My journey continues

[bskough]

Good day wineboard. I'm looking forward to the day I feel confident enough to post somewhere other than the novice board. It will be a while yet.

I would like to thank the many posters who have commented on my other posts and given me suggestions of things to try.

Some of your suggestions that I have tried are:

Primotivo: I've had a couple and I enjoyed them all. They didn't blow me away, but that could be for various reasons.

Ripasso: I had a hard time finding a ripasso, but I was sure glad I did. I really enjoyed the one I had.

Pinotage: Lord have mercy on my soul! I found one after much searching and I wish I hadn't. I won't say anything else.

I'm still working on trying some of the other suggestions: Bandol, Bierzo, Jumilla, and Chateauneuf du pape, etc.

This leads me to a new question I hope some of you can help me with. As I've talked to some folks and read some things on the wineboard I have become confused about European wines. I know some of the suggestions I posted in the above paragraph are not varietals, but regions. I have searched for certain wines, particularly Italian wines I am searching for, and I get very confused by the labels. I don't know what is the varietal and what is the region or if maybe one or the other isn't included on the label.

For instance I was searching for an amarone at Trader Joe's the other day. The person working there wasn't much of a help. After much time reading the label I was pretty sure, and later confirmed, that the wine was an amarone and that Valipocella (sp?) was indeed the region it came from and not the varietal.

Is there a way to figure this out simply or am I in for a world of confusion forever? I don't see this in any of the American or South American wines I buy. Heck I don't see this in any wines I buy except those from Europe. If anyone can help me with any of this I would really appreciate it.

Thanks again gentlemen and any ladies who are a part of the board. I appreciate all of you sharing your expertise with me.