Help me enjoy wine (red!).

Skeptic

Skeptic

Skeptic

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Joined
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UK
I really like alcohol. I love whisk(e)y. (n.b. drink responsibly, kids!)

I have never been able to get on well with wine - I appreciate that it's probably the same as other alcohols in the sense that you grow to love it and the complexities are not noticeable through first tasting.

Thus, I want to get into wine! That may sound pretentious, but I don't care. There are aisles of the stuff in any supermarket, so there must be something in it, right? (Of course, I jest - I know that it is very popular and for good reason).

So, where should I begin?

Recommendations, suggestions and direction, please!

Introductory wines (red)? Budget is not much of an issue, however let's be realistic here. It's not valuable for me to buy a £1000 bottle for my first foray, but similarly it's pointless for me to drink trash that will put me off it for good.

I can document my journey if anyone is interested?

Thanks!
 
Why not go to a wine tasting evening, you get to learn about it, have fun and of course try a huge selection of wine. Things you like, you can then ask about and get other recommendations for your pallet.
 
Glaucus said:
Why not go to a wine tasting evening, you get to learn about it, have fun and of course try a huge selection of wine. Things you like, you can then ask about and get other recommendations for your pallet.
Click to expand...

That is on the agenda - to be completed relatively shortly!

I'm looking forward to it immensely, but want to do some practice beforehand. :)
 
Took me a while to come round to liking red. Only thing I remember about the experience is that it didn't matter a whole lot whether it was cheap or expensive. I have a few favourite whites but any red will do me.

Get a few supermarket own-brand cheapo bottles down you to get used to the flavour. Getting drunk off it a few times may help too (but not sick-drunk). That probably sounds odd.
 
Try a Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Tesco. If you don't like that, I'd advise you give up on red. It's about £12-£15 a bottle. It's damn strong too, 1 bottle sends me on my way, 2 would destory me :D

I'm quite partial to a Shiraz though, even a cheap Aldi one, I like the sharper taste of it as opposed to something more rounded like a Merlot.

I like white but it gives me terrible heart burn.

I'd also admit to liking a Rose (no gay) - particularly the Black Tower one, it's just like drinking Oasis!! Lovely for summers days.
 
As AH said, get to a wine tasting event. When you arrive, tell the host you're a total novice to red wine. Tastings shouldn't be pretentious, or stuffy. You are there to learn, and to enjoy the drink and the host (and other drinkers) will be more than happy to help you.

Take a bit of paper, and a pen and write some stuff down. I tend to grade the drinks A - E, and maybe add one or two lines of characteristics. It's good for you to refer back to at the end as you'll forget what the first wine was like.
 
Who needs paper and pun, photo.

Sill got a picture from a year or so ago, need to get some.

A domaine des tourelles -2007
This stuff,
http://www.e-winesdirect.com/ecom-prodshow/143.html

I thought it was very nice. Anyone ordered off that site?

I also wished there was a ranking wine website, where you could rate wines you've tried. Not only easy to keep track off, but could suggest similar styles.
For example it may find out you seem to prefer low acidity and high tannin. Or something along those lines and suggest others you may like. While were at it, could search online sites and show who has stock.
 
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Ahleckz said:
Photos are only good for remembering what you've had. It won't help you remember what you enjoyed about each sample.
Click to expand...

... we still talking wine here


:p:D


..runs away before Bignev comes back :D Speaking of witch oops which I'd like to agree with many people on here about the Shiraz and yes Australian is very hard to fault esp. the mclaren vale region (can still remember sitting on a sofa one night and swore blind I could smell Xmas pudding only to find it was wafting from the other halfs wine glass).... unless you're me who swallows his own lips after any gulp wine.
 
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