has anyone tryed these wines

[misterjive]

I, too was struck by the high prices. It is funny that Veramonte appears on this list, given the attention it has received on this bulletin board recently (see "Merlot" and "Wines without a Category" folders). Again, I am thankful that where I buy it (Sarasota, FL), it is $9.99 at the grocery store and $18 at the restaurant at which I work....As for this massive list, I think your best bet is to get a good, comprehensive wine book to serve as an introduction (or Wine for Dummies if you can't find anything with more character and style), and then start trying different varieties. For example, if you taste a couple of Chiantis, a couple of Amarones, and a couple of Soaves in the next few weeks, you will learn personally useful knowledge about Italian wines, knowledge that serves you better than being told by people here what they thought of the Chianti, Amarone, and Soave producers that you mention. Likewise, your list has a concentration of Bordeaux at the upper end of its price scale, and your best bet is not to buy these bottles for three or four hundred dollars apiece, but simply try a couple of bottles of $25 Bordeaux, to get a feel for the grapes involved (as well as for the style of the wine-making region).
One final note---your learning curve is steep at the start of an employment like this, and take full advantage of this fact. Wine reps are invaluable when it comes to teaching restaurant employees about specific selections. Even if you only get to try two or three wines per week at an employee tasting sponsored by your new employer, take full advantage of these opportunities to ask your wine rep about any and all wines under the sun. As many contributors to this board could probably tell you, restaurant owners and wine salespeople almost always want you to learn more about the wines they offer, and and as such, must be your primary resource in this fact-finding endeavor.