Voting for Wine

[VinSpin]

As a novice wine person I always feel intimidated about sharing my thoughts about wine. All I know is I like merlot and chardonnay. I get so much junk for saying that to my more educated friends. I guess I just like to stick with things that do me right every time. I was at WineConsumer.Com yesterday and found out a lot of people like merlot and chardonnay. I think it's the snobs who make fun of me.

[hotwine]

Welcome to the board, VinSpin. We won't make fun of you here, although we may recommend a few options beyond Merlot and Chardonnay. All we can promise is fun, in exploring the wonderful world of wine.

[winoweenie]

Hi Vinspin and let me add my welcome along with Hotsie. Drink what YOU enjoy! Any time these snobs comment on your choice simply say " I ENJOY BOTH OF THEM ". If down the line you find other varietals that are pleasing, so be it. In the meantime keep them Merlots and Chard corks poppin'WW

[stevebody]

The only thing I want to add here is that it's good that you know that your wine-drinking experience is limited. You sound like the sort of person who really likes wine and will broaden out. I hope so. Like most people, I started with Chard and Merlot and dropped both of them very quickly (and sorta permanently) after tasting some other wines, especially whites. I have a lot of customers who habitually drink NOTHING but those two and refuse to ever think of tasting Cabs or Zins or Viognier or even bubblies. My hope for every wine lover is that they taste as many different wines as possible because the range of flavors is so vast. That said, NEVER take any guff from anybody about liking what you like. Drink whatever you want. People who criticise this are wine posers who are more interested in flaunting their own knowledge or just rude jerks. Drinking ANY wine is better than drinking no wine.

[VinSpin]

Thanks everybody for your very sensible advice. I wish I knew more people like you out here in Napa. Tough place to have wine friends. I've slowly become more appreciative of Solano County. Suisun Valley has a lot to offer. Cheers Everyone!!!

[Thomas]

I always like to recommend to people that they try wines wiht food. Find a few good restaurants where the staff knows the wines that go with the food. That way, you will find wines that you thought you didn't like, but do like when they are placed in their proper setting.

By all means, drink what you like, but don't rule things out without exploring as many avenues as you can.