American wine assistance

[sfsis]

Help! My sister is taking a 2-year post in Africa and needs to stock up on all the American wine she will need for entertaining while she's there. Any suggestions/recommendations/hints/tips on what she should bring to represent American winemaking?

[Innkeeper]

Hi Sfsis, and welcome to the Wine Board. Before we do anything, she needs to check on what and how much she will be allowed to bring there. Then some narrower parameters would be appreciated.

[sfsis]

There is no limitation on how much or what to bring. My budget is somewhat limited ($400-$500) because I am also stocking her bar. But whatever you can suggest would be appreciated because the whole family will be buying a little of this & that. I don't know if this important, but whatever she does get is going there by ship. And once it gets there, she does have ample dark, cool storage, as well as two refrigerators & two freezers. Does that clear it up at all? I do appreciate your help.

[Innkeeper]

I was referring to laws of the country she is going to regarding the importation of alcoholic beverages. The last time I was in Africa, sixteen years ago, we had to smuggle in two cases of Bud for the Marines in the embassay. Most African nations, including Black African ones, are Moslem, and usually don't cotton to immigrants bringing hundreds of dollars worth of wine with them; even for their own use.

[sfsis]

Oh! The country she is going to has no laws to that effect.

[Innkeeper]

You will probably get a wide variety of recommendations, mostly revolving around California Cabernet and Chardonnay. To my mind, such as it is, two very representational examples of the state of American wine are: 2000 Glenora, Finger Lakes, Dry Riesling ($9.00), available at www.is-wine.com; and 1997 Robert Talbott, Logan, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Pinot Noir ($19.00), available from www.tastemonterey.com. A case of each, one is white and the other red, would be my recommendation for starters.



[This message has been edited by Innkeeper (edited 08-01-2001).]

[sfsis]

Thank you!!