Good, cheap, accessible starter wines?

Cafe Society
1

Pretty straight forward, really. We’re young college students with a little money, but nothing like our expensive wine chugging parents (who wont share, btw). I don’t really know anything about wine or what kinds are good or even what to buy. I’d like to know though, that way I don’t look like an idiot in a fancy restaurant.

For what it’s worth (and I don’t know if it makes any difference at all), I prefer sweeter drinks- more “girlie”, I suppose.

In my area there are several liquor stores (from very low to very high end), as well as a Cost Plus World Market and a Trader Joe’s.

So what are some good, cheap, accessible wines to learn on?

2

Most wines from Southeastern Australia are a good bet. The Yellowtail brand is available in most supermarkets (but might be cheaper at Cost Plus). Never more than $10, sometimes as low as $5. The Little Penguin and Black Opal are other solid, inexpensive Australian labels found in most supermarkets. They all have several varities

I don’t like sweet wine (although I like sweet mixed drinks), so I can’t give you advice there. White wine is usually perceived as sweeter… merlot is sweeter than other red wines (usually).

If you’re at a Trader Joes, check out a sparkling Italian (white) wine called “Prosecco.” Should be about $8, they only sell one brand, its sweeter than Champagne but not as sweet as Asti.

3

try taking an enology course at your university. When I wen to UCD, the prof was big on telling us what $5 dollar bottle of wine was better than the $30 bottle of swill. Which unknown and cheap vineyard was right next door to some fancy schmancy place selling 10x the markup.

4

Go to a liquor store and ask. I’ll second the Austrailians - there are a bunch of good cheap wines coming out of that region.

Keep notes and you’ll learn what you like over time.

In a fancy restaurant, don’t worry. The waiter is paid to make you not look like an idiot. Ask. Say “I generally like Merlots - and I like mine on the fruitier side, is the Hootytooty any good?” If the waiter makes you feel like an idiot, there goes his tip.

Remember that there are THOUSANDS of labels - even wine snobs aren’t going to be able to recognize each label and have drunk each bottle. There are sweet Reislings (the majority of them) and dry Reislings and you aren’t going to know by the name unless you’ve done some research or have had the bottle previously.

5

Hello? Trader Joe’s?

Two-Buck Chuck!

6

Go to a liquor store and BUY. Liquor store guy doesn’t have your taste buds, and they have other agendas.

Buy.

Taste.

Take notes.

Repeat.

I know, people hold out hope that there’s some undiscovered $4 bottle of wine out that that is goign to blow your mind, but you’re going to waste a lot of time trying to find it.

And, if you are really going to try some wines. . .I know you’re thinking cheap, but in the long run, you’re going to do much better price-wise if you buy by the case. Spend $100 now on what you otherwise would have spent $120 on. (unless you don’t have self-control, and you’re going to drink it just because you have it.)

For reds, I think the best bargains come from Argentina and Chile.

7

Not anymore. Chilean wines have started to get a bit pricey. But there are still hordes of good, cheap Australian wines available, and World Market carries a bunch of them.

8

The problem with buying is that its overwhelming - and on a budget, impossible to buy enough over a short time to really get a feel for it. Do you not like Vouvrays, or do you not like THIS Vouvray? - let’s face it, you are going to have gone through sixty or seventy wines on your own (at least) before trying a Vouvray. So you have to start by asking someone. Our wine store guy is good, and a good wine store guys agenda is getting you back in his store to buy another bottle of something. But if your liquor store guy is indifferent or has an agenda (or you haven’t found the good guy at the store yet - there is only one guy we trust with asking), find a friend.

Another idea is a wine club. I’ve learned a lot about wines by getting together with my girlfriends once a month for bookclub. The hostess provides at least a white and a red - and sometimes something a little different. I’d start with a wine party - invite some people and have everyone bring a bottle - put a limit on price (under $10). Start by tasting (it tastes better in glass, but for this purpose you may just want some plastic cups - once again, budget being crucial). Everyone tastes and takes notes - you can give a prize to whomever brought the most popular wine. (If its couples - one bottle per couple will do).

At restaurants, I often order the wine flight - that’s another good way to get exposure to a lot of wines.

9

If you like wine enough, consider making your own. Once you have a general appreciation of what you like, for a minimal initial investment you can make 30 or more bottles and have drinkable wine (that will improve with age) in a few months. If you join a wine making club, you can trade around and have a nice cellar quickly. I have a couple hundred bottles now, and began making wine about a year ago.

10

The basic point here is to recommend cheap wines that these college kids can buy and try. They’re asking here because they suspect in buying the cheapest wine available they’re likely to run into quite a few stinkers that will ruin an appreciation for other wines.

That said, please realize no one can tell you what you yourself will like; you do have to try them. However, IMO, the following bottles are (1) good deals, (2) likely to be found in any decent supermarket or liquor store, and (3) fairly representative of their class (e.g. if you don’t like Yellow Tail Shiraz, you probably won’t like other Shirazes):

Shiraz - Yellow Tail
Chianti - Gabbiano (label with the knight-on-horseback) or Ecco Domani
Cabernet Savignon - Trinchero (A little tough for me since I don’t like Cab).
Merlot - Ravenswood (Don’t listen to those idiots in Sideways :slight_smile: )

Try them (none are more than $10, and the Gabbiano is an especially good deal for an import). If you like one, try others in its class or by the same vintner (Yellow Tail makes a lot of different wines). You’ll get it sooner or later, and it will be a fun trip nonetheless.

Honestly, “Make your own”? Why not give them a book on viticulture and have them grow their own vines in the windowbox outside their dorm window? Really, it’s not that hard to recommend some cheap, representative wine…

11

Well, I would have a tough time recommending cheap, representative wine because I do not consider myself sufficiently knowledgeable. Yet, I have made more than 30 gallons of wine that is better than most of what I’ve purchased.

Note that in my post I said, “Once you have a general appreciation of what you like”.

12

Ugh…grape-flavored lighter fluid. A step up from bum wines, but just a step.

I’ll second the recommendation for Australian wines (and the Yellow Tail Shiraz in particularly, which is a excellent, if not complex, drinking wine) but my favorite producer of inexpensive wines is Bonny Doon Vineyard. I have a thing for their Ca’ del Solo Sangiovese, and the Big House Red is a standard that I’ll buy by the half-case (at $8-9 per bottle it’s a fantastic table wine; I’m not seeing it in on their site, though…WTF?.) You’ll probably prefer the sweeter whites or rose, though.

Stranger

13

I’ll be the lone dissenter and recommend some white wines. There’s nothing wrong with white wines, although some wine snobs, and wannabe wine snobs will turn their nose up at them.

I’d recommend something like a Pinot Grigio to start out with - Cavit makes a good, standard one, that is fairly representative. Expect probably $8-10 a bottle or less.

I’d try the ubiquitous Chardonnay, although I don’t have any real recommendations (I don’t like it!).

Sauvignon Blanc is good… Monkey Bay and Brancott are two ok versions of the NZ style, and Dancing Bull is a good representative of the US style. All are about $10 a bottle.

Vinho Verde from Portugal is great stuff in the summer- light, refreshing, tangy, and only 9.5% alcohol. It’s also cheap - $6 is usual. Plus, it’s a little fizzy! Santola and Famega are the two brands I see the most around here, and I can’t tell them apart.

If you like sweet, try Rieslings and Muscats. They’re both sweet, or at least sweet-ish.

An interesting white you may or may not like is Viognier. It’s not sweet, but gives that impression, with all the tropical fruit aroma it gives off.

14

Although I’ve been buying and drinking wine for awhile, I’m not as knowledgable as most here (although I’m trying to change that), so please keep that in mind with these recommendations:

To begin - For me, $15 is the new $10. I’ve found that there are still many reasonably priced wines available, but if you can go to $15, things really open up.

Here are some suggestions, based on what you say you like:

Marques de Arienzo Rioja Crianza

Ravenswood Vintner’s Blend Shiraz (it’s the Sonoma winery’s label, but made using Australian grapes)

Los Vascos Cabernet (even better if you can pony up a bit more for the Reserva)

Jacob’s Creek Reserve Shiraz (their non-reserve shiraz is only so-so)

Penfolds Shiraz/Cabernet South Eastern Australia Koonunga Hill

Columbia Crest Merlot Columbia Valley Grand Estates

Bogle wines are very reasonably priced. I like their Petite Syrah a lot (although it might not appeal to you), so if that is any indication, then they should be a good deal for the money.

All reds, I know. If you are interested in a white, have you considered a Vouvray? I can’t recommend a particular winery, but I’ve never had one that I’ve disliked (to date, anyway). And to comment on Stranger On A Train’s recommendation for Bonny Doon: Their Muscat Vin de Glaciere is very well respected as a dessert wine. I’ve never tried it, but I’ll be picking it up next month. Just remember that the price is for a half-bottle, so it might be out of your price range.

15

I’ll throw in another suggestion: Recently I found that the South African vineyards are producing exceptional wines, both white and claret, for a very reasonable price.

16

I am going to agree with the Australian wine recommendations.

I specifically recommend The Little Penguin and Lindemans. Both brands tend to run in the $8 range.

I haven’t tried Yellowtail, but I have only heard good things.

17

I agree. Though I am exploring Argentinian wines more and more these days. The Mendoza Region has great promise.

I second the Black Opal suggestion for Aussie wines.

18

I’ve been drinking some great Malbecs for $10 or less lately. All from Mendoza. Yum!! I also have been drinking a lot Montes wines, from Chile. The Montes Alpha goes for about $15, but would easily sell for twice that if it said “Napa” instead of “Chile” on the label.

If you want a wine with a bit more residual sugar (note that I didn’t say “sweeter”), try Sterling Pinto Grigio. Goes great with food that’s a little spicy, or even just seafood. $10.

I’ve never cared for **Yellowtail **wines, but the **Penfolds **are quite good. Just be careful-- they make some really expensive wines, too. Go for the stuff that sells for around $10.

For Sauvignon Blanc, look for wines from New Zealand. Don’t be put off by the screw tops, most of them just come that way. Look for Marlborough region. I like Nobilo, but there are plenty of others.

And don’t shy away from Rose, either. There’s some good stuff out there for not too much. Can’t think of any off the top of my head.

Anyone can buy a great Napa Cab for $50, but it takes some skill to buy a substitute for $10.

I buy a lot of my wine at Safeway. They have great prices, pretty good selection, plus you get 10% off if you buy 6 or more bottles (most wine stores make you buy a full case to get a discount).

Here’s a good link to some great wines for not much $$.

19

I think the Yellowtails were good a year or two ago, but have slipped. I’ve liked the Alice White’s I’ve had, little harder to find than the Yellowtail or the Lindeman’s (not too much harder).

20

There’s a shortage of real cork for wine bottles. Some have experimented with faux cork, made from plastic, but let’s face it, wine in the $7-15 range are rarely going to improve with ageing. They’re as mature a they’re gonna get when they come rom the barrel. So unless you’re seriously into wine, planning on storing them for more than a year, creating your own wine cellar, screw tops are just fine.

An aside:

I used to be a wine snob, but I finally came to my senses and realized that it’s all about enjoying a good drink. If you ind that cheap semi-doux vin from Alsace floats your boat, then drink it with read meat, cheese and damned be all the wine snobs. Or, as it is in my case, apart from Sauterne, I dislike white wines and will have a claret with fish and put ice cubes in to chill it in the summer - or even mix it with Sprite or Coke.
Life’s too short to be ruled by etiquette freaks.