Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet?

[Jeannebelle]

Hi everyone, I need your help. I am somewhat new to the world of wine. I have always enjoyed various wines when socializing or dining out. Usually, I would choose my wine by asking my date, waiter, or going with something that I am familiar with like White Zinfandel. However, I don't know where to start to differentiate one wine from another. Please, can someone tell me the plus and minus of Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet? How are they similar and different? Which one would be more of my liking for someone who is intriguing, exciting, sophisticated, and playful? I am also a spontaneous combination person, I like a little bit of everything, and I don't mind exploring.

[Georgie]

Hello Jeannebelle and welcome to the board. For starters, Chardonnay is a white wine and the other two are reds. I recommend you purchase a good basic book on wine. The two that are often mentioned on this board are Great Wines Made Simple by Andrea Immer, and Wine for Dummies. I have both of those and find them to be valuable references. You can also print out the wineguruchgo's sizeable post under Help I'm Wine Blind in the novice thread. It describes just about every grape that's grown! Keep reading the questions, answers and tasting notes on this board and you will get a basic understanding of different wines.

[This message has been edited by Georgie (edited 02-24-2005).]

[wineguruchgo]

Hello Jeannebelle,

Welcome to the wine board!

If you are a fan of sweeter wines I would buy a bottle or two of German Riesling or Gewurtztraminer. Both of these wines (from Germany, that's important) should be to your liking.

Feel free to come back with any questions.

[cheapwine]

especially for the novice.

try wines from around the world without breaking the bank.

All wines are $1.99 per bottle - standard size.

www.lostvineyards.com

Argentina, Portugal and Spain!

Enjoy.

[winoweenie]

Cheapwine your post looks suspicially like a plug. ALL advertising must be put into the proper thread. We're one of the few boards that even has this so please keep the parameters. WW

[cheapwine]

WW:

sorry about that. I am new to this board.
I was admittedly promoting these wines. I thought your members in the "for the novice" section would enjoy hearing about these wines. These wines are the imported answer to "two buck chuck." Thanks for the "heads up" and enjoy.

[winoweenie]

2-Buck-Chucks are our national treasures and need no more promoting. WW