NationStates Jolt Archive

but I need a little help, NSG.
I'm turning 21 in a week, which means I can finally legally consume alcohol. I've been very good and haven't had any yet (beyond Communion wine). I'm interested in having a glass of wine with dinner. I know that I'm supposed to pair red wines with red meat and white wines with pasta and fish, but I'm lost beyond that (things like what makes a good wine, what I should avoid, etc.). Care to give me some help? Thanks in advance!

Good wine is a wine you enjoy. Not much of a wino myself.

Go to a wine-tasting thingy - see what you like.

Or watch Frasier, you can probably pick up the names of all the good wines just by listening to a couple episodes of that!


edit: Cool! I have almost the same postcount as the OP!

If you want good drinks, browse some pubs and try a bit of everything.
If in doubt, whisky or beer is a good call.
Some wines can taste really really bad, that and i'm used to other drinks.

If you want good drinks, browse some pubs and try a bit of everything.
If in doubt, whisky or beer is a good call.
Some wines can taste really really bad, that and i'm used to other drinks.

Most beers are really really bad too.

Every bookstore should have at least a dozen small, cheap books on pairing wines with dinner. Assuming you are not planning to start your wining experience with multiple k vintages, those will do fine :)

it really depends on what you like, and since you haven't had wine, it's very hard to give you a frame of reference.

Generally red wine is served warm, white wine cold. White wine tends to be "drier" which means more bitter and red wine is a bit sweeter and fruitier.

What do YOU want really?

Most beers are really really bad too.
odd, i find most of them are quite nice.:confused:
If you get used to them, you can drink almost any other drink and not be bothered by it.

odd, i find most of them are quite nice.:confused:
If you get used to them, you can drink almost any other drink and not be bothered by it.

Yeah, I'll not indulge in anything you have to kill a significant number of tastebuds to tolerate. Awful stuff, even "good" beer is bleh. A nice whiskey, that's more my speed.

what are you planning on having for a meal to go with it?

you could always start off with a glass of sparkling wine/champagne/prosecco and see how it goes. i wouldn't get anything too dry (not sweet), if you've never had wine before. You might find a sweeter wine, or something like a glass of asti, more palatable if you're not a wine drinker yet.

You sound like a very high classed and well mannered person.

This 17 year old who combines hard liquor with energy drinks and drinks them outside the Hess Station and abandoned Albertson's can not help you.

Yeah, I'll not indulge in anything you have to kill a significant number of tastebuds to tolerate. Awful stuff, even "good" beer is bleh. A nice whiskey, that's more my speed.

next thing you'l tell me is you don't like spicy food.:rolleyes:
it's 'whisky' and yeah most of those are good if you know what to get, but go for a peaty one too soon and you might kill any interest in it.
Besides Whisky is extremely expensive here, unless you go for the cheap stuff.

but I need a little help, NSG.
I'm turning 21 in a week, which means I can finally legally consume alcohol. I've been very good and haven't had any yet (beyond Communion wine). I'm interested in having a glass of wine with dinner. I know that I'm supposed to pair red wines with red meat and white wines with pasta and fish, but I'm lost beyond that (things like what makes a good wine, what I should avoid, etc.). Care to give me some help? Thanks in advance!

My advise is to try different things, just never at the same time, and in moderation

Try anything within your price range. Don't fall into the trap of thinking only expensive wines are good, but also don't be put off by the occasional bad glass of wine. Wines come in wildly different tastes and varieties and not everything will suit you.

Also, don't get bullied into following arbitrary rules. Once you get a taste for what you like, you can pair any kind of wine with any kind of food you like. If you really want guidance, ask the server for a recommendation when you go out for dinner. In good restaurants, the staff are trained as to what wines the chef thinks go well with his/her food.

If you want to get used to the tastes of wines on a beginner's budget, I'd recommend Italian wines to start with. In my experience, they are just as good or better than French and German wines and tend to cost less in the US.

Do not over-indulge in wine. Wine hangovers are the worst headaches in the world -- like jackhammers in one's head.

go to a local shop that sells wine and has people who give recommendations of wine.

so not the grocery store.

tell the (cute) clerk what you are wanting to do and how much you are willing to spend on a bottle of wine -- under $20 to start--and he'll steer you to one or 2 wines that are actually available to you.

if you try wine and think youll like to continue drinking it, keep a few notes on what you bought and how much you liked it. in a year or 2 you will know enough about wine to pick out your own wines and be sure that if you tell someone else what you bought you wont be laughed at.

or you could just buy wine coolers like everyone else. they are pretty much alcoholic koolaid.

Do not over-indulge in wine. Wine hangovers are the worst headaches in the world -- like jackhammers in one's head.

excellent advice.

you dont have to finish the bottle the day you open it. drink one or 2 glasses and save the rest for another day.

I would recommend going to a winery and having a taste test, they let you try maybe 12 or 14 (in my experience) different kinds, both white and red.


What do you think of communion wine? That will tell us a lot about your taste.

I would recommend going with a sparkling wine first time out, they don't have as strong a taste and may be good for getting your feet wet.

I say you start on Jack Daniel's and Coke....double.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret: all wines (within their respective color categories) taste exactly the same. Because of this, all brand names and vintages are irrelevant, so just choose the cheapest one.

This fallacy that wines have some minor differences is just a myth, perpetuated by the so-called wine experts. They do it in order to seem civilized and distinguished, and use that to get laid.

I personally would recommend white wine with whatever you're having, because red wine tastes exactly like vomit.

In my experience, they are just as good or better than French and German wines and tend to cost less in the US.

There is something, in my head, strangly unsettling about the concept of german wine. I keep expecting it to take like beer and diesel fuel.

but I need a little help, NSG.
I'm turning 21 in a week, which means I can finally legally consume alcohol. I've been very good and haven't had any yet (beyond Communion wine). I'm interested in having a glass of wine with dinner. I know that I'm supposed to pair red wines with red meat and white wines with pasta and fish, but I'm lost beyond that (things like what makes a good wine, what I should avoid, etc.). Care to give me some help? Thanks in advance!

Go to a winery or a wine-tasting show. If you want quality Red Wine that's non-expensive, I suggest Chianti (Cianti) from Trader Joe's. It's under $20 I think. Also, look for the age on the wine, the more aged it is, the better it tastes, but also, the more kick it has. Don't consume 2 Aged bottles of Red Wines in a single night and expect to wake up at 8 AM the next morning...

Do not over-indulge in wine. Wine hangovers are the worst headaches in the world -- like jackhammers in one's head.

QFT. Having drunk myself into a stupor on any number of concoctions, I can back the veracity of that statement.

Also - never mix wine and beer.

Chilean wines are good for a small budget and tend to have less chemicals than most other countries. I think this is true for other nations in the Southern Hemisphere, but I may be wrong. It all has to do with a wood louse.

There is something, in my head, strangly unsettling about the concept of german wine. I keep expecting it to take like beer and diesel fuel.

I only drink Oklahoma wine. hahahhahahaha.......not really, but it's good, and cheap and yummy and cheap.

There is something, in my head, strangly unsettling about the concept of german wine. I keep expecting it to take like beer and diesel fuel.
I'm not a huge fan of the German wines either, and iffy about the legendary French wines, too. Land of the Cheap is dead wrong about all wines tasting the same -- I've had some French wines that tasted gorgeous and loving on my tongue and other French wines that tasted like they got squeezed out of a small animal's ass and then fermented with sugar and nail polish remover. I will say that, to me, all German wines taste alike -- i.e. boring. Now Italian wines, in my experience are very user friendly. You get nice variety of the different kinds of reds and whites, light/robust, dry/sweet, without too many weird surprises. I try to keep a Chianti, a prosecco, or an Italian Muscadet on hand.

Though I should point out that I'm more a fan of distilled liquors than fermented ones. I always have a bottle of sake in the house.

Beaulieu Vineyards makes a good Cabernet for under $20.00
Fetzer Gewurtztraminer is excellent for under $20.00

Go to a shop that specializes in wine and ask the clerk, they can make recommendations for good quality, inexpensive wines for all purposes. Incidentally, the red with meat and white with chicken and fish isn't carved in stone. All that's needed is that the wine complement the food. I've had red wine with salmon and chicken and cooked corned beef in white wine all to good effect.

Avoid rose wines. Also, avoid cheap champagne. If you can't afford a good champagne (Veuve Cliquot, Chateau Lafitte Rothschild, etc.) just don't drink it.

Wine doesn't have to be French, in fact the best wines these days are made in California, Australia, South Africa.

I'm not a huge fan of the German wines either, and iffy about the legendary French wines, too. Land of the Cheap is dead wrong about all wines tasting the same

agreed

-- I've had some French wines that tasted gorgeous and loving on my tongue

That's hot...

and other French wines that tasted like they got squeezed out of a small animal's ass and then fermented with sugar and nail polish remover.

That's not...

Now Italian wines, in my experience are very user friendly. You get nice variety of the different kinds of reds and whites, light/robust, dry/sweet, without too many weird surprises. I try to keep a Chianti, a prosecco, or an Italian Muscadet on hand.

Agreed, I have found Italian, and, actually, Australian wides to be widely varied so as to pretty much compliment anyon'es tastes (if they like any wine at all that is)

Though I should point out that I'm more a fan of distilled liquors than fermented ones. I always have a bottle of sake in the house.

There is a type of polish vodka I absolutly adore and go through great lengths to acquire every month from this little polish store in Brighton from a man named Janush.

And Mur, are you trying to invite me over?

I'm not a huge fan of the German wines either, and iffy about the legendary French wines, too. Land of the Cheap is dead wrong about all wines tasting the same -- I've had some French wines that tasted gorgeous and loving on my tongue and other French wines that tasted like they got squeezed out of a small animal's ass and then fermented with sugar and nail polish remover. I will say that, to me, all German wines taste alike -- i.e. boring. Now Italian wines, in my experience are very user friendly. You get nice variety of the different kinds of reds and whites, light/robust, dry/sweet, without too many weird surprises. I try to keep a Chianti, a prosecco, or an Italian Muscadet on hand.

Though I should point out that I'm more a fan of distilled liquors than fermented ones. I always have a bottle of sake in the house.

It really depends on your palate, some people think everything tastes like chicken after all. If you eat too much crap it dulls your ability to taste anything. Which is probably why a friend looked at my children so weird when they were jumping up and down over me buying asparagus for their lunch.......it's sweet btw. The less I eat of prepackaged crapola the more I can taste food and the more I can taste subtle differences.

<snip>
Also, avoid cheap champagne. If you can't afford a good champagne (Veuve Cliquot, Chateau Lafitte Rothschild, etc.) just don't drink it.

<snip>
This is absolute truth. This should be carved in stone on highway mile markers or something. It may seem strange to care about this, but in a truly civilized society, "Do not drink cheap champagne" is advice that young people NEED. Remember this, and if anyone offers you a magnum of Korbel, throw it at them.

There is a type of polish vodka I absolutly adore and go through great lengths to acquire every month from this little polish store in Brighton from a man named Janush.
Sounds yummy. :)

And Mur, are you trying to invite me over?
First you have to adjust that "sorta" single status you mentioned somewhere else to full single status. I only believe in sharing when it comes to government social programs and cars and bikes on the roads.

Sounds yummy. :)

It's bottled with a long stem of wheat grass of some sort, gives the whole thing a vaguely minty flavor. Very odd, goes fantastic with lemonade or apple juice. I don't remember what it's called, I'll have to check the bottle in my freezer at home.

First you have to adjust that "sorta" single status you mentioned somewhere else to full single status. I only believe in sharing when it comes to government social programs and cars and bikes on the roads.

Pft, what a terribly archaic and utterly backwards method of thinking :p And aren't you a 60's child? for shame!

what if I promise she wouldn't mind? ;)

It's bottled with a long stem of wheat grass of some sort, gives the whole thing a vaguely minty flavor. Very odd, goes fantastic with lemonade or apple juice. I don't remember what it's called, I'll have to check the bottle in my freezer at home.
Do, please, if you happen to remember. I'm curious.

Pft, what a terribly archaic and utterly backwards method of thinking :p And aren't you a 60's child? for shame!
Actually, it's not archaic. It's selfish. My treats are mine, and mine alone, until I've had my fill.

what if I promise she wouldn't mind? ;)
She'd still exist, taking up room in your attention span, and that means I'd have to off her. What can I say? I just have a really low opinion of other women, and refuse to share as if they are my equals. And I'm not sure you're worth killing for. You understand, surely. :p

Do, please, if you happen to remember. I'm curious.

I'll check it when I get in.

Actually, it's not archaic. It's selfish. My treats are mine, and mine alone, until I've had my fill.

See now this is a philosophy I can get behind!

She'd still exist, taking up room in your attention span,

I compartmentalize remarkably well

I just have a really low opinion of other women, and refuse to share as if they are my equals.

as someone who has a low opinion of other people generally, I get where yer comin' from.

And I'm not sure you're worth killing for. You understand, surely. :p

Of course, but hey, you gotta give a guy a chance though :p

Try anything within your price range. Don't fall into the trap of thinking only expensive wines are good, but also don't be put off by the occasional bad glass of wine. Wines come in wildly different tastes and varieties and not everything will suit you.
This is true to a point, in my experience (bear with the english values here). To a casual drinker, the difference between a £10 and a £100 bottle is not worth the price jump. However, the difference between a £3 and a £10 bottle is enormous. I try to stick to wines worth about £7.50 (or ~ $15) and try to get deals through buying in bulk or taking advantage of special offers.

Land of the Cheap is dead wrong about all wines tasting the same --

:D;):p

I must admit, though, that my previous statement wasn't entirely based on my own experiences. Here is a little excerpt from the brilliant book "The complete a**hole's guide to handling chicks" by Dan Indante and Karl Marks:

Wine - Trust us, all wines taste the same. The "experts" who claim to know the difference between two vintages based on smell or taste are lying through their teeth. If you gave them tangerine Gatorade, they probably couldn't distinguish it from a '98 Beaujolais, so don't sweat if you never really understood what constituted a good wine and what allegedly tasted like beetle dung.

This story is true evidence of the complete hypocrisy that pervades virtually every wine "expert". I swear to God, it's true. I was in the room and saw it with my own eyes. This is not an urban legend, like the gerbil in Richard Gere's ass, or the quart of cum in Rod Stewart's stomach. Sorry about that visual. Anyway, my girlfriend from a few years ago (who am I kidding? she was some chick I was sticking for a couple of weeks) bitched at me to go to a wine class. Thinking I might learn something that would help me get laid when I eventually decided to dump her, I agreed. We met this friend of hers who swore he practically invented grapes. He went on and on about wines this and champagne that and all the trips he'd taken to the wine country and ladedadada. I tuned him out about ninety seconds in, but that's not the point. Here is the point: We tried about three glasses of red, the teacher told us about them, and we supposedly learned a new nugget that will impress people at cocktail parties. After that, the friend excused himself to go to the bathroom. The next glass we were given, while he was out of the room, was a spoiled wine, which the teacher explained will give us an idea what types of things you should not be looking for in a good wine. I swear, after the teacher told us about the problems with this wine, the loser walked back in, sat down, drank the spoiled stuff, and started falling all over himself about how great it was. "The bouquet! The tannins! This is roses in a bottle," he screamed. When he found out that he was drinking the equivalent of grape vomit, he left the class at the break and we never saw his fat ass again.

but I need a little help, NSG.
I'm turning 21 in a week, which means I can finally legally consume alcohol. I've been very good and haven't had any yet (beyond Communion wine). I'm interested in having a glass of wine with dinner. I know that I'm supposed to pair red wines with red meat and white wines with pasta and fish, but I'm lost beyond that (things like what makes a good wine, what I should avoid, etc.). Care to give me some help? Thanks in advance!

Go to a nightclub.
Drink a Mojito.
Then ask a Piña Colada.
Finally, ease yourself a Daiquiri.

The sweet flavor of those drinks will make you dizzy and will make your throat willing to accept harder drinks. Then just ask for 2 or three tequilas, and drink each of them in one gulp. With that, you should be already able to pick whatever guy you think is nice, handsome and good looking in the nightclub, and try to grab the stars that night in your bed with him.

Can't give you better advise than that.

Ok:

Red wine: It will get you pissed the quickest of the three. Best with steak. It generally stains your teeth and darkens your tongue so always buy a white wine to compliment.
Personal recommendation: Cabornet Sauvigon

Rose wine: A brilliant midway point. You could drink it for quite a while and usually tastes the best. Best with chinese and actually goes nicely with chicken.
Personal recommendation: Non-sparkling - California / Sparking - Beringer

White wine: Least likely to get you drunk. If you're having a red wine, make sure you get a white wine to compliment! The white wine will help stop your teeth being discoloured because red wine generally makes your tongue blackish and your teeth darker. White wine counters that.
Personal recommendation: Anything fruity.

Other advice:

- Pricier NEVER means tastier. Don't be afraid to go for a bargain.
- Champange is really nice, but only every so often. If you are going for a champange, go for something like Moet et Chandon or Beringer (it was once classified as a champange but I think it's been demoted to just a rosé now)
- If you're planning a special night, then the perfect combination is a red, a rosé and a white. Start with the rosé to get the body ready. Then go to the red. Then finish with the white.
- NEVER mix wine with alcopops...if you do, I aint paying the cleaners' bill
- Red wine, for some people, can cause morning-laxative effects dependant on how much you drink. Roughly a bottle of red to yourself will do the trick, so be careful how much red you have.
- White wine oxidises so easily, so be sure to have a sip of it first before serving it. If it tastes badly, then try mixing it with some fruit based juice to make it nicer - I was surprised it worked, but it does.
- If you're not feeling too clever/well to begin with, rosé and red will make you much much worse
- Finally, do not start drinking wine when already drunk on something else - just trust me on this one

but I need a little help, NSG.
I'm turning 21 in a week, which means I can finally legally consume alcohol. I've been very good and haven't had any yet (beyond Communion wine). I'm interested in having a glass of wine with dinner. I know that I'm supposed to pair red wines with red meat and white wines with pasta and fish, but I'm lost beyond that (things like what makes a good wine, what I should avoid, etc.). Care to give me some help? Thanks in advance!

Well I recommend starting with white wine. It is sweeter and easier to like as you first begin to acquire your taste for wine.
in particular I recommend a riesling or chardonnay.
A lot of wine snobs will refuse to drink riesling though, I attribute this to the fact the best riesling are from Germany and not from France.
A few bottles down the road you want to start working in reds for this I recommend a good merlot or chinon. the reason say red wine with red meat is that red wine is very full bodied and tends to overwhelm the flavor of white meat resulting in everything tasting like the wine.

I'm not a big fan of white or rosé wines.

As for the red ones, whatever tastes good. There's a bunch of expensive red wines that taste bad and cheap(er) ones which are good.

It's pretty much trial and error when it comes to finding your favorite wine.

Do, please, if you happen to remember. I'm curious.

Zubrowka? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BBubr%C3%B3wka)

It's a bit of an acquired taste :P

I think Syrah (sp?) is good. It kinda has a smoky taste.

Zubrowka? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BBubr%C3%B3wka)

It's a bit of an acquired taste :P
Good tip, Neesika. Thanks. *adds to list* :)

This is all super-helpful advice that will keep my SO from wanting to kill me! Thanks!

Hey, if I didn't ask here, I'd be asking him. If it were possible for a person to drink less than I do, he would.

As far as what Communion wines I like, the one at my church is (probably) a rose. I'm guessing here -- it does have a nice fruity taste. Unlike the swill that passes for wine in other churches I've been to (it's okay to not drink vinegar).

Absinthe is an excellent compliment to white meat, I recommend it highly.

but I need a little help, NSG.
I'm turning 21 in a week, which means I can finally legally consume alcohol. I've been very good and haven't had any yet (beyond Communion wine). I'm interested in having a glass of wine with dinner. I know that I'm supposed to pair red wines with red meat and white wines with pasta and fish, but I'm lost beyond that (things like what makes a good wine, what I should avoid, etc.). Care to give me some help? Thanks in advance!

First and foremost, wine doesn't take long trips very well, so stick to local wine if available. Avoid ANYTHING barrique, by all means.

Pasta goes very well with red wine - the only exception is if you dress pasta with pesto (basil, garlic, parmigiano and pinoli - the nuts of the umbrella pine, I don't know the english name for them). Pesto needs white.

Anyway, there are three main categories to split wine (and I'm oversimplifying):
colour (red/white)
sweetness (dry/sweet)
perlage (none/sparkling)

Let's say this could be a typical italian dinner, based on meat, with the wines:

entree: veau tonnè and mixed crudités - wine: red, dry, non sparkling. Let's say a Sassella, a Nebbiolo, or a Dolcetto di Ovada.
first course: lasagne alla bolognese (lasagne with bechamel and meat-and-tomato ragout) - wine: red, dry, sparkling. Let's say a Lambrusco Reggiano Secco, or a Gutturnio, or a Bonarda.
main course: brasato al Barolo (ox meat, cooked in wine), and boiled mixed vegetables - wine: red, dry, non sparkling: Barolo (the king of wines!)
cheese: Asiago. same wine as main course.
dessert: panna cotta (quite heavy...), wine (if you can still drink...) Malvasia Rosè (red, sweet, sparkling).

This one is based on fish instead.

entree: mixture of fried fish, fried calamari. Wine: white, non sparkling, dry: a Verdicchio di Jesi, or a Gavi, or a Greco di Tufo.
first course: linguine al pesto. Wine: same as entree.
main course: grilled branzino (loup de mer in french, don't know in english). Wine, still the same. Garnish with a mixed salad of fresh vegetables and boiled potatoes.
cheese: NO CHEESE WITH FISH!
dessert: cantucci (sort of sweet hard biscuits filled with almonds). Wine: Vin Santo (somewhat similar to a white Porto), white, sweet, and non sparkling.

but I need a little help, NSG.
I'm turning 21 in a week, which means I can finally legally consume alcohol. I've been very good and haven't had any yet (beyond Communion wine). I'm interested in having a glass of wine with dinner. I know that I'm supposed to pair red wines with red meat and white wines with pasta and fish, but I'm lost beyond that (things like what makes a good wine, what I should avoid, etc.). Care to give me some help? Thanks in advance!

My personal suggestion, avoid wine...

A lot of wine snobs will refuse to drink riesling though, I attribute this to the fact the best riesling are from Germany and not from France.

Well, don't you forget the Riesling from Alsace... I have a couple of bottles waiting for the right time here. Eheh...

but I need a little help, NSG.
I'm turning 21 in a week, which means I can finally legally consume alcohol. I've been very good and haven't had any yet (beyond Communion wine). I'm interested in having a glass of wine with dinner. I know that I'm supposed to pair red wines with red meat and white wines with pasta and fish, but I'm lost beyond that (things like what makes a good wine, what I should avoid, etc.). Care to give me some help? Thanks in advance!

I had a Pinot Noir recently with some steak, and they went very well together, otherwise, and depending on how much of the wine flavour you can take, you could consider the Arbor Mist/Boone's Farm route. They are fruitier (even though Arbor Mist makes a Merlot), and Boone's Farm is like $2/bottle. Though if you are attempting alc-e-hol for the booze experience, don't go with Boone's Farm, it's like 2% alc. by volume.

Not a huge fan of white wines personally, it has to have something bold to it, so I also drink dark beers. If you are looking at all for a good beer, my advice: Killians Red.

Good tip, Neesika. Thanks. *adds to list* :)

yup, the bison grass one, that'd be it.

Ontario white wine is nice. It has a mild taste to it, which is good for people who don't want something as overwhelming as red wine. Inniskillin, produced in Ontario is quite nice and is extremely reasonable in price. I have tried other Niagara wines. Mostly white. Stick to white wines if you're not into the strong bitter taste of red (which I believe is a typical communion wine).