Any recommendations for a wine newbie?

[DanTheFlyingMan]

I have just recently turned 18 and am wanting to get into the wine world, however I don't have a clue where to start. Could I get some recommendations for some bottles that will give me an idea about different types of wine (pinot noir, chardonnay, shiraz, etc., I have no clue what makes them different)? I would prefer to abstain from spending too much, as I am sure I wouldn't yet be able to appreciate the finer wines and at this point am just trying to general idea of things. I am looking for both red and white wines.

Thanks in advance.

[Alex F]

Go to lots of public tastings... that way you get to try wines for no/minimal charge. Go to a wine region near you, where are you from?

[DanTheFlyingMan]

I'm in the Blue Mountains, I have no idea if there are any wine regions around here.

[Alex F]

Dunno how close Mudgee is... but its out there... somewhere

The Hunter Valley is probably your next best bet...

[KMP]

Eighteen, just out of school? What you need is an education! Look up the WineDiva site for Wine appreciation Courses. There are over 100 listed. Click here.

Also see if the local TAFEs has any courses.

There might be local wine events where you live – tastings, wine maker dinners, etc. Check out LocalWineEvents.com. Unfortunately not everything is listed there, but it’s a start. Looks like there is an event in Parramatta on May 10th.

Also read this.

And ask questions on this forum - that's one reason why its here.

And I believe there are some wineries in the local region - not great by any means. Check out The Sydney Wine Trail. But you will do better making a weekend trip to either Orange or Mudgee or the Hunter Valley. Click on each for the web site.

Good luck,

Mike

[SueNZ]

I have just recently turned 18 and am wanting to get into the wine world, however I don't have a clue where to start. Could I get some recommendations for some bottles that will give me an idea about different types of wine (pinot noir, chardonnay, shiraz, etc., I have no clue what makes them different)? I would prefer to abstain from spending too much, as I am sure I wouldn't yet be able to appreciate the finer wines and at this point am just trying to general idea of things. I am looking for both red and white wines.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Dan,
Like Alex said, go to lots of tastings if you can, visit wineries, etc.
Mike has some good advice in his primer. Practice, practice, practice is necessary to build up a palate memory. But if you really want to be able to 'appreciate' the wine and learn by tasting lots - then you have to be able to spit the wine out to minimise the amount of alcohol that gets into your young bloodstream. It's not as bad as it sounds so long as when you take a mouthful of wine you act like it is a mouthwash and get it around all the nooks and crannies of the inside of your mouth then, with the wine still in your mouth, open your mouth and breath in over the wine and then spit wine into a small bucket (or something you have bought for this purpose), or down the sink, or into the garden.
This way you can line up, say three different wines, e.g. a pinot noir, a shiraz and a cabernet sauvignon, and do a comparison tastings and think about where the wine attacks your mouth, the texture, the structure, the flavours, the finish, the aftertaste and so on. You can work out what makes them different without the alcohol fuzzing your brain.
Of course, after the exercise, you can drink them.
Cheers,
Sue

[Sharkey]

Dan

I live in the lower Blue Mountains and from experience the following wine regions (with approximate driving time) can be visited in a weekend.

Mudgee ~ 2 hours
Hunter Valley ~ 2 hours
Bathurst ~ 2 hours
Orange ~ 2.5 hours
Cowra ~ 3 hours
Canberra ~ 3 hours
Hastings ~ 4 hours
Rutherglen ~ 6 hours
King Valley ~ 6.5 hours

The other suggestions are good too. There are wine shops that have occasional tastings but nothing regular that I know of.

I attend a monthly degustation dinner at our local restaurant that is fantastic for trying different wines. 8 courses of amazing food with 7 wines and they get the winemaker in to talk about them. It is very popular and they are booked out months ahead – luckily I have had a standing booking for the last couple of years. There is a sample dego menu on their website – http://www.restaurantcomo.com.au

[Anonymous]

I agree with Mike. I recently did an introductory wine appreciation course and learnt a lot, even though I have been drinking wine for about 5 years. The course I did was a lot of fun and helped me learn to appreciate different types of wine, even those which I wouldn't say I actually liked.

Just gives you a whole different perspective, as well as helping you to work out what you do and don't like.

And they're great value for money too as you get to try so much wine and it's all included! (I assume they all work that way anyway).

[winetastic]

I recommend getting together with some mates to jump on a guided wine tour. Lots run up to the hunter valley and you will get to taste all kinds of goodies.

Thats how I started out anyhow, from there you can just try varieties and regions to your hearts content and find out what you really like.

[DanTheFlyingMan]

Thanks for all the great information guys, I'll be sure to go to a wine tasting soon.

[louise-vin]

and not just one tasting - plan for where you can get to and try to do something at least every month.
One tasting will just interest you. Ongoing exposure will teach you

[Daryl Douglas]

This may help if it's not too much trouble to go to Sydney:

http://www.winesociety.com.au/WineCourses.asp