Red Wine for Beginner

[ucla695]

Hey David. For starters, there’s one at the Wine House (store) in West LA. I’m sure you’ve been, but if you haven’t, it’s definitely worth checking out. They have a great selection of wine and have an automated tasting room. The only thing you need to do is go to the order desk in back, buy a card and then you’re set. My wife and I tried it for the first time this summer when we were trying to figure out what Rose’s to buy. They also have a nice place to eat called Upstairs 2 http://upstairs2.com/home/

There’s also a wine bar w/ light appetizers (if you can call it that) in downtown Culver City called Vinum. Here’s a write-up:

http://triplecreme.blogspot.com/2006...in-culver.html

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by ucla695

Hey David. For starters, there’s one at the Wine House (store) in West LA. I’m sure you’ve been, but if you haven’t, it’s definitely worth checking out. They have a great selection of wine and have an automated tasting room. The only thing you need to do is go to the order desk in back, buy a card and then you’re set. My wife and I tried it for the first time this summer when we were trying to figure out what Rose’s to buy. They also have a nice place to eat called Upstairs 2 http://upstairs2.com/home/

There’s also a wine bar w/ light appetizers (if you can call it that) in downtown Culver City called Vinum. Here’s a write-up:

http://triplecreme.blogspot.com/2006...in-culver.html

SWEET! Yep, I've been to the Wine House many times and like it a lot but it's been awhile so it sounds like I'm due for another visit. I like the L.A. Wine Co. over off Culver in the Marina on my way home, although a much different & smaller place.

Shh....you said the 'R-word'....it's so underappreciated and made fun of here, for no good reason. The French drink it like water because they know a good thing when they drink it.

A little joke for you: What's the best thing about the Wine House? Yep, 4Play across the street.

Gonna have to check out Vinum.....and oh yeah, 4Play....and oh yeah, Wine House again. Thanks!

[EastBay]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

CA or WA pinot is usually over done and lacks terrior.

WA does not /grow make Pinot last time I checked with the exception of one particular winery that straddles the border with OR (with, I believe, just one WA vineyard supplying the fruit, the rest of the lineup is made from OR fruit).

Just curious, which CA Pinots have you tasted?

Boston doesn't get much quality CA Pinot to begin with and what's really good is made in small lots and almost never reaches other states. There is a whole bunch of serious CA Pinot, but you need to be on a mailing list since they are all very small lots.

As for terroir, you really need to taste a lot to get a sense of it, and trust me, there is "terroir" in CA, it is fairly easy to tell not only specific CA regions, but actual vineyards in many cases. Same as in Burgundy.

And don't get so "high" on Burgundy, last few blind Pinot tastings my group did (a mix of serious wine geeks specialing in Pinot and a number of winemakers) where someone slipped in a Burg, no one was able to tell the wines apart. I am not saying there are no differences between the regions, and surely there are, but the lines gets blurry by the day and in very ripe vintages, such as 2003, you WILL NOT BE ABLE to tell the wines apart. Bet on it.

Look up last year's Parker "Burg vs. CA" tasting at CIA in Napa, almost no one was able to tell which wine came from where. The eventual winner was a Pinot from CA and almost everyone alled it a " Burg", Parker included. Save for a few CA winemakers in the crowd for whom the tasting was easy pickings, at least in id'ing CA Pinots. Consumers, Parker included, were clueless.
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OK, since the originator is from NorCal...

One should look at Bogle, very affordable, very available and very approachable wines that are varietally correct (key point to MY palate).

There is a growing number of wine bars in Bay Area, my friend just opened one in East Bay (Danville), where you can taste a good number of wines via small pours, in flights or at random. The side benefit to that is you can discuss each and every wine as you taste it, guys pouring at the bar know the wines well and can help in educating your plate and your wine knowledge (that's how I learned years ago). There is only way to learn what YOU like, do not feel that you have to like something that others do, wine is either appealing to your palate and senses or it is not. Some wine bars are also attached to a wine shop (the one in Danville is) and everything you taste can then be bought at the shop. I know of a few bars like that in SF as well, seek them out and enjoy! One is Nectar Lounge in Marina, there are a couple more in SoMa.

Also, come December, IIRC, there is a Russian River Wine Road event, where you buy a glass, are given a map and can go taste at a good number of wineries over 2 days, bottled wines and some barrel samples as well. Very educational and very cheap all things considered.

In April and then in August, there are 2 great tasting in SF, one for Rhone varietals and another where every small, family owned winery is pouring their wines. Figure on 150 for the first and 300 wineries for the second, with each winery pouring various bottles, you can pick and choose and and actually talk with winemakers and growers, this is the best way to learn and get to know wineries and winemaking styles.

[Deucer]

Originally Posted by Demented

My 2 cents...
If you want to learn about red wine, drink red wine.

Best advice yet. This thread is making me thirsty.

[ucla695]

Originally Posted by mrreindeer

SWEET! Yep, I've been to the Wine House many times and like it a lot but it's been awhile so it sounds like I'm due for another visit. I like the L.A. Wine Co. over off Culver in the Marina on my way home, although a much different & smaller place.

Shh....you said the 'R-word'....it's so underappreciated and made fun of here, for no good reason. The French drink it like water because they know a good thing when they drink it.

A little joke for you: What's the best thing about the Wine House? Yep, 4Play across the street.

Gonna have to check out Vinum.....and oh yeah, 4Play....and oh yeah, Wine House again. Thanks!

L.A. Wine Co is a great place too!


Shhh. Don't tell anyone.

Can you imagine what type of night that would lead to? Stop by Wine House (store) pick up some nice wine, head upstairs for dinner and then wander across the street.

[Dgar]

Originally Posted by cherrybomb

Pinot Noir is an easy wine to get into. I also second the beujolais style which consist of the gamay grape. If you eber have any questions pm me

This guy knows his Vino......

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by ucla695

L.A. Wine Co is a great place too!


Shhh. Don't tell anyone.

Can you imagine what type of night that would lead to? Stop by Wine House (store) pick up some nice wine, head upstairs for dinner and then wander across the street.

Oh, I can, Mike, I can! See you there in 5.