgot to ask, Zopa...Have you tried the wines from Shelton Winery in NC? I really like their reds.

NC has a new slew of wineries, all have popped up w/ incentives available to farm old tobacco land. im wondering where else in the us are there places w/ a lot of wineries?
zopa

I actually read an article recently that stated that 48 states now have wineries! Amazing! I must admit, I'm a little skeptical about wines produced in say, Nebraska?

Growing grapes and making wine is very easy.
Growing excellent grapes and making excellent wine is not.

I thought all 50 states produced wine... At least a book I have somewhere says that. I used to do in home wine tasting parties for this company, but people didn't listen to me... I do look 16... it was a dream to be able to drink on the job and all hahah

aw well maybe someday people will take me seriously.

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Not a great fan of WA wines, nevertheless Houghtons make quite a decent white called White Burgundy. Unfortunately they have now had to change the label to White Classic. Something about the French wine industry wanting a monopoly on certain wordings.

Yeah, those arrogant French. Imagine, not wanting Australian producers to name their wines after places in France ... the nerve!

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Originally posted by jv:
Yeah, those arrogant French. Imagine, not wanting Australian producers to name their wines after places in France...the nerve!
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Why, thankyou jv. Glad to find you agree with me. Your voicing of their "arrogance' was entirely correct dear sir. And Houghton's have had the "White Burgundy" label since the 1960's!!!


Have a nice day, Whistler.


If you can keep a sense of humour and see the funny side of life, you will never be old. SMC.

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Originally posted by bigmaude:

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I'm a big fan of the Hungarian Egri Bikavert, aka "Bull's Blood of Eger." It's a heavy red that allegedly used to be drunk before going into battle. In Hungary, it goes for about US$2/bottle, but costs about $6 here in NYC.

Hmmmmm...sounds very interesting and cheap! I like cheap!

Sounds good to me as well. In my price range. Hehe.

Reds= Roche Mazet-Cabernet Sauvignon 2euros 19c where I live and bloomin' lovely rich and fruity!!
Roche Mazet-Merlot
White=Roche Mazet-Sauvignon

I used to be a bit of wine snob before I moved to France and had to pay over the odds for what I considered good wine.
I don't know how this company do it but they make lovely wine for a really reaonable price.
All my friends round here agree that its one of the nicest.

There are so many ways to answer this.

What is my favorite every day wine? What about for special occasions? What to order in a restaurant?

One of my favorite every day wines (although almost impossible to find any longer) is Beckmen Vineyard 2001 Estate Cabernet - Santa Ynez Velley. Once we found a few bottles we snagged them all up as apparently they didn't produce all that much. But we did also enjoy the other Beckmen's we tried.

Our all time favorite was a '95 Brunello de Montalcino that we got while visiting Montalcino in '02. We were at the Festival of the Thrush and stood on line to buy a glass of local wine. We weren't even sure of the name. We tried to find it in some of the local stores as we were told they didn't import to the states. We did manage to find it but decided it was a bit pricey to ship it home. . . that was the biggest mistake of our trip. We are going back to Italy this year . . .too bad we don't remember the name. Live and learn!!

My favorites tend to be Italian but now that I am living in Costa Rica I am getting my fill of both Chilean, Spanish and Argentinean wine . . . all of which are quite tasty.

Anything with a Sangiovese blend - especially the Banfi Col di Sasso. If you like merlot, you love it. Bonus is that it is less that $8 per bottle

I had vino verde for the first time over the weekend and I can highly recommend it when you want a really light white wine with a slight sparkle.

I am a red person, so a good California cab hits the spot. Zins if they are done right. And Syrah variations, something like Cotes du Rhone, but these can be hit or miss, even for the French! lol

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Anything with a Sangiovese blend - especially the Banfi Col di Sasso.

I have tried that one, it seems, whats the word, tart?