As there have been plenty of spirit and beer related posts/comments recently I thought it about time to enquire about fellow victims wine preferences. In the interests of research I've tried lots of variants but always been a fan of French red, mainly Cote du Rhone region but also Bordeaux and Burgundy. During a couple of recent stints in Australia I got to sample the local stuff, Barossa Valley mainly, also like the usual Italian suspects (Chianti / Montepulciano) and Rioja. There are some decent South American ones but never really developed a taste for them, not to mention Eastern European and American options. Love holidaying in France and often pick up a really good bottle for around £4-5. Back home I usually spend £6-8 on offers but on special occasions go for Chateauneuf du Pape. Tried a number of supply lines including supermarkets, wine merchants, and wine clubs (currently with Naked Wines). So, what's your tipple? Any recommendations for specific makes / regions, also any good specialist shops you know of?
Tonight I’ve been drinking an Australian Shiraz before I went out then an Argentinian Malbec in Cascara in Hessle (with a nice steak) Very good (so was the steak) Generally I default to Australian Shiraz. I do like Montepulciano though. I’m not a big fan of white wine, but Mrs Tash likes a New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and occasionally I’ll have one (mainly with fish) Favourite wine(s) I ever drank was when I was sat in a vineyard in Napa Valley (Nicholson Estate) Stunning place and amazing wine
I like a decent South American Malbec. I know it’s not cultured but I prefer new world wines. For the price I want to pay the French produced wines are a bit, well .... meh.
Until I developed a mild case of asthma 7 years ago I regularly drank red wine - the sulfites in the wine would set me off coughing all night so I, most reluctantly, gave up my New World reds and Spanish Rioja''s for either Spanish or Portuguese Alborino''s, not as nice as the reds but certainly quaffable.
Shed no tears for me 'tash, red wine and certain lagers may contain sulfites but, the good stuff, the Weissebeers, the keg ales, malt whiskeys and other quality libations cause not a hint of a cough
I raise my glass of Aldi's Glen Marnoch malt (the best value ever) and bottle of Rheinbacher Weissebeer in salute to your caution!
Anyway, back on track for recommendations I do like red wine, but I’m certainly no expert so tend to be fairly supermarket based I like most Australian Shiraz. I do like Yellow Tail and Wolf Blass. I don’t like McGuigan...but I don’t really know why I really liked a Cabernet Sauvignon from Monterey Bay in California that Waitrose sold (Fog Head I think) but sadly they’ve stopped doing it I like a nice dessert wine too!!!
If you’re going to drink Aussie / NZ wines a rough guide is to get them from the following regions: Shiraz - Barossa, Mclaren Vale and Clare Valley (al South Australia) Pinot Noir - Otago (NZ) and Tasmania Chardonnay - Hunter Valley (NSW) Semillon / Sauv Blanc - Margaret river (WA) Sauv Blanc - Marlborough (NZ) I agree with Dennis - Barossa Shiraz and an argentinian Malbec. sounds like I had the same food and drink as you when I was at Cascara last time I was home!
I'm drunk now but not Red Wine That aldi Argy Malbec is good stuff. I like Spanish red, rough stuff. Same with the women.
Anything bottled at the vineyard it was produced at will ,99% of the time, be better than mass produced wine imported into the country in massive containers and bottled in the UK. It sounds obvious but some people are unaware of this.
Livin’ Italy’s underneath leeds train station do an excellent Montepulciano. Can’t remember the exact brand etc, but worth a try if you are there. I love a good Chenin Blanc or a cool climate, high altitude south Aussie Shiraz - Fighting Flat is particularly good! I could go on for ages, but it’s late and my pretentiousness barometer is all over the place.
If you see a Shiraz or C Sauvignon from Barossa Valley Australia, usually a bit more expensive but well worth it.
I've had some lovely wines from Barossa and Mclaren Vale, a few years back I bought several cases of Mitchell's Pepper Tree 97, wonderful, which is Clare Valley
Hi Dennis, you say you drink the Marlborough Sauvignon blanc mainly with fish. Is that because they’re the only ones who can keep up with you?
