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Julie Anderson's avatar

We have a shop here that posts little signs, if you like Pinot Grigio, you’ll like this. It’s really helped me find some new wines. I’ve screenshot your list, I look forward to shopping!!

🙂

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Charlie Brown's avatar

Amazing stuff Julie!

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Erin Sizer's avatar

I like whites - not too light - chardonnay (not overly oaky), viognier, white burgundy - I like it to have some flavor :)

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Charlie Brown's avatar

Me too! I'd recommend trying:

* Marsanne / Rousanne blends from Northern Rhone, France

* South African white blends especially Chenin Blanc based blends (Swartland is a good region to try)

* White blends from Dao and Douro Valley in Portugal

* White Rioja from Spain

* Chenin Blanc from Loire Valley, esp Saumur

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Erin Sizer's avatar

Thanks so much Charlie!

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Nancy Lee's avatar

Hi Charlie, I recently discovered Bordeaux Blanc. Would love your recommendations on similar wines on both the dry and sweeter sides. Thank you!

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Charlie Brown's avatar

Hi Nancy, I would try:

* Semillon and Semillon blends from South Africa

* Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France (esp Saumur, Savinnieres, Anjou and Vouvray - some Vouvrays can be a bit sweeter)

* Hunter Valley Semillon from Australia

* Trocken or Kabinett Rieslings from Mosel Valley in Germany

* Gruner Veltliner in Austria

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Nancy Lee's avatar

Will carry this list with me while wine shopping. Thanks for covering so many wine regions.

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Charlie Brown's avatar

So welcome

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Nigel Bolding's avatar

A bolder, good value Ribera del Duero around €15 and what would be the French equivalent?

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Charlie Brown's avatar

If you like Ribera del Duero, I would go for something like Malbec from Cahors or a red from the Languedoc, something like Faugeres or Minervois. In terms of a specific €15 Ribera del Duero, that would depend on where you are but if you can find it, Milu was always great as was Torremilanos' Los Cantos RDD. Should be around €15-ish esp. in Spain

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Nigel Bolding's avatar

Brilliant. Cahors is only an hour away..

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Carrie Odgers Lax's avatar

We love bold reds like Petite Sirah and oaky, spicy Cab Sauvs, lighter reds like Cab Francs (Finger Lakes) and Pinot Noir, dry Rieslings from the Finger Lakes, and dry/crisp Sauv Blancs. We are really enjoying both the reds & whites from Living Roots in Rochester/Finger Lakes. We also really enjoy the Zinfandels from J. Rickards in Cloverdale, CA. Reading all the comments is so great! Thank you for doing this!

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Charlie Brown's avatar

Wow a veritable list! OK reds you could look at:

* Cabernet Franc from its home in France - Saumur especially

* Beaujolais from France

* Super Tuscans - these are wines from Tuscany but made with a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot

* Barbera from Piedmont in Italy

* Rioja reds esp. the traditional, oakier styles

Whites:

* Albarino from Galicia in Spain

* French Sauvignon Blancs like Sancerre and Pouilly Fume

* Vinho Verde from Portugal

* Gruner Veltliner from Austria

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Carrie Odgers Lax's avatar

This is amazing! Thank you!

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Fred's avatar

Love dry, juicy reds from Southern Oregon and Languedoc

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Charlie Brown's avatar

Excellent, so other places to look at are:

* Southen Rhone blends from places like Chateauneuf du Pape, Ventoux, and Gigondas (or Cotes du Rhone)

* Red blends from South Africa esp those from Swartland, and Stellenbosch

* Spanish Garnacha from Sierra de Gredos

* Red wines from the Dao region of Portugal

* Sangiovese esp Chianti Classico

* GSM blends - Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre - you can find them in many countries from US to France to Chile

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John Scull's avatar

Love syrahs and GSM blends generally from Paso Robles and Walla Walla areas. My wife loves Pinot noir (Willamette Valley or Sta. Rita Hills) and gamay noirs (same areas). What do you recommend we explore next?

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Charlie Brown's avatar

Lovely stuff. I just recommended GSM blend alternatives in another comment (by Lee Chaix McDonough) so you can check those out. For US Pinot Noir and Gamay alternatives, I would suggest:

* Gamay from Beaujolais in France - the OG!

* Cinsault from areas like Cotes Catalanes in France and Swartland in South Africa

* Jaen from the Dao region in Portugal and Mencia from Galicia in Spain (same variety, comes under two different names)

* Syrah from Northern Rhone (quite different from PN and Gamay but I know few people who don't love all those varieties so there is an affinity in there!)

* Central Otago Pinot Noir from New Zealand

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Lee Chaix McDonough's avatar

I really love bold, juicy reds. My current fave is a GSM blend (also with some Petite Syrah and Zinfandel). What should I try next?

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Charlie Brown's avatar

OK! You could give these a go:

* Spanish Garnacha in particular Garnacha heavy blends from Rioja, as well as Garnachas from Navarra and Sierra de Gredos

* Red blends from Swartland, South Africa (often you'll find Grenache in these)

* Alentejo reds from Portugal

* Primitivo from Puglia, Italy

* Nero D'Avola from Sicily, Italy

* Red blends from Languedoc and Rousillon. I especially love good wines from St. Chinian, Fourgeres, Minervois and reds from Cotes Catalanes

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Vicki Upton's avatar

Ohh! ANY red from Languedoc. Fantastic!!

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Lee Chaix McDonough's avatar

All of these sound delicious - I can’t wait to try them! Thank you so much!

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