Would monsieur care for another bottle of Chateau Latour?

Ah yes, but no more 1966. Lets splurge! Bring us some fresh wine! The freshest you've got - this year! No more of this old stuff.

/Navin Johnson approves

I think I'll stick with the cheap wine at Trader Joe's. There are a few decent $4 bottles there.

timujin: I think I'll stick with the cheap wine at Trader Joe's. There are a few decent $4 bottles there.

I would go so far as to say that, with the exception of the Bronco-bottled swill that is "two buck chuck," the wine at Trader Joe's actually gets worse as it gets more expensive. They have some great, very drinkable $5, $6, and $7 bottles. Once you hit their $15-plus bottles, you're no longer getting what you're paying for.

I love 7/11 wine. But then again, I also love Geek Squad thoracic surgery.

If you want to get drunk, it won't be terrible to buy a $5 bottle of wine. It's not good wine if you've had proper wine from proper vineyards. I've found that the sweet spot for good wine at a proper wine retailer to be around $15 - $20. Any more and you should make sure it's worth it... any less and you've got to wonder how they've managed to do it.

I've never had a sub $10 wine that's anything more than palatable.

Of course, these are Canada prices. Adjust accordingly.

Since when does 7-11 (or any convenience store in general) mark DOWN prices? Especially on booze?

Tr0mBoNe: If you want to get drunk, it won't be terrible to buy a $5 bottle of wine. It's not good wine if you've had proper wine from proper vineyards. I've found that the sweet spot for good wine at a proper wine retailer to be around $15 - $20. Any more and you should make sure it's worth it... any less and you've got to wonder how they've managed to do it.

I've never had a sub $10 wine that's anything more than palatable.

Of course, these are Canada prices. Adjust accordingly.

The 7/11 near me carries this gem for about $9.99

I think it is the best cheap cheap red wine out there.

2 Buck Chuck. Thread over.

timujin: I think I'll stick with the cheap wine at Trader Joe's. There are a few decent $4 bottles there.

I just told my parents they have to stop buying Charles Shaw wine.

to better serve the wino market?

/are there even winos anymore? it was something my grandma used to say, maybe have been an old slang term for drunken bums who prefer wine to beer.

AlgaeRancher: to better serve the wino market?

/are there even winos anymore? it was something my grandma used to say, maybe have been an old slang term for drunken bums who prefer wine to beer.

I think Wino is a general term nowadays.

AlgaeRancher: to better serve the wino market?

/are there even winos anymore? it was something my grandma used to say, maybe have been an old slang term for drunken bums who prefer wine to beer.

Alcohol challenged home deprived alternative clothing sidewalk community citizens.

Treygreen13: The 7/11 near me carries this gem for about $9.99

I think it is the best cheap cheap red wine out there.

It might be good. I'm kinda skeptic about a winery that prominently posts their 'awards' they've won from competitions sponsored by local newspapers. I'd have to try it to be sure but I'm not expecting it to be anything special.

Aside: if you want to get a really good deal for good wines, go for a type of grape that you don't recognize. Chances are you've stumbled across a new grape and could be very surprised. Link (new window) is the 2009 value wine awards for the best wines under $25 that I can get in Canada. There are American alternatives of course, but this is a good place to start. The big difference is that these wines are cheap because they're not popular yet but are really quite good. I was at a tasting last night for 'off-beat grapes' and tried some very nice ones. If you're into the CabSav, check out the Petite Sirah or Bonarda. If you like Chardonnay, check out Torrontes.

/is big into wine

Tr0mBoNe: Treygreen13: The 7/11 near me carries this gem for about $9.99

I think it is the best cheap cheap red wine out there.

It might be good. I'm kinda skeptic about a winery that prominently posts their 'awards' they've won from competitions sponsored by local newspapers. I'd have to try it to be sure but I'm not expecting it to be anything special.

Aside: if you want to get a really good deal for good wines, go for a type of grape that you don't recognize. Chances are you've stumbled across a new grape and could be very surprised. Link (new window) is the 2009 value wine awards for the best wines under $25 that I can get in Canada. There are American alternatives of course, but this is a good place to start. The big difference is that these wines are cheap because they're not popular yet but are really quite good. I was at a tasting last night for 'off-beat grapes' and tried some very nice ones. If you're into the CabSav, check out the Petite Sirah or Bonarda. If you like Chardonnay, check out Torrontes.

/is big into wine

Thanks for the suggestions. Next time I'm at a liquor store I'll check it out.

7-11 always had wine
/T-bird, Night train, and MD20/20

RockIsDead: Alcohol challenged home deprived alternative clothing sidewalk community citizens.

Awesome.

AlgaeRancher: to better serve the wino market?

/are there even winos anymore? it was something my grandma used to say, maybe have been an old slang term for drunken bums who prefer wine to beer.



Yes, Virginia, there are still winos.

/Most fun drunk you can have
//Worst hangover imaginable

This stuff keeps my mom and aunt pretty happy, for $7 a bottle:

Great article on Daily Beast about where wine comes from these days.

Hint: it might be time to stop pretending there's a difference and go with beer.


Link (new window)

Gangway Fathead: Great article on Daily Beast about where wine comes from these days.

Hint: it might be time to stop pretending there's a difference and go with beer.

If you actually read the article you linked to, you'd understand why your hint is a relatively stupid one.

WHAT?! YOU MEAN 7-11 CAN SELL LIQUOR? HOW DO YOUR STATES DEAL WITH THE CRUSHING AMOUNTS OF DRUNKS AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY?


/Pa resident

Pocket Ninja: Gangway Fathead: Great article on Daily Beast about where wine comes from these days.

Hint: it might be time to stop pretending there's a difference and go with beer.

If you actually read the article you linked to, you'd understand why your hint is a relatively stupid one.

Why's that?

Whodat?: This stuff keeps my mom and aunt pretty happy, for $7 a bottle:

My wife's family brings over Cheap Popular Wine With Fun Name And Attractive Label when they come over. In the past few years this has ranged from Painted Turtle to Naked Grape to Sola, and in the last two months has moved to "The Show", which I have not tried but they ALL bring it now. These wines are all, and I use all my wine critic knowledge in this description, icky.

So if this wine has an attractive label and they give it a punchier name (Naked Turtle?), they'll sell well, regardless of quality.

Fun fact of the day: you can buy hard liquor at 7-11 stores in Hong Kong.

Gangway Fathead: Great article on Daily Beast about where wine comes from these days.

Hint: it might be time to stop pretending there's a difference and go with beer.


Link (new window)

That's why you research your wine. And, beer is the same way. If you want to get the good stuff, go to the traditional producers or small batch brewers. It's also the same with milk, scotch, bread, bourbon, cheese, sausage, and all the other necessities of life.

I guess I'm just lucky for living in a wine region. I can go to actual wineries and see all aspects of the production, chat with the vintner, sample the wares, and buy what I want.

Of course, you can dump all wine into the "American "wine"" barrel... but that would be very typical for American attitudes.

Tr0mBoNe: Gangway Fathead: Great article on Daily Beast about where wine comes from these days.

Hint: it might be time to stop pretending there's a difference and go with beer.


Link (new window)

That's why you research your wine. And, beer is the same way. If you want to get the good stuff, go to the traditional producers or small batch brewers. It's also the same with milk, scotch, bread, bourbon, cheese, sausage, and all the other necessities of life.

I guess I'm just lucky for living in a wine region. I can go to actual wineries and see all aspects of the production, chat with the vintner, sample the wares, and buy what I want.

Of course, you can dump all wine into the "American "wine"" barrel... but that would be very typical for American attitudes.


Oh boy. Here we go with the "American attitudes" thing.

Tofino: Whodat?: This stuff keeps my mom and aunt pretty happy, for $7 a bottle:

My wife's family brings over Cheap Popular Wine With Fun Name And Attractive Label when they come over. In the past few years this has ranged from Painted Turtle to Naked Grape to Sola, and in the last two months has moved to "The Show", which I have not tried but they ALL bring it now. These wines are all, and I use all my wine critic knowledge in this description, icky.

So if this wine has an attractive label and they give it a punchier name (Naked Turtle?), they'll sell well, regardless of quality.

Just from a label/name perspective, I really like "The Little Penguin."

Never tried it, it's cute though. Probably sells to sorority sisters like crazy.

Gangway Fathead: Why's that?

Because by the article's own admission, the quality wines are still available if you want them. As they always have been. Local craft vineyards are popping up everywhere. Some are very good, some are not. But they're there for people who want them. Also, mass-produced wines are not new. They're not necessarily bad, either, although they certainly can be. There are definitely parallels between beer and wine production, if you're talking about macro-production versus small-run, craft varieties. But to claim that, because there are macro wines out there, one might as well not drink or learn to appreciate wine...well, that's just silly. Or ignorant. Or both.

The notion of "American attitudes" toward wine is equally silly/ignorant, though.

Pocket Ninja: Gangway Fathead: Why's that?

But to claim that, because there are macro wines out there, one might as well not drink or learn to appreciate wine...well, that's just silly. Or ignorant. Or both.



I know there's good wine out there. And I know there are people who have had the time, patience, and money (yes, money, I don't want anyone to claim that wine appreciation isn't costly) to develop a sophisticated palate. I made a snarky comment about the nature of wines one is likely to find at 7-11 and linked to an article I thought was somewhat pertinent. So I hope you'll rule more on the side of "silly."

Anyway, never have had enough interest in wine to get into it. My favorite wine experience was at a family restaurant in Italy where they served us red wine in unmarked bottles without a cork in sight. Can't remember what it tasted like, can remember having an incredible time with a lot of people in a very good mood. Hell, for all I know they got it at the local 7-11.

Meh, sophisticated uplitty bastards. I've been buying $2-4 buck wine at Trader Joes and Henry's and making sangria out of it. The stuff is awesome. The wife likes it, it's fruity and nice. And yet, it doesn't get you drunk very easily. A little berry, some oranges, some pineapple.
Nice evenings.

Hm. At the low end, I've gone with $2 Chas. Shaw Syrah. At the high end, I don't think I've gone any higher price-wise than an '06 Schwarz "Thiele Road" Grenache, which set me back a touch under $40 -- but most of what I have is under $15.

Since when did Trader Joe's start selling wine?

Lost Thought 00: Since when did Trader Joe's start selling wine?

Ah, you're in Pittsburgh? Blame Pennsylvania's alcohol laws, which are strict enough there's a Wikipedia page. TJ itself is perfectly happy with selling booze, but only where they're allowed to.

For instance, were you to be in California, it would not be odd for wines to be sold at your local Safeway, TJ, CVS, and so forth.

Tr0mBoNe: ...2009 value wine awards for the best wines under $25 that I can get in Canada.

Can you still get Fuddle Duck and Baby Duck? Those were the "Two Buck Chuck" wines when I was growing up in Edmonton.

Our local 99 Cent Store has some great wines!!

12 wines for under $12

There's a wine glut at the moment, make hay while the sun shines

You can't sell wine at grocery stores in my state.

But there are some Kroger Wine and Liquor's that are in a strip mall building right next to the store.

Did somebody say cheap wine?



I buy a bottle a year just to relive high school... it never works.

Korovyov: Lost Thought 00: Since when did Trader Joe's start selling wine?

Ah, you're in Pittsburgh? Blame Pennsylvania's alcohol laws, which are strict enough there's a Wikipedia page. TJ itself is perfectly happy with selling booze, but only where they're allowed to.

Sounds like Canada. Up here, you can only buy booze at the liquor store

A lot of people in this country pooh-pooh Australian table wines. This is a pity as many fine Australian wines appeal not only to the Australian palate but also to the cognoscenti of Great Britain.

Black Stump Bordeaux is rightly praised as a peppermint flavoured Burgundy, whilst a good Sydney Syrup can rank with any of the world's best sugary wines.

Château Blue, too, has won many prizes; not least for its taste, and its lingering afterburn.

Old Smokey 1968 has been compared favourably to a Welsh claret, whilst the Australian Wino Society thoroughly recommends a 1970 Coq du Rod Laver, which, believe me, has a kick on it like a mule: eight bottles of this and you're really finished. At the opening of the Sydney Bridge Club, they were fishing them out of the main sewers every half an hour.

Of the sparkling wines, the most famous is Perth Pink. This is a bottle with a message in, and the message is 'beware'. This is not a wine for drinking, this is a wine for laying down and avoiding.

Another good fighting wine is Melbourne Old-and-Yellow, which is particularly heavy and should be used only for hand-to-hand combat.

Quite the reverse is true of Château Chunder, which is an appellation contrôlée, specially grown for those keen on regurgitation; a fine wine which really opens up the sluices at both ends.

Real emetic fans will also go for a Hobart Muddy, and a prize winning Cuivre Reserve Château Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga, which has a bouquet like an aborigine's armpit.

Korovyov: Lost Thought 00: Since when did Trader Joe's start selling wine?

Ah, you're in Pittsburgh? Blame Pennsylvania's alcohol laws, which are strict enough there's a Wikipedia page. TJ itself is perfectly happy with selling booze, but only where they're allowed to.

For instance, were you to be in California, it would not be odd for wines to be sold at your local Safeway, TJ, CVS, and so forth.

NJ's slightly better, but alas, no wine at TJ's. At least I can buy decent beer until 10pm, unlike back in Texas.

No love for a DIY Dago Red? Maybe thats just North Jersey.

I'll take a $4 bottle of Broke Ass red wine from the local liquor store.


I can't tell the difference between that and other red wines, my taste buds aren't sophisticated enough .

So am I the only one who shows up to a poker game with one of THESE?



/cheap fruity wine ftw
//can't burp, so more than one beer makes me...uncomfortable
///don't share, but no one ever asks me to
////slashies!

I don't get wine at all. I bought a few $5 bottles of Tisdale wine and it's better than most $20 bottles I've had. I wish there was some kind of warning system. I started going for wines with crappy or simple labels. I hate buying wine. It always seems like such a crapshoot.

I get Hess Select Chardonnay for $10 a bottle if I buy a case. I've yet to taste one better for under $35.

AnotherDisillusionedCollegeStudent: /Most fun drunk you can have
//Worst hangover imaginable

Cisco actually gives me a hangover before I'm even done drinking it. Boone's Farm is farkin' Dom Perignon compared to it.

Tofino: My wife's family brings over Cheap Popular Wine With Fun Name And Attractive Label when they come over.

What, did they managed to skip over Yellowtail Shiraz somehow?

/enough