# Recommend a good "starter" wine
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [February 9, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123 "2005-02-09T03:05:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/41 "2005-02-11T00:21:21Z")
I’ll strongly second **Alvis** ’ suggestion of boxed wines. If it’s inexpensive with shelf life and good taste you’re looking for, you’ll find it in a bag in a box. There are some great ones out there now.
Black Box has a Cab Sauv from Paso Robles and Merlot from Sonoma.
Delicato has a Shiraz (90 points from Wine Enthusiast and my personal favorite boxed right now of the ones I’ve tried so far) and a Merlot.
Tindindi is an Australian winery with a Cab Sauv.
X Box has a tasty California Cab Sauv.
There are several others, and more to come. There are whites as well, but if it’s health benefits you’re looking for, stick to red. Have a glass or two, and leave it on the counter to be enjoyed at your leisure, no worries about sealing it and drinking it within a few days. No oxidation, no chance of cork taint, good quality wine at a fraction of the cost.
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### Author:  [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2005, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/42 "2005-02-11T00:30:05Z")
> [@DeVena](#):
>
> Please don’t throw things at me. But there is one type that bears mentioning.
>
> **Lambrusco**
>
> Cheap, red Italian wine that’s not too dry for beginners. Even Riunite couldn’t mess this one up.
**DeVena,** are you me? Because I came into this thread with that very thought. Even to the point of begging people not to throw things.
Yes, we are trashy enough to ALWAYS have a big bottle of Riunite Lambrusco on the counter. Goes with our trashy quick pasta dinners, and it’s nice when you want a little taste of vino without committing to a whole bottle. Just screw the cap back on! 😃
(Can I redeem myself by saying that we also have a decent corkscrew and also keep a few fancy-schmancy corked selections on hand?)
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### Author:  [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/43 "2005-02-11T00:53:33Z")
> [@DeVena](#):
>
> Please don’t throw things at me. But there is one type that bears mentioning.
>
> Lambrusco
>
> Cheap, red Italian wine that’s not too dry for beginners. Even Riunite couldn’t mess this one up.
> [@Kaitlin](#):
>
> > [@longhair75](#):
> >
> > my current favoriye: francis coppola’s diamond series black label claret available at your local wine store for about fifteen dollars a bottle (i scored a case of it at ten a bottle on sale though )
>
> This is the wine that made me realize I could enjoy (and now prefer) red wine, so I can second the recommendation. My rich roommate sorta sneered at it without trying it. Good–I didn’t want to share anyway.
> [@Scarlett67](#):
>
> (Can I redeem myself by saying that we also have a decent corkscrew and also keep a few fancy-schmancy corked selections on hand?)
Pardon me, but…
**Whatinaheck is going on in this country when people feel they have to apologize for drinking a particular brand of wine???**
I mean, this stuff isn’t **Nighttrain** , and hell, even if it is but it goes well with your Fillet Mignon, whose farking business is it to make you feel bad about drinking it? Is this some kind of extension of the '80s Cola Wars?
You try wine. You like wine. You drink what you like. Maybe it’s Gallo–it ain’t for me, but it’s affordable and if it goes well on your palette, more power to you. Three Buck Chuck–well, it tastes a little like lighter fluid to me, but then I don’t like caviar, or pate, or brie, either, so who am I to judge what tastes good to the next fellow.
I mean, oenophilia is all well and good, but this pretentious jack-ass wine snobbery needs to be put paid. How many people have tried European wines? Most of them, especially wines imported into this country, are subpar compared to a lot of California, or even Chilean, wines.
_ **Don’t apologize for drinking wine you like!** _ Just don’t do it. It just spurs the bastards on.
And **Kaitlin** , as for your “rich” roommate, apparently he doesn’t realize that among people who are knowledgable about wines, the Coppola brands are actually pretty highly regarded. It ain’t Francis Ford out there in the backyard squeezing a few half-ripe Concord grapes into ferminted juice; it’s a reputable vineyard that employees well known horticuluralists and vinters to produce an excellent product. It ain’t Turning Leaf. (Hell, it’s a better product than the last, say, dozen films Coppola has turned out.)
Okay, I’ll shut up now. But I’ve been tempted for a while to start a pit thread on w[h]ine connoisseurs farking it up for people who just like to drink the stuff, and this just whets my appetite for it.
Don’t apologize for your wine. Make them apologize for their bad manners.
Stranger
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### Author:  [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/44 "2005-02-11T01:07:08Z")
friend stranger,
> [@](#):
>
> Don’t apologize for your wine. Make them apologize for their bad manners.
i absolutely agree. find a wine that you like and drink it. tell the critics to mtofb
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### Author:  [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/45 "2005-02-11T02:43:22Z")
Ice wines. Especially white ice wines. They’re sweet (too sweet for a lot of people…)
After those, sweet reislings and gerwurztraminers.
I like sweet white wines. So must other people, because they keep making them.
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### Author:  [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/46 "2005-02-11T03:05:27Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#):
>
> Don’t apologize for your wine.
Oh. I guess it’s OK, then that we’ll often choose a wine based on the amusement value of the name and/or label? Two of my favorite keepsake bottle right now (both gifts) are Le Faux Frog (a merlot, IIRC, from a frog-loving friend) and WOOP WOOP (a tasty Shiraz).
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### Author:  [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/47 "2005-02-11T03:32:26Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#):
>
> How many people have tried European wines? Most of them, especially wines imported into this country, are subpar compared to a lot of California, or even Chilean, wines.
You can bash wine snobbery as much as you want, but this statement is just not true and gives your diatribe a whiff of anti-intellectualism that strikes me to be just as crass as the wine snobbery you decry.
First of all, European wines are just different that American wines. Burgundy is different from Oregon Pinot Noir. Even a California Meritage doesn’t quite taste the same a Bordeaux. And personally, I haven’t found anything made from Syrah that tastes quite like a good Cote Rotie (not that I can afford especially good Cote Rotie).
All this isn’t to say that French wines are better than American wines. It’s just that they’re different. I think it’s a fair generalization to say that American wines tend to be somewhat fruitier than their European counterparts. As you can tell, my tastes run towards French wine. Quite a bit of my cellar is California Cabernet and Zinfandel though. Italian wine just doesn’t do it for me. I run really hot and cold on Spanish wine, and never bothered to learn anything about German wine.
And to answer your question about how many people have tried European wines…lots. Costco is one of the largest buyers of French wine. It’s not just the snobs that like it.
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### Author:  [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/48 "2005-02-11T05:50:49Z")
**scarlett** ’s already mentioned Wop-Woop Shiraz which is good stuff for damned cheap, if maybe a touch overrated. Tonight I drained a bottle of Lindemann’s Cabernet, very mild red wine, and another Aussie maker. The bottle cost me $12.
If you want the benefits of red in a very easy to drink wine, I’d recommend cabernet sauvignon. Shiraz is a little harsher (but delicious once you acquire the taste), and I personally can’t drink Merlot except with a meal.
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### Author:  [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2005, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/49 "2005-02-11T06:13:21Z")
It’s really hard to guess what someone’s going to like in wines when they haven’t had a lot of exposure to different wines, so I’m going to forego mind-reading and just offer up my favorite modestly priced wine recommendation: any of the Ca’del Solo “Big House” series from [Bonny Doon Vineyards](http://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/). I first got hooked on their “[Big House Red](http://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/wine/view/93)” at a party, and it’s become the wine I buy regularly and keep a few bottles of around the house. The [White](http://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/wine/view/66) and [Pink](http://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/wine/view/98) are also quite drinkable and interesting. I tend to like really big Rhone wines and Italian wines, and Bonny Doon’s wines really seem like they were almost expressly designed for my tastes. They’re also really affordable (typically around $10/bottle, with occasional specials and sales bringing them down as cheap as $7). And in a special little lagniappe of unpretentiousness and practicality, they all come in the [Stelvin[sup]TM[/sup] screw-top closure](http://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/dooniversity/content/screwcap).
I’m also fond of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, which is almost always a bargain – the cheapest ones go for $6 - $10, with the high-end at around $30.
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### Author:  [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/50 "2005-02-11T16:16:52Z")
> [@rackensack](#):
>
> I first got hooked on their “[Big House Red](http://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/wine/view/93)” at a party, and it’s become the wine I buy regularly and keep a few bottles of around the house. \<…\>. And in a special little lagniappe of unpretentiousness and practicality, they all come in the [Stelvin[sup]TM[/sup] screw-top closure](http://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/dooniversity/content/screwcap).
I really like this wine, too (it’s an excellent blend) but I _hate, hate, hate_ that they went to the screw-top. It’s not that there’s any thing really wrong with a screw-on cap, but it takes away the whole ceremony of drawing the cork, which is one of the things I just irrationally like about wine. Ugh.
But some people like 'em–to each his own. At any rate, it’s a nice, enjoyable table wine.
One of my recent favorites is the [Saintsburg Garnet Pinot Noir](http://www.wholefoods.com/winecheese/wine_saintsbury.html). It’s been a little off in the last vintage, but for several years it has been a perennial favorite, and at $15/bottle (I can find it for $12 on sale) I think it’s a fantastic bargin.
Stranger
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### Author:  [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/51 "2005-02-11T16:22:24Z")
If you want something similar to grape juice, try Ripple. Seriously. It’s as close to grape juice as you can get in something alcoholic imho.
Wine coolers are also a possibility.
You might like pink wine too (also known as rosé). Try some Lancers or Mateus. They are both Portuguese, light, slightly fizzy and easy to drink. I like Portuguese wines in general, and these are inexpensive as well.
I’ve seen Sangria mentioned too. You can either make some yourself or buy it already bottled. The brand I see in stores most often is Cruz Garcia Real Sangria - you’re most likely to find it by the sake or wines that also have fruit juice added.
A light white wine you might enjoy is chenin blanc. Very easy to drink, and inexpensive as well. Beaujolais has also been mentioned already in the ‘light, easy to drink’ red category. It also tends to be inexpensive.
One heart-related benefit to drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is that it tends to make platelets more ‘slippery,’ thus reducing the chance of a blood clot in the vessels. I know this because when I inquired about donating platelets to the hospital here, one the requirements is that you not drink alcoholic beverages for a couple days prior, thus allowing the platelets to become ‘stickier’ again. Obviously people receiving your platelets need them to clot as efficiently as possible.
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### Author:  [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/52 "2005-02-11T16:45:24Z")
> [@romansperson](#):
>
> Beaujolais has also been mentioned already in the ‘light, easy to drink’ red category. It also tends to be inexpensive.
Like most French (and European) wines, [Beaujolais](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaujolais) are refereneced by their region of origin rather than by varietal as is common with American, Austrailian, South African, and South American wines. According to the Wiki, they’re almost all of the Gamay varietal (99%), though I’m not really sure of the percentage–I’ve seen a number of Beaujolais whites.
Personally, I prefer the Beaujolais Nouveaus (recently vinted wine) over the aged reds. They’re not great wines (in my opinion) but they’re quite cheap (can easily be found for (US$6-7, and since they’re not collectable they don’t get too much higher), not too complex or acidic, and go well with a variety of food.
Stranger
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### Author:  [@greenlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenlady)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/53 "2005-02-12T02:08:01Z")
i’d recommend a cabarnet sauvignon in the $10 range. The brand “Sterling” makes exception wines in this price range. Other good brands are Mondavi and Woodbridge.
For a really inexpensive white wine, I’d recommend Beringer’s zinfandel. It’s actually a rose (white and red combined) wine. It must be chilled to be fully appreciated. Which leads me to note…
Red wines are best drunk either not chilled at all or just barely chilled.
I also think Australian Shiraz’s are great. They’re llike a thicker cabarnet. I don’t agree with with previous posters that say it’s a taste that must be acquired. I think they’re actually a bit more palateable than cabarnets…
Lastly, for another white wine, I’d recommend a German auslese. This is a very overlooked wine, in my opinion. It’s a white wine that is sweeter than most white wines, and also not expensive, probably in the $10 range.
As a side note, I’d stay away from any Beaujolous. These wines are fabulous but only if you’re willing to spend $40+ for a bottle. They are not worth drinking (in my opinion) if they’re tabbed beaujolouis but only priced in the area of $10 a bottle.
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### Author:  [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-starter-wine/289123/54 "2005-02-12T18:19:07Z")
> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> My doctor (who is European, which may have something to do with her oenophilia) has asked me repeatedly to take up drinking red (or even white) wine for its health benefits. (I have very high cholesterol and a family history of heart disease.) I rarely drink anythink alcoholic and all and when I was a much heavier drinker I preferred liquor (particularly whiskey and rum), so I’ve never developed a palate for wine of any kind (though I do know that I don’t like Merlot- too dry).
>
> Could you please recommend a wine (red or white, but she says red is much better healthwise) that-
>
> 1- is inexpensive
> 2- will last for a few days in the fridge or tightly sealed on a counter
> 3- doesn’t taste like liquid sawdust (in fact, the closer it is to tasting like Welch’s Grape Juice, the better)
>
> Either specific brand name or just type of wine is fine.
> Thanks.
>
> J
Try some Cella Lambrusco. It’s inexpensive (like $8 for a big bottle), will last in the fridge (I like it chilled, myself), tastes like semi-fizzy grapejuice.
It’s not high brow, but it’s tasty, drinkable, cheap, etc.
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