x: I am being specifically addressed - should I not answer?

Asking for specific brands only shows your lack of wine knowledge.

Tell me have you ever contributed anything of merit to this board,,or are you a perpetual complainer?

When have you ever shared your "travel experiences" on this board?

I also tend to enjoy American and Australian wines as I find them a better buy usually.

Dick or anybody:
We do not know wines so we usually just order house red with meat or house white with sea food. How would you recommend we become more knowledgeable about wine? Any elementary books to read?

cd: yes...Wine for Dummies...I'm SURE there's one of those.

There is a wine for dummys. Another good book is Windows on the World complete Wine Course.

Normally around $70-$75 per bottle. The most spent at a restaurant for a bottle of wine is probably $200.

Thanks rj and x

My husband does not enjoy wine. Unfortunately I am allergic to grapes. About one glass is all I can tolerate. Therefore I usually opt for the stuff available by the glass.

S: If you are allergic - why drink even one glass?

That doesn't make a lot of sense if you are truely allergic to grapes.

I don't know what the fermentation process does, but somehow it changes the grape juice enough that I can enjoy one, sometimes 2 glasses of wine. Now compare that with the grape juice used for Communion, I can't even tolerate a small amount without the inside of my mouth, throat and ears itching like crazy.

Another good book once you get a feel for wine is The Connoisseurs Handbook of the Wines if California and the Pacific Northwest by Norman Roby and Charles Olken.

Allergic to Communion wine?

Sounds demonic to me.

How are you with holy water?

Dear S
Sorry, I just gotta ask....if you cannot tolerate grape juice during communion, will your church offer you wine? Please see the humor here. In our church we have wine for communion, but offer grape juice to those with a alcohol problem...(I hope your smiling)

cd,

My reccomendation, assuming you live in a major city, would be to find a wine shop that does free tastings.

Many do, especailly during the end of the week. That way you can taste different varieties at different price points without comminting to restaurant prices.

I've seen a basic wine such as Kendall Jackson Chardonay( which is available at retail for 9-10 bottle sell in a restaurant for $42 !!

It's much cheaper to test your palate in a good wine shop. Try before you buy at much lower prces than in a restaurant.

Dick

Can you recommend a handful of modestly priced good wines?

Funny, I was just going to suggest that people post their favorite moderately priced wines when dining out! I prefer whites and like Chalk Hill and Toasted Head Chardonneys.

I know it's lame but I have to ask my husband the name of my other favorites since he does all the wine buying. He just discovered a great, inexpensive Merlot but damn if I can remember the name. I'll repost tomorrow with some of his favorite reds. I just like to drink them.

Liberty School
Parducci
Pedroncelli
Clos du Bois
Hess
Deloach
Murphy-Goode
Stonestreet
Flora Springs
Dry Creek

For a start

wino: excellent start.
Your turn, Dicky-doo.