Starting to like wine
 

I have never been a wine guy. Most wines I have tried in the past had a strong vinegar taste and I didn't enjoy them. Recently my wife and I have discovered wines that we like and we want to learn more. We have been enjoying Moscato lately. I would like to learn more and can't go to a wine tasting yet because of small kids at home.

What other wines would you guys recommend if I like a sweet wine?

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Port.:tu

Re: Starting to like wine
 

for RED you might try a Dolcetto d'Alba. Relatively inexpensive ($12-25 per bottle).
for WHITE try Moscato d'Asti. :tu

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Caymus Conundrum

Re: Starting to like wine
 

:tpd:
The Taylor Fladgate Tawny Port 10 Year Old is my current favorite. I find that a nice glass of port and a great cigar is the perfect night cap!

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Although not overly sweet, I think most non-whinos would like Apothic Red. The complex flavors in this wine remind me of a cigar that changes flavors through different thirds. A word of caution, this wine is not for meals, it is to be enjoyed alone. I can find it locally for between $7.99 and $10.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to be on the look out today for something new based off your recommendations.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Moscato is a good, sweeter wine. A Riesling might pair well too.

With cigars I always like a nice cab :)

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Dolcetto, by default, is pretty acidic and dry. The OP stated he likes some sugar in wine? If anything, Amarone should fit the bill, if a red is considered, or Ports as already suggested.

German Reislings, either Spatlese or Auslese (more sugar content) are good, Austrian Reislings are all dry as a bone (although great wines).

Any Gewurtztramminer should be great as well, most have some sugar in them, they as fruity as Moscato (Muscat here in CA) and offer great complexity, smoky character and spice. California makes a few very affordable versions, although higher end Alsace versions (France, and the standard for the varietal) make some incredible wines, most relatively affordable.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Another sweet white wine that hasn't been mentioned is Sauternes. It's pretty pricey, but worth trying at least once in your life. Absolutely delicious.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Chalk one more up for Gewurtztramminer.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Sauternes, like most other wines, span a wide price scale.

There is actually a whole bunch of sweet white wines, most are not really "known" to general public. Sweet Vouvray (Loire), Soleras of Spain (try Toro Albala Pedro Ximenez), sweet versions of Viognier, sweet versions of Marsanne/Rousanne, etc. Canada makes a bunch of sweet whites made form a number of different varietals. Alsace makes some incredible sweet Gewurtztraminers.

If you like Sauternes, then you should track down a nicely aged bottle of Huet (Loire, he makes several, actually his son does now), between the two I'll take Huet hands down and its more affordable as well (if speaking of top notch Sauternes).

And almost nothing comes close to a 1961 or 1972 Toro Albala PX. You should be able to track down a 1979, and for the price it is outstanding. PX is probably the best wine to go with a cigar, IMO.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

I am not a sweet wine fan, but I know a little about wines from a friend of mine who is a wine distribitor. He also suggested the Gewurtztramminer but there are dry ones and wet ones so check first.
There's a winery here in MA called Nashoba Valley Winery that makes their wines from their own grapes and uses a lot of their own fruits from the orchard in them too. I am not a huge fan but it's because they are very sweet. A lot of my friends and family love them and go to the winery at least twice a year to stock up.
http://www.nashobawinery.com/

Re: Starting to like wine
 

I'll toss another vote up for Gewurtztraminer. On the east coast here a lot of local wineries make sweet Vidal Blanc, Viognier, and Traminette (a Gewurtztraminer/Seyval hybrid).

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Thanks, I'll look into the Huet!

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Keep rocking the Moscato. In Portugal it's Mostcatel. Ice wines or late harvest wines you'd like to as well. Let's not forget Tokay or tawny port.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Graham's 20 Year Old Tawny Port is tough to beat IMO.


:tu


Chris.....

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Ramos Pinto, Ferreira, Noval, and Sandeman give Grahams a run for money. All are excellent products, but Graham (to me) isn't really a big tawny brand. 20 is a good balance of fruit to age.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

I clearly drink too much wine lol. Zsazsa made me my own sampler. http://budurl.com/winesample

I'm stoked, there's a bunch of cool sounding new wines in this one I look forward to trying.

I'm always a big fan of 5-count samplers because you can try a few different kinds but you still get the bulk-buying discounts.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

I don't drink much wine, but when I do, I like it fairly dry. Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay. A nice cold chardonnay or pino grigio is nice on a hot day. :tu
A good cheap pino that the wife and I enjoy is Cavit