Let me tell you, I have had my share of stiff drinks, especially during my college years. Any rum drinks are always at the top of my list. Then there is vodka, tequila, and finally… gin. In that order. White liquor me please. I can NOT tolerate and will not drink dark liquors, and I had to learn the very hard way back in college (which I am sure quite a few of you are familiar).
It wasn’t until I met my husband that I even made a conscious effort to think about drinking wine. I guess you can say that I am, kind of, a creature of habit, and I am comfortable with what I know and am familiar with. Wine just wasn’t one of those drinks that I gravitated to. But, with age comes change. It took a while to educate my wine palate. Many wine tastings and visits to some vineyards have helped with that development. But now… honey… I can truly say that it is my alcoholic beverage of choice.
I am going to share with you a list my favorite types of wine from most favorite to least favorite. A lot of my favorite wines are actually very reasonably priced. It is just my humble opinion, but you get what you pay for when it comes to good quality wine. There have been one or two pleasant surprises here and there, but just keep that in mind when you are shopping for quality wine.
Whites
La Crema Chardonnay & Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay tie for the top position for medium bodied, smooth and buttery, not too dry white wines. It is the hints of citrus, spice, vanilla, butterscotch, and cinnamon that do it for me. This is not a sweet wine for those of you who gravitate towards the sweeter wines.
La Crema Chardonnay & Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay tie for the top position for medium bodied, smooth and buttery, not too dry white wines. Aromas of nectarine, stone fruit, white peach and oak spice are accented with hints of vanilla, toasted nuts and a touch of butterscotch and light caramel with a subtle cinnamon spice notes.
Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay comes in at number 3 with its bold, crisp fruitiness. Tropical pineapple, mango, papaya, vanilla, and nutmeg hints make this a very juicy and silky wine. This is also not a sweet wine.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is my 4th favorite wine. It has a clean intense aroma with apples, orange, lemon and pineapple notes, making this a pleasant, fresh, and easy to drink wine. This is a dryer wine.
Clos du Bois Chardonnay is perhaps the main staple in our wine fridge right now. It has bright, vivid flavors of ripe pear, green apple, vanilla and caramel. It also is a full bodied wine with sultry texture and long lasting taste. This is my everyday wine of choice as it satisfies my wine palate and it is very affordable.
Relax Riesling comes in at number 6, being the first slightly dry white wine that I prefer. It is refreshing and crisp with flavors of apples and peaches with some citrus hints. To me, I has just enough sweetness if I am in the mood for something different than chardonnay or pinot grigio.
Stella Rosa Moscato comes in at number 7, and is the last white wine that I will drink. It is a semi sweet, semi sparkling wine with the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. It has notes of honey, apricot, and peaches.
Reds
J Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon comes in at number 1 for dry red wines. I LOVE the notes of black cherries and currants, elderberry, lilac, hazelnut, and vanilla. The flavor is amazingly smooth, dark and complex. Definitely my wine of choice when I am enjoying a nice juicy steak.
Robert Oatley Shiraz comes in 2nd as a BEAUTIFUL, bold, full bodied dry red wine with flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, plum, and oak. For me, it is the slightly sweet finish.
La Crema Pinot Noir comes in 3rd place as it is a more delicate red wine. It has a light body as most of the other reds have a medium or full body of flavor. It has aromas and flavors of cherry, cocoa, star anise, plum, pomegranate, and baking spices. I love salmon and this wine goes GREAT with this entre. This is my gift of choice for giving during the holiday seasons.
Naufragar comes in 4th place as it is the sweetest red wine that I have ever encountered. I am not really a sweet wine type of guy, but there is just something about this wine that I absolutely love. Maybe it is the aromatic and pleasant notes of raspberries, strawberries, and sweet cherries, with just a tiny hint of sparkling bubbles that just dances around your mouth. I would enjoy this wine with dessert, or as the dessert.
Catena Malbec comes in 5th place and is the last of the red wines that I will drink. It is still a very good wine with and INTENSE aroma and a concentrated flavor with notes of ripe, red and dark fruits, lavender, and hints of vanilla and mocha. This is a wine I would drink when I am enjoying Mexican cuisine
Of course there are many other different types and flavors of wine out there with choices for every occasion and palate, but out of the wines that I have had the pleasure to taste, these are my favorites that I have decided to share with you, just in case you are looking to expand your palate and enjoy the finer things in life. Don’t be afraid to explore and venture outside of your comfort zone, because you just might encounter amazing experiences.
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