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Alrighty, time to confess...I'm an amateur wine snob. I know, I know, it's not everyone's cup-o-noodles, but I was curious if anyone else here was as well.

If so, what vinyards have you visited? What are your favs? I've only toured Nappa and the Rhein region in Germany, but I know there are a lot more people who have been to a lot more regions than me. Any exciting stories?

First off, I'm a beer guy.

Anyway, I went to Paris in '03 for a Grad school trip and did some wine tasting. Gal in my class was was very much into wine and she gave me a basic crash course while we were waiting to be served.

Here's the part that goes to show you what kind of tastes I have for wine. Every time they'd bring a "lower" grade wine, I'd think it was ok. Then they'd bring out the high-end stuff and I thought it was worse.

The entire event I pretty much had everything bass ackwards.

Have you tried anything from the local Dublin winery http://www.duplinwinery.com/ ? They have a scuppernong that I find pretty tastey and the wine snobs I know say it's pretty good too.

Found 2 local wineries that have tastings

http://www.glenmariewinery.com/tastingroom.html

http://www.benjaminvineyards.com/

I'm not a wine snob but do like to try out different things. Here's a couple local wineries that have tastings:

http://www.glenmariewinery.com/tastingroom.html

http://www.benjaminvineyards.com/

It's definately something you have to build to. I was strictly a beer guy until a few years ago when I took the plunge into wine so I can feel where you're coming from. Now I'm rather partial to wine over beer.

That said, I went through France without once stopping at a vineyard, so I should have my wine lover's card revoked.

I have yet to find an NC wine I liked, not saying they don't exist. Generally too sweet and such. Kinda like many of the German selections, but not quite as refined.

Thanks for the links. I actually didn't know about Benjamin vinyards.

I too have started "dabbling" in wines. There is a wonderful winey in my state. You should visit their website at: http://www.icicleridgewinery.com. The labels on all their bottles have been designed by a local artist, and they are beautiful. They have quite a large selection of wines. If you like ice wines, then may I suggest you trying their Asian Pear Wine. It's the best. I have also visited several wineries in south eastern Washington state. And there are some wonderful wines there too.

If you find yourself in Niagara, then see if you can arrange a tour of some of the ice wineries.

I'd like to pretend I've tried the Royal DeMaria 2000 Chardonnay Ice wine, but at $30,000 a 375ml bottle I don't think you'd believe me.

There are other very good icewines, Inniskillin Wines and Cave Springs for example, that are $30-40 a bottle. Canadian Ice Wine has been recognised as the best in the world. Typically sweet with strong fruit esters depending on the grape - a sipping 'desert in a glass'.

Another excellent wine I had recently was d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz. Dead Arm is a fungal disease that results in a reduced crop of concentrated grapes, it used to be pruned back but some wineries decided to let it run its course. An intense full bodied dark fruit/cedar flavored wine.

A Person wrote:Another excellent wine I had recently was d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz. Dead Arm is a fungal disease that results in a reduced crop of concentrated grapes, it used to be pruned back but some wineries decided to let it run its course. An intense full bodied dark fruit/cedar flavored wine.

Color me interested, can you point me in the direction of an online retailer?

I had it in Sullivan's in Houston. A perfect complement to the aged filet mignon. My last meal on expenses before I left the company

I've not bought wine online but this site lists a few sellers at about $6o a bottle.
http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/Dead+Arm/2000/-/USD/A/-/0

Liv wrote:

wine_lid.jpg

Sanjuro, where is that trio of gingerbread men?!!

When I was a student a friend used to roll a condom over the neck of an open wine bottle. When I asked him why he said it sealed quite well and no one else would want to drink from it. He was right

A Person wrote:When I was a student a friend used to roll a condom over the neck of an open wine bottle. When I asked him why he said it sealed quite well and no one else would want to drink from it. He was right

Come again??!

A fresh one, but even so...



(not my photo but that's what it looked like)

Wait... you have wine left after opening the bottle???? Oooops.

Want one of these:Supermarkets in France now have Wine Vending Machines.

If only Food Lion's were real Delhaizes.....