Comments on: Buying A Bottle Of Wine And Don’t Know What To Get? Some Tips For Selecting A Good, Inexpensive Bottle http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:50:09 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Erin http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/comment-page-1/#comment-727091 Erin Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:34:56 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/#comment-727091 I was told by a "wine guy in the store" that the "dryness" depends directly on the alcohol percentage. The higher the percentage, the dryer the wine. ie - A 17% wine is dryer than a 13% wine. I just found your site and have been going through the archives and have really been enjoying them. I was told by a “wine guy in the store” that the “dryness” depends directly on the alcohol percentage. The higher the percentage, the dryer the wine.

ie – A 17% wine is dryer than a 13% wine.

I just found your site and have been going through the archives and have really been enjoying them.

]]> By: rodgerlvu http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/comment-page-1/#comment-663096 rodgerlvu Fri, 15 May 2009 06:53:01 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/#comment-663096 you are right...There’s no easy way to judge the dryness of a wine without trying it. The ones I recommended were in the middle on that scale. you are right…There’s no easy way to judge the dryness of a wine without trying it. The ones I recommended were in the middle on that scale.

]]> By: Adda http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/comment-page-1/#comment-1607 Adda Fri, 22 Dec 2006 00:48:00 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/#comment-1607 You say: "If you’ve decided on a red wine, pick a Merlot or a Pinot Noir, or a Riesling if you’re looking for a dessert wine." Rieslings are white, and as there are many different grades of riesling that indicate the level of sweetness, it is best to know the differentiations since not all are appropriate for dessert. Also, the cheapest rieslings can be all but undrinkable. Instead, for desserts, try a Moscato D'Asti.. they are sweet and fruity, lightly sparkling, and lower in alcohol than champagne. If you can't find a Moscato D'Asti, try a Asti like Tosti or Ballantine. They make good mimosas (mixed with a touch of orange juice) as well, and are quite inexpensive (under $8, last time I checked). I would also like to point out that many respectable wineries have begun selling by the box- Rosemount in Australia, for example- and this is an excellent way to save a bit of money if you would like to have one glass every now and then, as the wine is not exposed to air and therefore will keep indefinitely. Also, it cuts down on waste, as there are no bottles to recycle. In France it is quite standard to buy wine by bulk this way, and to decant a bit at dinner time. Finally, if you are looking for good drinkable red wines, try a Chilean or Argentinian. They are priced a bit lower but are really starting to come into their own. You say:
“If you’ve decided on a red wine, pick a Merlot or a Pinot Noir, or a Riesling if you’re looking for a dessert wine.”

Rieslings are white, and as there are many different grades of riesling that indicate the level of sweetness, it is best to know the differentiations since not all are appropriate for dessert. Also, the cheapest rieslings can be all but undrinkable. Instead, for desserts, try a Moscato D’Asti.. they are sweet and fruity, lightly sparkling, and lower in alcohol than champagne. If you can’t find a Moscato D’Asti, try a Asti like Tosti or Ballantine. They make good mimosas (mixed with a touch of orange juice) as well, and are quite inexpensive (under $8, last time I checked).

I would also like to point out that many respectable wineries have begun selling by the box- Rosemount in Australia, for example- and this is an excellent way to save a bit of money if you would like to have one glass every now and then, as the wine is not exposed to air and therefore will keep indefinitely. Also, it cuts down on waste, as there are no bottles to recycle. In France it is quite standard to buy wine by bulk this way, and to decant a bit at dinner time.

Finally, if you are looking for good drinkable red wines, try a Chilean or Argentinian. They are priced a bit lower but are really starting to come into their own.

]]> By: Rich http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/comment-page-1/#comment-1599 Rich Thu, 21 Dec 2006 22:58:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/#comment-1599 I'm a bit of a DIY'er, so I like to make my own wine. It's a LOT easier than it sounds and once you're past the initial equipment cost, you really start to save money. My initial costs were in the $80 to $100 range. If you really want to learn about wines, find a wine tasting and ask a ton of questions. If you don't buy wine now, find a place that sells wine and ask for the name of a local wine sales representative. See if they'll provide a wine tasting for you and a group of friends. Sales reps love to show their products to interested groups because they know it will lead to more sales. As always, the Web is a great resource....as The Simple Dollar consistently shows. I’m a bit of a DIY’er, so I like to make my own wine. It’s a LOT easier than it sounds and once you’re past the initial equipment cost, you really start to save money. My initial costs were in the $80 to $100 range.

If you really want to learn about wines, find a wine tasting and ask a ton of questions.

If you don’t buy wine now, find a place that sells wine and ask for the name of a local wine sales representative. See if they’ll provide a wine tasting for you and a group of friends. Sales reps love to show their products to interested groups because they know it will lead to more sales.

As always, the Web is a great resource….as The Simple Dollar consistently shows.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/comment-page-1/#comment-1585 Jeremy Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:50:46 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/#comment-1585 Mmmm, wine. Unfortunately this is an expenditure in our budget that always gets blown out of proportion. We love wine and drink it regularly (Hey, they said it is good for us in the news!) I'm a Cabernet Sauvignon guy myself. I'm not much of a wine snob like I am when it comes to fine whiskey, so generally speaking if the bottle doesn't have a screw on cap it is safe for consumption ;) I generally do my wine shopping by the biggest sale that week at the store. Around here a few supermarkets have a tremendous wine selection and there are always some great sales. Sometimes you can get $5 or more off per bottle. Then it is easy to pick up a 10-15 dollar bottle for under $10. Mmmm, wine. Unfortunately this is an expenditure in our budget that always gets blown out of proportion. We love wine and drink it regularly (Hey, they said it is good for us in the news!)

I’m a Cabernet Sauvignon guy myself. I’m not much of a wine snob like I am when it comes to fine whiskey, so generally speaking if the bottle doesn’t have a screw on cap it is safe for consumption ;)

I generally do my wine shopping by the biggest sale that week at the store. Around here a few supermarkets have a tremendous wine selection and there are always some great sales. Sometimes you can get $5 or more off per bottle. Then it is easy to pick up a 10-15 dollar bottle for under $10.

]]> By: Trent http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/comment-page-1/#comment-1584 Trent Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:43:23 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/#comment-1584 There's no easy way to judge the dryness of a wine without trying it. The ones I recommended were in the middle on that scale. There’s no easy way to judge the dryness of a wine without trying it. The ones I recommended were in the middle on that scale.

]]> By: D http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/comment-page-1/#comment-1582 D Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:34:26 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/21/buying-a-bottle-of-wine-and-dont-know-what-to-get-some-tips-for-selecting-a-good-inexpensive-bottle/#comment-1582 How about helping with the scale of Fruity to Dry? I never know where a wine is at and have often wished that all wines came with a little line graph displayed. F------FD------D What I have discovered, which surprised the heck out of me - I didn't even like wine, when I found an out of the way wine shop is that I prefer wine right near the middle or a block towards Dry. This particular shop, is owner run and he filled me with samples, helping me to see that there is a wine I would enjoy. The problem is, when we go out to eat or just out, I can not enjoy a glass of wine, because of an inner fear that it will be too dry. I don't want to pucker. So, can you help with this? How about helping with the scale of Fruity to Dry? I never know where a wine is at and have often wished that all wines came with a little line graph displayed.

F——FD——D

What I have discovered, which surprised the heck out of me – I didn’t even like wine, when I found an out of the way wine shop is that I prefer wine right near the middle or a block towards Dry. This particular shop, is owner run and he filled me with samples, helping me to see that there is a wine I would enjoy.

The problem is, when we go out to eat or just out, I can not enjoy a glass of wine, because of an inner fear that it will be too dry. I don’t want to pucker.

So, can you help with this?

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