Complete Newbie looking for all-around good wines.

[Whiskylover]

[quote='Innkeeper' pid='107041' dateline='1442070531']
For the future, get your ideas from the threads on this board of the wines you like best. Cheers.
[/quote]

The thing is, I can't drink wine (allergic) so I don't know what is good or not, so this is for when I have friends over only. From what I've been reading online, (including on this forum), Pinot Noir, German Riesling, Pinot Grigio seem to be the 3 categories that are the most versatile. However within this category, there are many different bottlers/distillers to try from.

I'll use single malt scotch for example. You have the various types/styles/regions (islays, speysides, highlands, lowlands, islands, etc). Within these "groups" you have different distilleries which provide a wide variety of flavors, notes and accents (despite being within the same category. The only way I developed a taste of what is a good drinking whisky that anyone can appreciate (regardless of their personal preference) is from tasting it myself (as you would do with any alcohol). I have many single malts from all of the regions (despite my personal preference for Speyside/Highlands) because I have tasted all the regions and the various distillers. Now to throw a wrench in the works, a distiller may have the same bottle which taste different depending on the batch (not difference in year (e.g. Aberlour).

So, knowing how complex scotch can be, I would hazard a guess that wines can be the same way. I have a few single malt scotches that are a "generic staple" that will be liked by just about any drinker (with and without food). I'm trying to do the same with a few wines. So, from this, are there a few specific wines (red and white) you would have that you feel anyone and everyone (who CAN drink wine) would like? For example, with scotch, I like to keep a few "staple" whiskys: Balvenie 12 year doublewood and Glenrothes Select Reserve (Speyside), Glenmorangie 12 or Lasanta and Dalmore 12year (Highland). These are specific bottles from the a few distilleries and regions which are appreciated (doesn't have to first pick preference) by pretty much all whisky lovers.

So, since I can't drink wine, the best place to go for "good intel" would be forums where people drink (and appreciate) wine on a regular basis. Independent online articles give a few individual preferences but there is no "discussion" where I have a good idea of what is likely to be the best bottles to buy.

The names I have listed above are just a collection of what I have thusfar been able to gather but if I were to get two of each (red and white), which specific bottles would be recommended?

Thanks