I've been making wine from kits. You buy the juice and other ingredients and ferment it and bottle it yourself. I've made a Metlot and Zinfandel / Shiraz blend. It takes about two months to make a two case batch. These wines are freaking awesome http://www.winexpert.com/products/world-vineyard-collection It's not a difficult process.
First of all knowing and identifying good wine is somewhat complicated. Average wine is fairly easy.Most major California big wineries produce very nice average wine.That is where the easy part ends.From average to good to very good takes years of trial & error and firsthand knowledge of certain wineries and vertian style wines.I know styles or varietal of wines. I'm stiil rather ignorant on good Italian Wines.It took long enough to nail average French wine then good French wine.That was after nailing good California wines.Because good French wines were not available in the U.S. when I got into wines back in the early 80's.Average name brand French wines were. Like the very affordable and fresh French wine { Beaujolais } which was meant to be drunk young { no need to cellar } or some of the more fancier Premieur Cru Beaujolais like a Morgon,Brouilly,Moulin-a-Vent.I like a Fleurie. I like even more in the same price range a Cotes Du Rhone. But I have developed a taste for the more { much more } expensive Chateauneuf-Du-Pape due to it's suble but pronounced Terroir origins of climate and soil and how that marriage works to enhance flavor and a distinct feel in the mouth.One that is both velvety yet pronounced. I never fall prey to wines that sound importantly historic as if they can cast off gypsy curses with one glass and turn one into Valentino.I leave that to novices.Who swear by a nearby neighbor who drinks nothing but Albanian or Hungarian red wines. " Good Wine is a Necessity of Life for Me " -- Thomas Jefferson
Oh yes nice bottles! but all chateauneuf bottles are engraved (only chateau Raya are real chateauneuf without engraved bottle) I am not sure but since 1937...with a symbol of pope. There is more than 200 producers of chateauneuf du pape and I like this one : The "fiole du pape" a mix of the wine of the year and olders (always the same tast). An other good "côtes du rhône" is the " Gigondas". This is an actual list of producers : http://www.chateauneuf.com/domaines-vignerons-cave-boutique-vins-rouge-vignes-cepages-degustation
yea, emmanuel reynaud does things his own way at chateau rayas most domaines in chateauneuf du pape blend grenache with syrah, mourvedre, bourboulenc, cinsaut, clairette blanche, clairette rose, counoise, grenache blanc, grenache gris, muscardin, picardan, piquepoul blanc, piquepoul gris, piquepoul noir, roussanne, terret noir or vaccarèse, to make their wine in most vintages, reynaud makes his wine with 100% grenache from from some of the oldest vines in the southern rhône valley
It is a favorite of the French for it's " terroir " or characteristic related to the region and the soil,climate and plantings. Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the first established appellation. It is more or less an acquired taste.It takes years to develop a nose and taste buds for such a " terroir " wine offering. 2 decades ago one would be hard pressed to find other than maybe 2 or 3 different Chateaneuf Houses offering their wines,stateside.
any of the reds, I think they put more sulphites in white wine, as soon as I get to my second glass I have a monster headache.... no such problem with a red.
As long as it is dark cherries, fruity and soft it is good to go. Don't like it if it's too "harsh" or too sweet.
I think I'm allergic to red wine. Every time I drink it, even a few sips, I get a rash. It's not itchy. It feels like I have a sunburn. I'm going to have to drink some white wine and see if I get a rash from that too.
I don't really care for it that much, TBH, but I did have a little on Christmas and the next day I was all rashy.
Such a Nationalist, aren't you? No, I haven't tried anything non-European, but I have heard Australian and South African wine is supposed be almost in the same class as the Latin ones. Obviously I cannot afford "real wines" and stick to the ones that cost maximum ~100 crowns (~10 euro). But I will give it a try one day. Any sommelier would kill me for this.