Wine Suggestions - Austin,TX

Chateau Ste. Michelle is probably my favorite for white wines. I prefer Red wine though, but every bottle I have had from Chateau does not disappoint.

I prefer reds vs whites but my husband loves a great Chardonney.

When you are at your grocer or wine shop, talk to the clerk. They should have someone on hand who knows wines and can point you in the right direction.

We have a great place we go to and when they get the rarer wines in that we enjoy, they call us and hold a few bottles. Have a relationship with the wine guy.

Some of our favorites for both Merlot and Chardonney are: Sterling Vineyards, Kendall Jackson and sometimes Blackstone. We love great fine wines and Caymus is a wonderful wine but it is very pricey (but worth it)

Enjoy!

Some of our favorite chardonnays are: Black Opal, Toasted Head, Little Penguin. We like the Australian chardonnays and also those from the Russian River Valley.
If you're budget concious, the "Three Buck Chuck" aka Charles Shaw chardonnay from Trader Joe's is quite good, as is the Kirkland brand from Costco.
My most indulgent favorite is Sonoma Cutrer. Like butter.
Have fun tasting! Maybe go to a local wine shop, wine festival, or even grocery store that's having a wine event so you can try before you buy.

Next time you stop in to a liquor store, ask for some options. Wines from Chili are to die for! Get a suggestion.

Also, try some Pinot Grigio. I used to be a Chardonnay fan - now I've switched. It's lighter and not as wood-tasting.

Enjoy!!

Well I do not particularly like white wines, but I wanted to ask if you have ever went into a nice liquor store, and talked to them about their wines? I have received so much good advice from the people that work there. They usually know their stuff and can recommend wines for any occasion and tell you what they taste like. My husband and I were even in Trader Joes over the holidays buying wine, and the lady that worked in the wine section knew them all and was very helpful. Just ask!!!!

If you like slightly sweet to sweet, stay away from the chardonnay. Particularly the oaked chardonnay.

Easy drinking wines would include more German/Austrian and Alsatian styles. No oak. Maybe riesling, gewurtztraminer, pinot gris/pinot grigio (though those may be too dry and minerally for you). Moscato is another good choice.

Next step would probably be sauvignon blanc and viognier.

Austin should have several stores with knowledgeable wine folks. Go ask for suggestions.

I like Ecco Domani's Pino Grigio. Always struck me as being a sweeter dry variety.

Gewertztraminer is a nice, off dry white wine. I have had different brands and liked them all. Other nice off dry whites are Muscato and Zinfadel. Spumante is a good sweet sparkling wine. The thing with Chardonnay is that some are oaked and some are unoaked, which greatly changes the taste of the wine.

Santa Margherita Pino Grigio
Conundrum (white blend)
Cakebread Chardonnay
Anything Cameron Hughes from Costco is pretty great (these are all high-end wines that are sold off cheap and re-bottled by CH, without the pricey label. We have never been disappointed.)
Fess Parker Vigonier
Pretty much any Alsatian Riesling

German whites are FANTASTIC. Try Schmitt Sohn (think that's how its spelled) Piesproter Michelsburg, Reisling, either Spatlise or Ausleisa. You can get it at HEB or Specs.
You are close to Fredericksburg. Frederickburg Winery has some fantastic whites. Take a trip down there (they only sell it there) and they will let you taste anything.
In fact, if you are interested in tasting a lot of new wines, Fredericksburg has wine weekends throughout the spring. There are TONS of wine shops and vinyards/wineries in the area. They all offer tastings,

My favorite go-to "hanging out" wine is Vino Verde, particularly the one from Trader Joe's because it is only $4.99! Crisp, lightly sweet, bubbly, perfect with an ice cube and even a few pomegranate seeds in the bottom. I always have one on hand! Er...in hand? :)

I am not a huge fan of Chardonnays, but generally like most Pinot Grigios.

I have also found that a lot of straight up table wines - usually blends of different white wines - have been well received when we serve them at parties, like Pancake, Blue Fin, Green Fin and my favorite blend brand, Evolution. Evolution used to be very cheap here but as its popularity rose, so did the price. Now it's over $20/bottle so it's on my special occasion list!

I agree with asking a local wine shop (or even Trader Joe's) for a few favorite selections in a variety of price ranges. I always ask when I am purchasing a gift but am less selective for my own consumption.

Try
- Pinot Grigio
- Dry Riesling (sweet Rieslings are like perfume)

Also keep in mind
- Fume Blanc. Its a really crisp 'high note' dry
- Prosecco (Italian sparkling white... Pinot Gris, usually)

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For reds... Cheap is the BANE of red wine (gag yuck spit it out).. If you like light dry whites... You'll LOVE $30-$50 bottles of Pinot Noir (orogeny is fantastic), and Merlot (stags leap). These wines taste as like their $10 cousins as cherry flavored Robitussin does to Cherry pie.

When talking to the sommelier you ask for a 'complex, subtle, smooth VANILLA red'. (Tannins go 2 ways... sharp or vanilla. Imitation vanilla is made from vanillans in the same oak good wines are barrelled in.) Most cheap reds are 'loud, brash, annoying' with sharp tannins. You'd also probably like chocolatey South African Reds, but DONT start out with them. They're a little "oomphy!"

One exception to this (cheap=ick) rule... Shiraz. You can get cheap ($10) Shiraz that tastes 'spicy' (spices, not heat) with a hint of chocolate. Theyre in between round airy Pinot Noirs & Oomph! South African. I always feel like Im in a bazaar or suk surrounded by spices with Shiraz.

There ARE some great $10 bottles of red... After you get a taste for red. But they're very characteristic / not something to start on.

I would stick with Pinot Gris, Reidlong, Fume Blanc, citrusy Chards... And add in the following

Try the
- Orogeny Pinot Noir ($30) FIRST!!!
- Stags Leap Merlot ($50) ... There's a lilac note when you exhale
- Layer Cake Shiraz ($20... High end for Shiraz, worth it) scrumptious

Sutter Home has very small bottles of wine, holds about 1 glassfull. This a great way to try several different wines without a lot of cost. The price is usually around $1/bottle compared to $7/bottle if you don't like the wine.

I personally love Moscato. The only thing about white vs red wine is the sugar content white wine has a lot more sugar then red. Liberty Creek has a nice sweet red simply called Sweet Red. Give it a try you might really like it.

Try a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio. My ultimate go to...Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio. I also can't stand Chardonnay but have not tried an unoaked.