Wine Drinkers

[Happiness Stan]

We do make some good champagne and in ten years' time we will be making some very good champagne. Far too expensive, of course, but that is HMRC for you.

As to New World/Old World, don't forget that in Chile and to some extent Argentina you can get something you can't get in Europe - wine from pre-phylloxera rootstocks. Keep a lookout for this http://www.cousinomacul.com, for instance.

If you want a rarity, try the top Lebanese grower http://www.chateaumusar.com.lb Their best wines are right up there with Bordeaux Grand Crus

Whats that then?

 

[longers]

Whats that then?

I had to google it and found this which from a couple of reviews told me all I'll ever need to know.

 

[longers]

Actually, the book itself is only just under seven quid at Amazon so I might get round to reading some more about it, if I ever get round to buying the book.

 

[longers]

Anyone drink wine from the UK? I can't stand any wine, just interested, is it any good?

I'm not even close to knowing much about wine but had a bottle of very nice white wine from Hampshire - near Bishops Waltham. Every one who shared it said it was good, so it wasn't just me. I've long forgotten what it actually was.

English sparkling wines are mentioned earlier on in the thread somewhere.

 

[TheDoctor]

I've had a pinot from Denbies (down Dorking way) which wasn't bad. Some of the whites have been OK. You're always pushing your luck to get grapes ripe in the UK - grapes come from around the Med, originally. We're really a bit far North for viticulture.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Where I am now living in Ontario, they produce some excellent Alsace-style wines now as well as the more famous 'icewine'. They can't do a decent red though there are improvements taking place...

 

[dan_bo]

Sangre de Toro for me tonite. Geet cultured I am

 

[Davidc]

We're really a bit far North for viticulture.

During the warm period in the Middle Ages Britain was a serious wine producing area. hence the number of Wine Streets etc.

When I lived in Sussex I drank a few bottles of Sussex and Kentish whites, of excellent quality. A couple of years ago the National Trust were selling a rosé made from grapes grown in the walled garden at Knightshayes Court (near Tiverton in Devon) and it was a superb quality wine. They've produced a white since but the summers haven't been good enough for much.

Don't write off English wines - those from good years are very good, and climate change may well mean they become excellent.

 

[Ashtrayhead]

Learn modern Greek?

There's a wine merchant near my mother's place in London which stocks Greek wines (and other less usual ones). There's no problem there as they know the wines and are very helpful. Expensive though, but you get what you pay for - good quality and top class service.

Can you let me know where it is please?

I like the Samos wines which vary in sweetness and are very nice after-dinner (well, anytime really!) with ice.

Nowadays a few tavernas have their own home-made wines, again the quality varies, some are very drinkable and can be surprisingly pleasant. I'll always try something new!


Not much of a selection of Greek wines, but the rest of the site is worth a browse! (Lots of ciders but that's a whole new thread!)

http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/acatalog/Beers_of_Europe__Greek_Wine_343.html

 

[Davidc]

Can you let me know where it is please?

I know how to get to it from Cheam, but that's not much use!

I'm going up there in a couple of weeks for mother's Day, and if I go over there I'll get the address from them, otherwise I'll remember next time I do go over and PM you.

It's between Hackbridge and Croydon, but that's about all I can do without going there. (Trouble with that area is that I can find my way around from memory of my long lost youth but can't remember the road names!)

 

[Ashtrayhead]

I know how to get to it from Cheam, but that's not much use!

I'm going up there in a couple of weeks for mother's Day, and if I go over there I'll get the address from them, otherwise I'll remember next time I do go over and PM you.

It's between Hackbridge and Croydon, but that's about all I can do without going there. (Trouble with that area is that I can find my way around from memory of my long lost youth but can't remember the road names!)

Thanks! That would be handy. I get over that way for work every now and then.

 

[thegrumpybiker]

Right now I'm drinking a French Merlot from Stowells. Got no idea if it's a "quality" wine or not but it's got a fairly soft palate. It's doing the job very well thank you very much.
Incidentally, my wife bought it for me as a celebratory "re-joining the gainfully employed as of Monday" gift.

 

[chap]

Right you lot.

If you are going to buy some wine this weekend I urge you to do one thing different.

Instead of grabbing the usual from the Australia, New Zealand, Chilie, South Africa and other New World countries, go to the Old World and pick something different. I'm telling you. You'll thank me for it. Been urging people to do this recently and they are converting from the metholated blackcurrant juice to wines with a bit more to them and made by smaller producers who are at risk of going out of business.

So this weekend. It's French, Spanish, Italian, German and Austrian all the way. trust me.

While there are fabulous New world wines, you need to spend upwards of a tenner to get something interesting and different whereas £6/£7 will get you a really nice old world wine.

Busted! How much are the French paying you!
Give up Sarkozy, it went downhill for your lot after the Judgement of Paris!

 

[Apeman]

For something out of the ordinary get hold of some wine from Lebanon--Sainsburys used to stock it --it is superb.

 

[ASC1951]

Whats that then?

Phylloxera was a disease that wiped out most of the major vineyards in Europe, particularly France and Spain, in the 19th century. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylloxera