Need Some Wine Suggestions

[tktaylor1]

So for Christmas I want to get my mom some bottles of wine. I know nothing about wine. I was just wanting some suggestions of what to get. I know she likes sweet, fruity wines. I live in middle TN so if there are any wineries that you know of around here that have good wine that would be a good place to start. Otherwise, I guess I am stuck with a wine and spirit store. Any suggestions of some good wines would be greatly appreciated. I really don't know where to begin.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes

 

[tktaylor1]

Thanks for the reply. Would that be in a wine box store or would it be something I would have to buy online?

 

[mobilehaathi]

Thanks for the reply. Would that be in a wine box store or would it be something I would have to buy online?

I can find it at my local store, no idea about yours.

It isn't cheap. But a (different) Sauternes would likely be up your mother's alley.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes

Um, yes. An excellent choice, but hardly a wine that may be found in a bargain bin, or discount section of a store, and perhaps not quite what the Op is looking for.

To the OP: Given the preferences stated in your original post, I'd suggest that you start with white wines, rather than red. Then, perhaps focus on the grape. Here, I'd suggest a wine from Muscat grapes, or a wine with a Traminer (Gewurtztraminer in Alsace) cross, if you want that sweet and fruity mix. A white port will also deliver that (and is not too heavy).

The Tokay wine from Hungary (a wine where quality can differ a lot depending on what category is selected) is another suggestion, as is the 'Icewine' of some of the German regions. Sauternes is also excellent.

 

[chown33]

Go to the wine store and ask them for suggestions. Don't buy anything right away, but take notes on names and prices.

If there's a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's near you, try there.

Since you didn't give a price range, it's difficult to make a specific suggestion.

 

[tktaylor1]

Go to the wine store and ask them for suggestions. Don't buy anything right away, but take notes on names and prices.

If there's a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's near you, try there.

Since you didn't give a price range, it's difficult to make a specific suggestion.

I can spend $150 but I'm not going spend that on one bottle. I would like to get a couple bottles. Around 3 or 4.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Um, yes. An excellent choice, but hardly a wine that may be found in a bargain bin, or discount section of a store, and perhaps not quite what the Op is looking for.

Yes, well I was being only partially serious. With no $$ parameters stated up front, I figured might as well go for broke.

 

[Shrink]

Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes

Good suggestion.

But I was going to suggest a bissel Manischewitz.

Nice and sweet...and fine for stripping furniture, too.

 

[chown33]

I can spend $150 but I'm not going spend that on one bottle. I would like to get a couple bottles. Around 3 or 4.

Then I'd like to offer another suggestion. Buy 3 or 4 bottles of different kinds, in the $8-15 range. Also find out what the by-the-case price is. Then have your mom try each of the bottles and tell you which one she likes best. Then spend the rest of the budgeted amount on a case or half-case.

My mom likes medium-dry to sweet wines, too, but she's kinda picky about exactly what she likes. So this approach is basically what I did last time I bought her some wine: find the one she likes, buy a case of it.

 

[balamw]

If there's a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's near you, try there.

Unless you live in a weird state like Massachusetts where neither of these stores carry wine. (Only two of our Trader Joe's have wine/beer sections). Silly Puritans.

There are plenty of very drinkable wines in the $8-$20 range, so I like your suggestion of buying 3-4 bottles in this range for a taste test.

B

 

[chown33]

I googled Tennessee wineries and easily found these.

Shows a map and a list of wineries.
http://www.tennesseewines.com/wineries.htm

The red numbers on the map correspond to specific wineries listed at the link.

Lists winery names, by county and region (East, Middle, West).
http://www.agriculture.state.tn.us/Marketing.asp?QSTRING=WDI

 

[macmesser]

Unless you live in a weird state like Massachusetts where neither of these stores carry wine. (Only two of our Trader Joe's have wine/beer sections). Silly Puritans.

There are plenty of very drinkable wines in the $8-$20 range, so I like your suggestion of buying 3-4 bottles in this range for a taste test.

B

Agree. I enjoy wines, especially dry red wines, but I'm no expert. I find shopping in that price range offers many interesting bottles and one can experiment without breaking the bank. But be careful on the low end ($8-$12) of the economical range. Often you'll luck out but sometimes the wine is past its prime or even laced with undrinkable levels of aldehydes and ketones, the products of oxidation.

 

[rockyroad55]

Why don't you take your mom to a wine tasting event and then when she finds what she likes, you take note of it and buy it.

 

[balamw]

What do you know. There's at least one tasting coming up in the Nashville area this coming week. http://www.the2ndglass.com/Tasting_Calender

B

 

[thekev]

The Tokay wine from Hungary (a wine where quality can differ a lot depending on what category is selected) is another suggestion, as is the 'Icewine' of some of the German regions. Sauternes is also excellent. [/SIZE][/FONT]

Bleh dessert wine...

Go to the wine store and ask them for suggestions. Don't buy anything right away, but take notes on names and prices.

If there's a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's near you, try there.

Since you didn't give a price range, it's difficult to make a specific suggestion.

Trader Joe's sometimes has one of my favorites. Last time I found it there, it was also cheaper than the link. I think I paid $40 or $45.

 

[wrkactjob]

... would likely be up your mother's alley.

You leave his Mothers alley out of it, this is a thread on wine.