Picking a good cheap wine/champane ??

Question

Hubby and I are having a romantic dinner this Friday since the kids will be gone for the night. I want to buy a really good wine or chanpane for us to try. I dont want anything real expensive (nothing over $15 probably) just something I can pick up at the grocery store. The problem I have when I go to look at them, is that I dont know which ones are good and which ones are gross. We tried Merlow on our honeymoon in Hawaii, and didnt care for it at ALL! Yet we are tired of the 'Arbor Mist' types. What do you drink with your partner at your romantic dinners? What do you like or dislike when it comes to wine/champane? (Please keep in mind that I want something cheap I can just pick up at the grocery store, nothing real fancy)

Answer 1

Greg Norman Estates NV Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir - Champagne & Sparkling
The wine is a pale straw green in color and it has a very fine, yet persistent bead. On the nose there are lifted strawberry, citrus and nutty aromas with just a hint of sherbet character. On the palate it is a medium to full bodied style with generous stonefruit and citrus flavors and a very smooth, yet generous finish. ($16.79)

Answer 2

It sounds like you haven't had much experience with this since you have been drinking a lot of the sweet brands. There are plenty of wines $15 and under for you to choose from and usually the best way to learn what to pick is to ask for help at a wine store not the supermarket. Red wines are an acquired taste but you may like a Chardonnay. Try Barefoot from California for an inexpensive yet tasty wine or a whole line of Australian Chards have really made it big. Ask about them. I also prefer Korbel Brut champagne and usually pay around $13 a bottle for it. Try to stay away from the sweet stuff....it overburdens everything else. Also look for "methode champanoise" on your bottle. It means the champagne was made the right way by fermentation rather than the "bulk" method which means the bubbles were blown in after.

Answer 3

The other poster was right the Santa Margerhita Pinot grigio is really good for a white wine. Also I recently went to a wine tasting at an italian restaurant and the reps from Bogle were there. I love their reds, but the whites were all really good too. The bottles are around $10 give or take, the lable is tan and says Bogle.

Answer 4

I LOVE Champagne and drink it a lot. I have to say my favorite is Korbel Brut. It is about 9 -12 a bottle depending on where you live. It is by far the best for the money. Ballatore is WAY too sweet. Korbel is just nice and Crisp and will compliment any meal you have without over powering it. I find that other champagnes are too sweet and detract from the meal instead of being a nice addition.

Answer 5

I have never been a merlot fan myself, something about drinking luke warm alcohol and red teeth that isnt for me...If you want to try a relitively inexpensive bottle of the best Pinot Grigio there is Santa Margerhita its an italian wine served chilled, it normally priced between 15-20 bucks and I guarentee it will not disappoint.

Answer 6

I totally recommend you try a wine called Charles Shaw wine. This is the famous $3 dollar wine that fools even the professional wine tasters into thinking it's an $80 wine. Just check it out. You can buy it at any food store.

Answer 7

Try and chase down some Australian Reds, They tend to be Fruity, and remember cheap wine, tastes Cheap? sorry but its true, Try a good Shiraz, or a Mouton cadez for white,
Champagne can be mixed with a cheaper bottle of red to make a great long drink, I know!!!! people scraming but it works, dont be a wine snob
good luk have a great evening
Paul H

Answer 8

You will like Ballatore Gran Spumanti. It's a champagne around $7 a bottle. It will go well as your opener. For the meal I think you should get some Livingstone Red Rose. Make sure both are served chilled.

Answer 9

I used Cooks ($4) at my first wedding and even wine snobs thought it was a $30 bottle! You can usually find that near the Andre (don't buy that). Mumms demi-sec is a nice sparkler for about $19.

Answer 10

Try Ballatore champagne. It's my fave. I actually like it better than the ones that cost an arm and a leg. You can get it for about 8 dollars a bottle.