Advice on Californian wines

[tonym]

I would like some suggestions on what whites and reds to buy from US makers. I generally spend between $20 and $50 a bottle on Aussie wine so I would probably stay at that price point. Which white and red varieties are popular in the Nappa Valley area, should I look at other areas? thanks for any advice

[Polymer]

CA wines are, IMO, overpriced even in CA...but as far as finding them in Australia, I rarely see anything and when I do, they're stupidly priced....They also only bring in the very well known stuff...The selection is just bad...

But if you want something from Oregon...

Tunkalilla Riesling is pretty good..very high acid, a touch of residual sugar to balance it out...really quite interesting...

[burges]

I agree with Polymer - Californian wines are fairly overpriced … specially in Australia.

From a red wine perspective, Napa Valley certainly is well known for its Cabernet Sauvignon. Another popular Californian red variety is Zinfandel, which is a robust full-bodied red wine with ripe (sweet) fruit flavours. California also has some pretty good “Meritage” – which is really another name for Bordeaux blends (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot).

In addition to Napa Valley, another popular wine region in California is Sonoma County.

Sorry – don’t know much about white wines ...

[tonym]

Thanks for the info, what spruked my interest was I bought a bottle of Napa Valley Atalon cab sav from Dans cost $38 and was quite nice but different to any of the Aussie cabs, quite earthy so I wondered if there was anything else out there. I will have to try the Zinfandel. I have read a small amount about Oregan wines but havn't seen any in the local haunts, would be keen to try.

[bob parsons]

Oregon PN is not cheap by any means but worth looking out for. Pinot Gris is doing well there imo.

http://www.oregonpinotnoirwine.com/pino ... atings.php

[Panda 9D]

Just last week I saw some (kind of) reasonably priced Ridge wines in Adelaide. I recommend the 09 Lytton Springs if you can find it. Ridge wines are worth trying.. not cheap (a little over 50) but not necessarily unreasonable for the quality you get. Frog's Leap's Petite Syrah is also good if you can get it for around 50 bucks.

[Craig(NZ)]

Agree with Panda, Ridge are good solid wines and worth a look. I've tried most of them over the years. Their top Cabernet Montebello I remember as a supercharged Penfolds Bin 707! Santa Cruz and Lytton Springs are worth a look. The are around $70? in NZ from memory.

[Polymer]

Ridge Monte Bello is definitely very nice...on the lighter side for a CA Cab...Terribly expensive in Oz though...I haven't seen the 2007 make it to Oz yet but it is very nice...

Lytton Springs is also quite nice..but when you're used to paying 30, paying 70 is like . I don't think it is worth anywhere near 70 either but I guess if you want to try something different then maybe so...

If you can find it in Oz, Stefania is quite nice..and good value (in general terms). I don't think they export though and I doubt anyone is bringing it over..

[Mark Carrington]

Ridge rocks! Along with Lytton Springs their other Zinfandel (blend) to keep an eye out for is Geyserville.

[Panda 9D]

Lytton Springs is also quite nice..but when you're used to paying 30, paying 70 is like . I don't think it is worth anywhere near 70 either but I guess if you want to try something different then maybe so...

I kind of agree but this is the reality of imported wines in Australia. There aren't many $70 imports that are worth $70 when comparing them to the same money spent on a local wine. If you want to get into wines from other countries you either have to leave or be prepared to pay a premium.