Beginner's Advice

Beginner's Advice

Moderated by: Forum moderatorskirsty, Review Centre

  • cosmo Rank: Major on 10 Jan 2004 8:35 PM

    From England, 22 posts


    Can someone give me some advice on how to choose a nice red wine? I'm not a wine expert but I'd like to learn!

  • Gaynor Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel on 16 Jan 2004 10:25 AM

    From Manchester, 40 posts


    Hi,



    I think chosing a wine is a personal choice as people have different tastes.



    After years of drinking many cheap wines and tasting a lot of bad as well as good wines I would recommend going for a respected wine maker such as Hardys or Lindermans.



    Have a good time testing a few though!

  • wedwardes Rank: Lance Corporal on 18 Apr 2004 8:57 AM

    From London Uk, 4 posts


    I have started a wine blog which answers this and other wine & food questions.


    http://blog.winesforspice.com

    Have a go at the heavily marketed wines in a supermarket such as Blue Nun, Black Tower and Mateus Rose. Maybe also try a Lambrusco. Analyse what you like and don't like about them.

    Then look out for white wines such as Chardonnay and light reds such as Valpolicella and Gamay.

    If you are not used to wines you might find the tannins in most reds a bit more of an acquired taste.

    Whilst it is what you like that counts, there are some wines that grow on you. Some smell like cat's urine. Others have pronounced farmyard manure and rotting vegetable smells. And believe it or not a certain wine has a distinctive kerosene aroma.

    regards, warren edwardes

  • Gagnor Regis Rank: Major on 4 May 2004 4:04 PM

    13 posts


    Lambrusco, Blue Nun and Black Tower? Surely you are mocking us! YEEEUUUUCHHHH!!!!!!

    Aren't those meant to be some of the cheapest, most vile wines on the market?

    I tried a great one last week made by Peter Lehmann. I'd review it if I remembered any more about what it was. It came from Tesco, on special and it was very soft and fruity, lovely with a salad.

  • wedwardes Rank: Lance Corporal on 5 May 2004 4:33 PM

    From London Uk, 4 posts


    Lambrusco, Blue Nun and Black Tower?
    Surely you are mocking us! YEEEUUUUCHHHH!!!!!!

    Aren\\\

  • wedwardes Rank: Lance Corporal on 6 May 2004 10:34 AM

    From London Uk, 4 posts


    You just have to try different wines and decide on what you like. Blue Nun has improved considerably recently. But the question was on red wines - so try softer lighter fruity styles first and then on to earthier, smelly, tanniny ones. Have a go at Italian Chianti and Valpollicella, or French Loire Gamay or Bordeaux claret.

    But there is no substitute for just tasting wines. Oddbins is holding a wine tasting in London on the 15th May and Tesco has just had one.

    warren

    http://wineforspice.com