Wine Country

So I toured a few wineries today as part of a wine-tasting trip. I’m not much of a wine geek, but my self-taught beer tasting skillz definitely allowed me to detect some of the silly-sounding flavor descriptions I was given (and before I was given them! I actually impressed a couple of the “tour” guides.).

The three wineries I visited were:

Chateu Julien
Heller Estate
Ventana Vinyards

I liked the wines from Julien and Vinyards the best. Heller Estate appears to be a haven for annoying hippies, so I didn’t enjoy that very much. Their port was really good, though.

As someone that doesn’t really drink much wine, I don’t have a lot of strong opinions on it. Much like beer, it all tastes pretty good to me. Does Bullshido have winos?

Feel free to ramble about wine, champagne, or pretty much whatever.

Hmm, a big part of the industry I work in (hotels), and since I recently created our new wine list, something of interest,

One thing that instantly renders somebody an ignoramus is if they think that their bottle of sparkling white wine is ‘Champagne’.

Champagne = only made in the Champagne region of France. Others can be made the same way, but are not Champagne.

Oh yes, and Cristal is vastly overrated (and overpriced), but it seemed to get our group drunk faster than other Champagnes. My fave is 1995 Dom Perignon, even though it’s basically just posh Moet. The difference in quality and superb texture make it a fine buy.

An excellent red Bordeaux is Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron, 2me Cru, Pauillac 1995. I’ve recently purchased a bottle. If you want to splash out, then Chateau Mouton Rothschild, 1er cru, Paullac 1994 is the way to go. If you can get hold of one of the better ones from Chateau Lafite, then you’re a rich bastard.

For whites, try Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2003 from New Zealand. I guarantee that you’ll be impressed. In fact, if you’re after a good mid-range Sauvignon Blanc, most stuff from New Zealand is a winner.

There are actually some pretty good wines coming out of countries that you wouldn’t normally associate with wine. For example, Mission Hill Pinot Noir from Canada is a good mid-price tipple, whereas Chapel Down sparkling whites from England are better than a lot of Champagnes.

If you’re in a good restaurant, check out the bin ends - they’ll have good stuff that they can’t shift. It doesn’t make you a cheapskate, only a canny buyer (if you know your wines). Also, don’t be afraid to ask the sommelier or head waiter for a recommendation, but only once you’ve decided on what food you’re going to order.

If you’re in a themed restaurant or low-quality restaurant, don’t worry about which wine to order - most likely they’ll all be crap, no matter what the descriptions say. They supply them because they get them cheap and they know they don’t have the clientele to warrant spending the money on decent wine.

I don’t drink wine as much as I used to, and I only drink Red, but I have yet to taste a decent American wine.

I used to drink a lot of French Red, it being cheap and all, but then changed to Italian as it was plainly better and had a much richer taste.

However in the last few years my preference has been towards Eastern European wines, namely Hungarian and Romanian.

Try Sterling Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Anapamu Pinot Noir and Chehalem Pinot Noir.

I used to trade private lessons for wine with one of my students a ways back. I don’t drink so much anymore, but still appreciate a good bottle of wine. I could never tell the difference in all the different kinds. I can taste some flavors in them usually, but not like “Oh, this is a Carlos Rossi 97 Vintage - you can still taste a hint of the twist off cap.”

Not true, the grape plants have to be from the Champagne region of France.

What does the 1891 Treaty of Madrid and 1919 Treaty of Versailles say? My understanding was that the treaties declared that only wines made in a particular region could use the name on the bottle.

Of course, America never signed the treaties, so can produce ‘champagne’, but that’s a bit of a joke.

By what you’re saying, the vines could simply be moved to Germany, Lebanon, Scotland or wherever, and they could make Champagne too.

That’s one of those things that I never understood why people (that weren’t frnech) cared about.

Pro-tip: If you follow up shots with a slug of champagne (or sparkling wine if you’re wearing a tweed dinner jacket), you’ll get drunk very fast. Something about valves and sphincters.

Yes, and most of the vines in France due to the frost about 10-15 years ago are from america anyway…they had been moved to the US and moved back to France.

You win the Cliff Claiven award for the most useless alcohol knowledge. My hat is off to you sir. And to think that I knew everything…

Psh. Maybe in wine. I will crush all with my beer knowledge.

I’m aware of that, but the wine has to be produced within the region of Champagne. Everybody would be at it if you were right.

I like reds, but actually prefer white wine more. My favorite for the $ is Eiswein and any good Riesling. But I do enjoy a good Aussie Merlot.

'I will drink white wine when there is no more red" - Rothchilde when asked why he was drinking red wine with fish.

Since people are fagging up this perfectly good subforum, I guess I’ll throw something in here:

As I said before, I’m not much of a wine person, but I can appreciate the complexity. Something I have found: I enjoy a good Riesling. Something that’s still fairly dry and acidic, but has a good solid mouthfeel too it. I’m using beer terms here, so hopefully someone will understand me. To me, a riesling is very relaxing. You can still find fairly dry rieslings, but they have a very nice mouthfeel, and more subtle complexity than other wines I’ve run across. Anyone can enjoy them. What do you guys think about the Riesling grape? Good? Bad? Trashy?

There are of course other wines I am starting to take a liking to, many of them red, but this is what I’m drinking now, so it’s what I’m posting about.

Is the Riesling the Ultimate white table wine?

It is all personal, but I think I know what you are saying when you describe the wine. I tend to like dry wines. So for me, if I were to drink a white wine, it would be a Pinot Grigio, a Dry Riesling, or maybe a Chenin Blanc.

Snobbery. I am moving soon, but if you get the chance give me a PM and we’ll go hit the wineries. LOL. It’d be good to get out and go boozing before I leave the area.

If you’re in the area, I’m down to do it tomorrow. I won’t have a chance again until early January. Just keep in mind I don’t have a car out here, so transportation will be tricky.

I am taping drywall in my master bath tomorrow. I am here until at May. Gonna have to plan that shit out a little better. The wife will be suspicious. LOL.

“honey, I am gonna go wine tasting tomorrow”

“Tomorrow? What? You never said anything about this? Who are you going with?”

“I dunno. Some guy on the internet.”

“Um, right. Lemme call my lawyer.”

Shazam! Just like that I am single and paying out a couple K every month in child and wife support.

Maybe we can get a bunch of people together from the site. Do a little bullshido Nor Cal thing where we can get a bunch of wine and then do a Mc Throwdown.

Whatever you want dude. I’m military. Tell her that you’re supporting the troops. I will be more than happy to spend a day at the Vinyards with whoever shows up on just about any weekend you wish.

OK. So does anybody want to go boozing in Nor Cal in late Jan/early Feb?