A good wine?

Stouter

Stouter

Leg humping Taru
Adventurer
Joined
Aug 9, 2004
Messages
1,684
So I've been invited to my boss's house this weekend for a game of cards (even though he doesn't know it yet) and I'm wanting to bring a bottle of wine.

Is anyone here a wine connoisseur that can suggest a good bottle of wine to take along? I'm looking for something in the $20-40 range, brand and year preferred over just a type.
 
It's hard to just name a brand and type because it's hard to say what you'll find available in your area. But I can at least give you some idea of what to look for, based on the wines I usually buy and enjoy (mostly Italian >_>).

Among the red wines, if you're looking for something that can be drunk right away what you want is a beaujolais nouveau. It's a light-bodied red wine that's traditionally released in late November, and supposed to be drunk right away. If you want more of a collector's wine, to be saved for several years, then a brunello di montalcino is a good wine. Inbetween the two is your chianti classico or chianti riserva. Don't buy the chianti in fiasco (in the straw-wrapped flask) that stuff is always garbage. Both the chianti and the brunello should have a pink DOC sticker on the bottle neck; that means it meets the standards the Italian government has established for quality wines.

If you're looking for a white wine, pinot grigio is a pretty safe bet. It's becoming a lot more popular of late, as the chardonnay market has become oversaturated with cheaply made wines due to demand. My personal favorite white is harder to find, however- verdicchio. The better pinot grigios will typically have a DOC sticker, the verdicchio however often will not because it's not a varietal that the Italian government seems to supervise. There's not much production of verdicchio however, so really the only mass-produced verdicchio is made by Fazi-Battaglia, and even that isn't bad.
 
When I bring wine, I always bring one with a funny name as a "conversation piece" (great for a card game) and one good one. You can get some very nice wine for 20-30 bucks, and a novelty wine for 10. Quantity and quality! :D
 
Actually, on that note . . . my dad said he was pleasantly surprised by a red wine called "Fat Bastard".
 
toqabowl said:
the best wine comes in box form lol
Click to expand...

Franzia.jpg


I concur.
 
wine and cards? bring some beer, its a mans drink
 
Thanks for the advice Fell, I'll see what the local stores have.
Pesmerga said:
wine and cards? bring some beer, its a mans drink
Click to expand...
Well there's a story though, my boss kinda hates me with every fiber of his being. He invited this chick from work to play cards with him and his fiance, and asked if she knew anyone that would come as a 4th. She said yes, but never mentioned my name. The wine is meant as a gesture more than being something practical.
 
Hmmmm... well it depends. You usually can't go wrong by bringing your host a bottle of red when you've been invited to dinner. But since you're just going over for a card game, a white or a nice rosé could work (not everyone likes the lighter wines, I happen to love rosés). Better yet, if it's just cards with some guys you should get some hard liqour :p

In any case:
Red - Gevrey-Chambertin Pinot Noir
White - Jackson Estate Sauvignon Blanc
Rosé - hmmmm... Akarua Rosé (mmmm) or Charles Merlton Rosé

Gosh those Kiwis make good wine. If you're having trouble choosing, go to a good bottle shop and ask what wines they reccommend. More often they'll just try to hawk off some expensive bottle but meh, you may get a good wine in the process. Oh, and for heaven's sake don't get anything in a box.
 
Last edited:
Zyndara said:
Beringer's has a Private Reserve 2005 Chardonnay that runs around $35 and tastes wonderful. It has a nice flavor and I've had it both with dinner and just by itself. Don't know if they carry it in most stores, but here's the link to the Beringer's site: http://www.beringer.com/beringer/catalog/index.jsp?cat_id=1037
Click to expand...


I agree with Zyn. Berengers is an excellent wine, well priced, and it's American! Also, Fat Bastards is a great European wine (UK I think), but both of these probably aren't suited for a friendly card game.

The thing about wine is, it is generally a traditional gift exchanged between friends and newly aquaintences. So if your boss has any culture at all, he'll understand your gesture.
 
Stouter said:
Is anyone here a wine connoisseur that can suggest a good bottle of wine to take along? I'm looking for something in the $20-40 range, brand and year preferred over just a type.
Click to expand...

i personally love a nice glass of chilled Las Brisas, nice cheap bottle, but really quite excellant... you can always go to http://www.wine.com/giftcenter/ and search for something there
 
I actually work with wines quite a lot and i get this question a lot as well.
Biggest concern should be what you can planning on doing with the wine, if you'll be drinking it alone (which i would not support) or drinking it with a meal. Try to drink wine with salty foods (cheeses, fish) or very tart foods, this will make the wine taste so much better. don't try to eat a sugary or sweet food with wines as they will make the wine taste bad.

- If your Boss is not much or a Wine drinker then i would suggest staying away from the French and some of the Cali wines and look more for the Australian and Italy wines (they are typically the more popular wines for starters)

- Here is a real brief understanding of the most popular wines:
WHITES:
Riesling:
High in Acidity (strong citrus, also good for fatty foods)
Light Body (think of this like skim Milk (light) vs. Chocolate Milk(heavy))
Very Fruity and Flora flavors

Sauvignon Blanc:
High Acid
Light Body
More of a Tropical Fruit taste (grapefruit, pineapple)

Chenin Blanc:
Med Acid
Med Body
More of an Apple and Melon flavor

Chardonnay:
Low Acid
Heavy Body
Apples, Pears, Butter, Oak, Spices

REDS:
Pinot Noir:
High Acid
Light Body
Tannis (the stuff that makes your mouth feel like cotton) Low
Cherry and Spices

Syrah: (I find this to be one of the better wines for those just getting into wines, has everything a wine typically has but with a softer feel to it)
Med Acid
Med Body
Tannis Med
Blackberry and other berries

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon: (unless your boss really likes wines I would stay away from these two)
Low Acid
HEAVY Body
Tannis Very High
Plums, Mushrooms, Black Currant

I personal like more of the German Wines and Portugal wines (they are a bit harder to find but most wine stores will carry a few)
Gewurztraminer is a great white wine. It’s the most northern grown wine and has a real soft body with light acid and also has a tingle on your tongue like champagne.

If you can get a hold of a Cava buy it! Cavas are actually Champagnes but since they are grown outside of France they can not be called Champagnes (that’s why most American wines that label their wines as Champagnes have a little disclaimer on the bottom of the label saying it’s a sparkling wine). But with a Cava you are going to pay 5 times less for a product that’s just as good as Crystal Champagne.
 
Kale's post is excellent. Keep in mind that your host is not obliged to open the bottle for your visit, so do not be offended if he does not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top