Pick wines for me!

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

Somehow I knew this would be the perfect place to get wine advice.

We're invited to a graduation barbecue this month and I offered to bring a few bottles of wine.

I know nothing about wine.

Recently I was out to dinner with a friend and she recommended a wine which tasted a bit like champagne (was also sparkling), so once I find out the name of that, I'll bring a bottle of that.

But I'd like really specific recommendations on what wines to bring. (And by specific, I mean brand name and everything.) Also, how many bottles do you think would be appropriate to bring? (The barbecue is for about 15 or so kids and their parents. I want to show up with enough for it to be considered an appropriate gift, but not so much that the host will think I didn't think there would be beverages already there!)

Thank you for any and all advice!

Sharon

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

What do you want to spend? In the $11 range Boggle Merlot or Cab is Great.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

I would bring 2 bottles of wine - 1 each of red and white. I can't recommend anything because I only drink cheap stuff.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

How much would you like to spend per bottle? If you offered to bring "a few" bottles, I would suggest three.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

How much would you like to spend per bottle? If you offered to bring "a few" bottles, I would suggest three.

That's what it sounds like to me, as well. Assuming the crowd is just an ordinary crowd, I would bring that sparkly type that you mentioned, another white, and a red.

I don't know what's available in stores in your area. But for your two others (in addition to the sparkly one you want to seek out), I would go with a Yellowtail chardonnay or pinot grigio (whites) and a Yellowtail cabernet, shiraz (syrah), or merlot. Those should be readily available, not very expensive, and satisfactory for most wine drinkers. Or similar selections under the Robert Mondavi label should also be fine.

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

Thanks all. Glitter...I don't know. Again, what would be appropriate? You know where I live....

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

How about a blush also. I like White Zinfadel (which is a blush).

Nancy

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

How about a blush also. I like White Zinfadel (which is a blush).

Nancy

Yeah - that would be a good alternate for the "sparkly" one that 3k4m mentioned in the OP.

• a white zin
• a chardonnay/grigio/riesling/sauvignon blanc
• chardonnay/shriaz/merlot/cabernet

Another thought on brand. If "Menage a Trois" is available in your area, those would be good choices for the red and white. Those are blends of three wines, so they are usually marketed as Menage a Trois white and red, with out naming a specific varietal. Out here those run about $10 - $12 per bottle.

[mdurette Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mdurette]

Another thought on brand. If "Menage a Trois" is available in your area, those would be good choices for the red and white. Those are blends of three wines, so they are usually marketed as Menage a Trois white and red, with out naming a specific varietal. Out here those run about $10 - $12 per bottle.[/QUOTE]



I'm just sitting here drinking my first glass of Menage a Trois - the white. A friend has been raving about it for a the few weeks - she brought me a bottle last night. Very good!!

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

I love how my post got moved to the special "wine" forum. I didn't even know we had one...lol...!!

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Thanks all. Glitter...I don't know. Again, what would be appropriate? You know where I live....

Yes, indeed. I do find that even in posh crowds, a nice Cava (inexpensive even at the high end) is appreciated. People either don't know it's inexpensive, or are impressed since it's not yet "mainstream" here so carries a sense of "European in the know" to those who are familiar with it Though perhaps I am deluded Another excellent option is this Schramsberg - the link is for the Blanc de Noirs, which is cool b/c it is made from a white grape with a dark skin - an excellent bubbly for the price of $29.99 retail (and purportedly the sparkling served at the White House, though I believe the WH serves the Blanc de Blancs)....

Columbus Wines and Spirits Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs

I recently had an excellent rose (not sweet, not like old school rose, there is a new breed so to speak, and I have been converted) that was a great value - it would be great for a summer bbq. Here it is (it was $8 a glass at the restaurant, big bargain for NYC, and it drank like a much spendier wine), I'm guessing that if you manage to find it, it should cost b/t $10 and $13 a bottle:

Domaine de Montfaucon, Les Gardettes, Cinsault/Counoise/Grenache, 2009, Montfaucon, Côtes du Rhône, France

If you can't find it, a similarly blended rose should do well.

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

Glitter...thank you so much for the very specific recommendations. I needed that!

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Glitter...thank you so much for the very specific recommendations. I needed that!

Hey - I gave you very specific recommendations too!!!

[LisaH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LisaH]

Love Menage a Trois red...have no tried the white one yet. Not sure if you have Costco in your area. They have Menage a Trois and all kinds of other wines at very reasonable cost.

[Barbeque Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Barbeque]

I like wine here are my ideas for a medium budget
For White
Clos du Bois Chardonnay or Cupcake Chardonnay (Very good at Costco $ 7.99 tastes like it cost more.
Contadina Pinot Grigio (At Trader Joes Kind of sparkling Great Flavor my wife likes it $$ 4.99 per bottle)

Red
Ruffino Chianti (From Italy at Trrader Joes and even Vons Grocery about $ 8.00 per bottle) My favorite wine.

Clos Du Bois cabernet Saviginon also very good and so is there Chardonnay
If you have a Trader Joes nearby ask the wine person there for ideas.

Higher Budget
Santa Martguerita Pinot Grigio or Chianti About $ 20 per botttle