wine-tasting?!

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**mattyrm**

Ok im off wine tasting in Santa Barbara for a few days.

So tell me your favourite wines from the States, and I shall have them fill my yard glass with it.

I've had two buck chuck, but after that im all out of ideas.

**AustonT**

What are you into?

**sarpedons-right-hand**

Ahem... First things first, mattyrm, winetasting? Really? Wow....

As for the wines, go for a nice Merlot. As it's pretty warm in your part of the world it'll taste amazing. A little like chocolate and fruitcake. Also, a North American Pinot Noir is well worth a taste. Sort of like Cherry with a hint of Mushroom. I know, I know. That sounds weird, but by god does it taste good.

I don't drink White so I can't give you anything on those I'm afraid. But for all that is holy, try these two reds. You'll love 'em!

Oh, and enjoy it. I'm jealous......

**Albatross**

I can't help but think that this particular trip might be a little wasted on you Matt...

**Necroshea**

Most wines taste god awful to me. I did however try some last christmas that my Aunt brought over, some sort of pear-y type. Was pretty tasy, and I also tried some home made blackberry wine at new years a friends mom made, it went down pretty well too.

I'm more of a mead drinker (it's still wine!)

**KingCracker**

I too, think wine tastes like rubbing alcohol, Ive tried MANY types and oddly enough, the only ones I can stand, are the cheapest piles of gak in bottle form. Boones Farm wine. Its like a buck a bottle, but its more like spiked kool-aid. When I used to be into drinking alot, we would have races using that crap. Gets you hammered lickity split.

But uh, enjoy your wine tasting, good for you to get a little class in ya

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Oh yea, remember you hold your pinky up while tasting

**IcyCool**

Let's see ... I'm not sure how expensive the wines are that will be available, so I'll just go with fairly common table varieties (as those are predominantly what I drink).

Ravenswood:
Their Zinfandel is a pretty decent wine. Surprisingly sweet (for a red, it's not actually a sweet wine), so those who aren't normally fans of reds might want to give it a try. Strong flavor, high alcohol content. Zinfandel is one of the wines that the states do best, IMO.

They do a pretty good Chardonnay as well.

Kendall-Jackson:
Their Chardonnay is a consistently good white wine.

Snowden:
I've heard good things about their Cabernet Sauvignon , but haven't had the chance to try it yet.

Turnbull:
Their Syrah is decent, as is their Merlot. I haven't tried any of their others.

Twomey:
I had the chance to try their Pinot Noir recently, and it was excellent. A bit pricey for your average American table wine, but very good. Of course, pretty much anything from Sonoma will be a solidly good wine.

Mission Mountain Winery:
Pretty much any of their whites are solidly good. Not sure if they'll be available though, they are a local (to me) Montana winery. Their reds are mediocre at best, although they can sometimes surprise (the quality isn't consistent).

Huh, I thought I had more U.S. varieties that I drink on a regular basis, but most of the others are Australian and Italian. I tend to drink mostly local varieties, and a non-trivial amount of home-brew wines.

If you are a mead fan, try and get a hold of pretty much any of the Hidden Legend Winery (another Montana winery) meads, they are all decent.

**sarpedons-right-hand**

Im a terrible wine snob I'm afraid... It's a failing (among many). But it's one I wholeheartedly embrace.

Some people just can't tell the different nuances between different wines, hell, different bottles from the same batch can vary wildly. It's just the way that their taste buds are though.

What I will say is listen to your guide/instructor, don't gulp and enjoy it. As KC says, it's good too get a little culture from time to time!

**biccat**

sarpedons-right-hand wrote:Ahem... First things first, mattyrm, winetasting? Really? Wow....

As for the wines, go for a nice Merlot. As it's pretty warm in your part of the world it'll taste amazing. A little like chocolate and fruitcake. Also, a North American Pinot Noir is well worth a taste. Sort of like Cherry with a hint of Mushroom. I know, I know. That sounds weird, but by god does it taste good.

Really? Merlot?

I'd suggest a Cabernet Sauvignon, it's got a very good taste with a smooth, rich finish. The Pinot Noir, on the other hand, has more of a crisp finish. I'm not familiar with the wineries in Santa Barbara, but I'm sure you can find some you'll like.

If you're interested in white wines (tend to be sweeter and dryer), then I'd suggest a chardonnay or sauvignon blanc.

**sarpedons-right-hand**

Yes, Merlot. Its just got more depth of flavour than a Red Cab Sav. Although the North American Cab Savs are mighty tasty also!

**Bride of Stompa**

Try a nice red zinfandel. Don't laugh, wine snobs! I'm hardly a sommelier but I tend to like the certain varieties over others, usually leaning towards the red and dry. I read a description of a good zinfandel as "being punched in the mouth" with flavor.

So pretty much anything red and dry.

(I buy wine according to how much I like the label.)

**biccat**

sarpedons-right-hand wrote:Yes, Merlot. Its just got more depth of flavour than a Red Cab Sav. Although the North American Cab Savs are mighty tasty also!

I suppose not everyone can have good taste

Wines are pretty much based on your individual tastes. I love a red with a nice steak or something, but have been preferring whites lately.

**Lone Cat**

Sorry i'm not American and never been there. but it doesn't mean that i've never taste a wine.
in Thailand, (which is my homeland). Wine usually viewed as 'Richman's thing', but ironically, a product called "Spy Wine Cooler", which is a wine (not sure which grade it is) that's a common sight, and it's affordable by folks around 'ere.

but i'm not sure if someone will classify this with Champaigne? because it has 'fizzy' feel. a fizzy of soda mixture but not 'Fanta' things.

^ a white girl to the right is my type =^.^=

**AustonT**

I despise wine, but I find most offerings by Barefoot tolerable, especially the Moscato.

Aside from that I've developed a pallet for German wines from Schlossadler and can't abide by most American wines with rare exceptions that generally are to cheap to bother a tasting with.

**purplefood**

Lone Cat wrote:Sorry i'm not American and never been there. but it doesn't mean that i've never taste a wine.
in Thailand, (which is my homeland). Wine usually viewed as 'Richman's thing', but ironically, a product called "Spy Wine Cooler", which is a wine (not sure which grade it is) that's a common sight, and it's affordable by folks around 'ere.

but i'm not sure if someone will classify this with Champaigne? because it has 'fizzy' feel. a fizzy of soda mixture but not 'Fanta' things.

Fizzy wine isn't automatically champagne...

**Bride of Stompa**

No, I think in order to be called champagne, it has to be a specific grape grown in the Champagne region of France. But I think "fizzy" wine coolers and things are probably made differently than champagne and sparkling wine? I think.

**Lone Cat**

i've never taste champaigne before but i do taste SPY wine cooler. it's really like mixing soda water with wine. and yes. it's no less intoxicate.

I had tasted whiskey (again with soda mixed and ice coolin') too!

but SPY wine cooler is pretty cheap here. around the price of beer sold here.

=^.^=

**purplefood**

Lone Cat wrote:i've never taste champaigne before but i do taste SPY wine cooler. it's really like mixing soda water with wine. and yes. it's no less intoxicate.

I had tasted whiskey (again with soda mixed and ice coolin') too!

but SPY wine cooler is pretty cheap here. around the price of beer sold here.

=^.^=

Sounds like a Alcopop...

**AustonT**

Do they not have wine coolers in the UK, used to be a pop culture icon and staple of any whiskey tango chicks diet...what do chavs drink if not malt liquor and wine coolers?

**purplefood**

Alcopops and cider...

**AustonT**

does the UK produce a large volume of apples and pears for cider or is it foreign...am now fascinated.

**Corpsesarefun**

AustonT wrote:does the UK produce a large volume of apples and pears for cider or is it foreign...am now fascinated.

The UK imports nearly everything.

**purplefood**

Mostly produced in Britain.
There is a Bulmers factory and IIRC their EU HQ in the my home city (Hereford)
We also have quite a few cider breweries in the county.
Summerset also has a fair few (Wychwood is one of their more famous ones)

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corpsesarefun wrote:
AustonT wrote:does the UK produce a large volume of apples and pears for cider or is it foreign...am now fascinated.

The UK imports nearly everything.

Not for cider it doesn't...

EDIT: For the bigger factories most stuff is imported but frankly that stuff isn't worth drinking. The smaller places are the better ones.

**Corpsesarefun**

Bulmers doesn't import any of it's fruit?

Normally companies import all the fruit and make the cider in the UK.

**purplefood**

corpsesarefun wrote:Bulmers doesn't import any of it's fruit?

Normally companies import all the fruit and make the cider in the UK.

Bulmers does a mix AFAIK. They buy local but they import what they can't get.
Though their cider is a bit odd...
Like i said, the smaller breweries make better stuff.

**AustonT**

I was deeply saddened when they stopped importing this one

I could hold one with a bottle of pale ale and let my mouth do the mixing.
sigh

**Corpsesarefun**

I prefer cider produced by dodgy farmers that has the alcohol content of a wine or spirit to the carbonated stuff sold in shops.

**purplefood**

Oh Gaymers.
It's nice enough...
Prefer Stowford Press but Gaymers is an acceptable alternative...

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Incidentally: Sorry for going massively OT Matty... please don't hurt me...

**AustonT**

We have strayed a bit...but dont fear matty...now I have a strong desire for those silly black bottles I had almost forgotten and cant find them for less than 8 quid...gougers.

**mattyrm**

Thanks for all the advice, I had a half bottle of zinfidel, a half bottle of merlot, a bottle of a white one and a bottle of that ginger one.

It's alright is wine.. I'll put it right up there with beer, lager, stout, cider and port.