Try out a couple chardonnays before you give up on whites...and no they do not all taste the same. There's not a white I really like except chardonnay. Yeah Riesling is ok but I loathe Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc.

some good beginning reds include merlot and pinot noir

Like mentioned above, head to a wine store and let them know you are new to this. Tell them what you've liked and disliked. I really like The Wine Merchant over in the same shopping center as Whole Foods.

8/2/2007 10:36:58 PM

Ohh...I'm tone deaf. Maybe I can't taste either
I swear they taste similar...not exactly the same, but similar.

Riesling is kinda nasty with this weird aftertaste. Same yucky aftertaste as scuppernong. No yuckiness in the pinot grigio though.

[Edited on August 2, 2007 at 10:41 PM. Reason : ]

8/2/2007 10:37:21 PM

Here is the video from GV on Conan O'Brien from last night.
http://www.nbc.com/Late_Night_with_Conan_O'Brien/video/index.shtml#mea=138492

What is the "yucky aftertaste" on the Riesling that you dislike? I mean can you compare it to any other thing you've tasted in your life? Is it the high acidity? Is it less about the taste and more the mouthfeel?

It is possible that you had a Riesling that tasted like a Pinot Grigio. A Dry Riesling is not sweet at all. Of course it still is usually a different flavor profile than a PG (though there is a lot of variety in the styles of winemakers for PG). I'm sure that some of the similarity comes from simply the wine being too cold. Refrigerator cold is much colder than wine is meant to be tasted. The lower temp will really mask a lot of the aroma and taste.

Try a New Zealnd style Sauvignon Blanc and a Sancerre (a French style). Try a white burgundy and try a California Chardonnay. Try a Viognier. Some whites will taste like grapefruit and grass, some like rocks and roses, some like oak and apple, some like orange and spice, some like buttered popcorn. There is tremendous variety so don't give up after just a few bottles.

If you like White Zinfandel then try something like a Syrah Rose or a Beaujolais (very light French red wine... don't get a Nouveau though)

Going somewhere like Total Wine, or any wine shop, on a weekend is a really good idea. They will usually have several wines for you to taste... TRY THEM ALL! You won't learn what you like until you try them. Don't pass on a taste of avarietal simply because you didn't like the last one or two you tried.

8/2/2007 10:58:21 PM

I'm just now getting to understand wines through work and it's pretty fun. I've definitely have begun to explore table wine blends now and recommend them to everyone. It's a chance for the wine maker to show you what kind of talent he's really got. For whites Conundrum is the best bottle I've had and for reds i would recommend Meditrina.

Also, goodnights has wine pairing dinners once a month and it's the perfect chance to get compare wines side by side and have some good food without feeling awkward if you dont know much.

8/2/2007 11:58:27 PM

Conundrum is a great pickup. It was created at the Caymus Vineyards (one of the big dogs of Napa cabernet sauvignon). Its gonna run you about $22-$25 though.

Meditrina is a blend I've never had. However, the same winery (Sokol Blosser) makes a great white blend I like called Evolution. Oregon is throwing out some killer wine right now, especially Pinot Noir (the base for the Meditrina). Both of these wines seem to go for about $15-$18.

Considering you are just still just getting your feet wet in wine exploration you certainly are off on the right foot with picks like these!

Oh, and for those wanting to try some wines I recommend going to a wine shop and finding a budget everyday white/red that you could commit to buying 6 of and then rounding out your case with some variety that you would like to try. Then you get the case price for some $15-$20 wines (for $10-14) that you might not try otherwise.

8/3/2007 12:24:23 AM