Red or white?

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The best way to get around the WINE question in restaurants is of course to order "a bottle of the house RED please" (unless you are in dodgy WEST END CURRY HOUSE on Old Compton St [?] in which case that would be WRONG) as this will usually give you something cheap but not too pikey.

However, what about when you're in Your Local Shop? There's a whole aisle of wines, ranging from £2.99 'Il Burgo' to £11.99 um, other stuff - what is good, what is not? In other words, what are good wine pointers? Which areas are best? Isn't Rosé GRATE? And why is ZINFANDEL (my fave) less alkyholick than other Rosés? What is the difference between Merlot/Chardonnay/Cabernet/ZINFANDEL? And what's your fave wine? What do you eat it with?

― Sarah, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I am currently struggling to write a cover letter for yet another new job application (DERE LORD PLEASE HELP LOVE SARAH) and I wish I had a bottle with me in the office. Pass the Marlon.

― Sarah, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Having thoroughly researched this issue by chucking most of 2 bottles of white down my neck last night I can inform you that WINE IS EVIL, stay away from it at all costs.

― Emma, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I had a bottle of Rosé last night and I feel fine this morning Emma you are a LIGHTWEIGHT ha.

― Sarah, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

In a feverish state while some coffee kept me awake last night I imagined an entire episode of Black Books where Bernard and Manny were having an argument regarding red wine, which Bernard insisted should be called Black Wine - both in honour of its name and because it looked black to him. This lead to him dating a psychologist who was dazzled by the fact that the only colour Bernard could see was black, just different shades of black (green was that grassy shade of black etc etc) - whilst Fran got a job for the CRE. The whole episode culminated in a hilarious farcical ending in which Bernard said his skin colour was black to impress his young lady while Fran was trying to impress her boss with how non-racist she was - and Manny had accidentally blacked up regarding some oven breakage.

It doesn't sound quite as funny in the cold light of day - that's why I don't drink coffee very often. Um.

― Pete, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Bah! I am no lightweight young missy. As you yourself said Zinfandel is less alcoholly and also the second bottle pushed me over the edge. And I was still alcohol filled from the previous 2 days. So there.

― Emma, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Pete, that was scarily good. Do you do this often? Let me know if you need an editor...

― Mark C, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It only happens when I drink coffee. But on the whole I was thinking how well defined the Black Books characters are and how the basic situations could be constructed out of two part character, one part whimsy and a final dash of farce.

Wine though. Zinfandel is surprisingly palatable. Of late I have been very keen on five pound Rioja's though - for ease of drinking.

― Pete, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I ended up a member of the Sunday Time Wine Club after buying a scarily good special offer they had a couple of years ago. Only this morning I ordered from them a case of 1993 Gran Reserva Navaro Lopez, which I am very much looking forward to tasting. But it does mean I'm now carefree about spending £6 a bottle (on red at least), which scares me a bit.

― Mark C, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

wine wine lovely, lovely wine.

reds are best. shiraz! especially rosemount shiraz. cos i'm a girl wot likes a full body. failing that, merlot, but not somerfield's own brand merlot as tis only good as vinaigrette.

know nothing of whites except that any ones i ever buy taste like paintstripper except for the scarily titled but yummily tasting L'Hopital which i got once in a boozerie in Victoria and haven't been able to find since.

― nickie, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

mmm red wine, i drank nearly 2 bottle of Hardy's last night, one was the Stamp um, Shiraz i think, v nice, one was a seasonal one, i forget what it was called. both on sale in Tescos at the mo and both a v, respectable 13% NUM. by the end of the night i was putting some lemonade into it = WINE SHANDY! though i have a groany stomach this morning not surprisingly.

― katie, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Your wine drinking needs can be satisfied by Gato Negro and Gato Blanco. They are Spanish, the 'negro' is the red wine, the 'blanco' the white. This is of a higher quality than most art-opening wine. And best of all, you get a hoardable plastic hissing cat charm (collect the set! impress your friends!) attached to the bottle to count the cost (about 4.99).

― suzy, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

See seee - the Spanish call it Black Wine.

― Pete, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I have just been reminded that we were doing tequila shots too which would explain my feelings of roughness today. I take back what I said about wine being evil and instead blame the bloody tequila.

― Emma, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

white wine + tequila = Emma is a mentalist!

― katie, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

White wine + tequila = my next trip to London!

― Dan Perry, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Dan Perry is a very bad man.

― RickyT, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It's all we do round London way - slosh about in pale coloured booze, white wine, tequilla, tripple sec.

― Anna, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Very important to leave the cooling collar thing on bottle of wine so that you can say "well I'll just have a half bottle while I watch this crap on TV" then when it (the crap) has finished you remove (the now squidy melty) collar to notice that actually you've only got an inch of booze left, so "well, may as well finish it off". ace.

― Alan Trewartha, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The whole story of wine:

Rosé = DUD (altho' ZINFANDEL rosé is rare exception to this rule)
Whites must be sec (but exception = Viognier). No hard and fast rules about country of origin, but avoid Austrians, tho' you would anyway I'm sure :-)
Reds must be French. No exceptions.

As to: what's the diff? It's all in the grape variety, starry.

However, idea that some grape varieties more alcohollyic than others is ALL IN YOUR BRANE!

Best London places for wine (selection/price): Majestic, Waitrose, Sainsbury, Oddbins, Tesco (in that order, and nowhere else!)

― Jeff W, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Unlike Alan, I leave the cooling thing on when shove the wine back in the fridge then get deeply disappointed when I return to it the next day and find there is only a wee bit left.

― Emma, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The tequila is playing havoc with my English.

― Emma, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It's all about the Rieslings. Actually, most German whites (that I've had) seem pretty tasty and reasonably priced.

I bought a bottle of Louisiana blueberry wine but I'm afraid to drink it.

― adam, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I have drank less than a bootle of wine in my whole 25.98 years.

― jel --, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Um can I arsk... Whot COOLING COLLAR nongsense is this?!

― Sarah, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tis not nonsense Sarah but vitally important during the consumption of white wine in small groups. You stick it in the freezer then slip it over your bottle and it keeps it frosty cool for you meaning you can have the bottle on the table next to you saving you from having to trundle all the way to the fridge & back every time you need a top up. It is also very good at cooling the bottle down quickly when you buy non-fridge wine from the shop.

― Emma, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Riesling = YUM! I'm also a big fan of chardonnay and pinot grigio. As far as red wines go, I'll drink a merlot or a chiraz, but wave a halfway decent cabernet sauvignon in front of me and I will be yours. (Figuratively. I'm married, you big pervert.)

I try not to drink wine, though, because my natural mode for imbibing liquids is to quaff them. This is generally fine when sticking to beer variants or cider, but when I move on to wine or the ruff stuff (TEQUILA!), I invariably put El Hurting Grande on myself.

― Dan Perry, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm also a big fan of chardonnay and pinot grigio

Me too.

I like chianti, merlot, shiraz - but not very keen on cabernet sauvingnon (can't spell today), especially without food.

― Anna, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm a barbarian when it comes to wine. Sometimes, though not often, I open a bottle of wine that's in the house somewhere. I'd imagine it's quite good since my parents are permanently drinking wine, however it's wasted on me. Some of my friends drink bottles of wine before going places, I often catch them with pint glasses full of wine. Even I know that looks stupid.

― Ronan, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Blue! as in Blue Nun! hooray!

― rener, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Red is best. I too felt no ill effects from bottle to myself last night. What is wrong with us? The cold i have contracted, is however atrocious. give me sympathy. Sarah, we need more booze, it is like medicine. Arh. 2 mins of easyeverything left. Must go.

― alix, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Lixi if you see this in time buy me some more Rosé and I will pay you back. I am going to the gym tonight too art thou coming?

― Sarah, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Moet et Chandon White Star and great chocolate. Really, it's all you need.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I swear by Sainsbury's £2.99 Cabernet Sauvignon, especially bought in bulk

― owen hatherley, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

pinot gris from napa
pinot noir from napa
cabarnet sauvign(sp) from Australia
resigling from aslace lorriane
champagne from champagne

― anthony, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I had this amazing red wine at my sisters' the other day - '86 Cyril Henschke Cab Sav. I was very impressed with the taste. Then my sister told me the bottle was worth around $500 so it was not surprising.

If I had free reign of her cellar I'd never sober up.

― electric sound of jim, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

suzy - do they still have the cats on the bottles in the UK?? we have not had plastic cats for at least 5 years in the states :-(

― Ron, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tokai from north east italy and slovenia (hungary too but that's sweeter)
Barbera, Barbaresco, Grignolino from piemonte.
San Giovese, Brunello, Orvieto, pinot grigio from central Italy
Prosecco from the Veneto
But my favorite of all Pelaverga from the Lombardia-Piemonte border.

― Ed, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ooh, get her...

The cats are still on the Gato bottles here. Yesss!

― suzy, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

After FORTY FIVE MINUTES ON THE PHONE trying to deal with a flipping BARONESS I certainly need some wine. I think I will pick a random recommendation. Zinfandel is only 0.5% less than the other Rosé I choise anything so NUR.

A wine in the pub at lunch time was decribed as haffing BAGS OF GOOSEBERRY FLAVAH. YUCK!!!!!

― Sarah, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't know if this is available in the UK, but Qupe Syrah is very good. (I think there are different kinds, with special additions to the name, like 'reserve', but the one we got at the grocery store was probably about $15 US.) Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is also very good.

― youn, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

I spent the weekend staying at a posh crib in Wine Country (Sonoma). I loved it!!!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 2 November 2003 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks for the invite dude...

see my "chateau cashflow" california winemaker "in-joke" here

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 3 November 2003 01:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry, but you would have had to babysit a seven and a ten year old with me, too.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 3 November 2003 01:32 (twenty-two years ago)

awwww... "tick tock tick tock"

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 3 November 2003 01:38 (twenty-two years ago)

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