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If you really want to impress you cannot go wrong with any Merlot or Syrah from the Washington State/Columbia Valley region. These wineries absolutely exploded during a period from about 1997 - 2002, and for the price they simply cannot be beat. Some choice Washington wineries include Three Rivers, Columbia Crest, Northstar, Kestrel, Andrew Will/Klipsun, Leonetti’s, Walla Walla Vintners, and Seven Hills. You cannot miss with any of them; some are very highly regarded/award winning labels yet still produced in quantities that many supermarkets carry them at low(ish) prices.

Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon is excellent and affordable -- rarely more than $12.00 per bottle, often on sale at Kroger's for $8.99 or so.

If she likes white wines and you really cannot bring yourself to spend $10.00 - $18.00 a bottle, a $5.00 bottle of Beringer White Zinfindel works too. :)
 
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Lindemans makes some good basic wines. They're usually under $10. I think I've had the Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay.

This is an excellent start.

If you want inexpensive... Lindeman's makes a both a Cab/Shiraz and a Merlot Shiraz blend, branded as Cawarra (I think)... if you happen to know a red preference between the Cab or Merlot, get that one, but either is fine. btw, Australia is-- at least I'd imagine-- the largest producer of Shiraz... so to me, its kind of like, a when in Rome thing, so You could get a Shiraz Varietal itself... Jacob's Creek does a nice Varietal line, who GD01 mentioned Penfolds is pretty good too.

If you want to one up your friend that gave you the advice, if you go to a real wine shop... see if you can find an Australin Sparkling Red... I've never had it, but its supposed to be very interesting... Then tell me where you got it. I'm on the look out.

My personal Opinion... if your wife likes white wine... Australian stuff is fine, but the Terroir Gods gave us California-- and they essentially grow the same kind of stuff, and pretty much make it the same way.

At any rate... there are a Bazillion makers, and Regions (Coonawarrra, Barossa... are good bets)... so... price will be a guide as godo as any other...
 
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If you really want to impress you cannot go wrong with any Merlot or Syrah from the Washington State/Columbia Valley region. These wineries absolutely exploded during a period from about 1997 - 2002, and for the price they simply cannot be beat. Some choice Washington wineries include Three Rivers, Columbia Crest, Northstar, Kestrel, Andrew Will/Klipsun, Leonetti’s, Walla Walla Vintners, and Seven Hills. You cannot miss with any of them; some are very highly regarded/award winning labels yet still produced in quantities that many supermarkets carry them at low(ish) prices.

Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon is excellent and affordable -- rarely more than $12.00 per bottle, often on sale at Kroger's for $8.99 or so.

If she likes white wines and you really cannot bring yourself to spend $10.00 - $18.00 a bottle, a $5.00 bottle of Beringer White Zinfindel works too. :)

And a lot of these pacific northwest wineries are becoming more well known for their Reislings, which is a fantastic white wine also. The are typically more well known as a sweeter wine but in actuality they still range from pretty dry to sickly sweet. The older vintrages actuall seem to be a bit sweeter, but they all seem to be very fruity(essences of pear, peach, apricot are common), but they compliment a variety of meals and are also great dessert wines. Very tasty and very versatile. Also usually fairly inexpensive, usually in the $10-$15 dollar range, but I've found a couple of good ones in the $7-$9 range too. Similar to Reisling is a german wine called Gwurtztraminer.
 
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If she likes white wines and you really cannot bring yourself to spend $10.00 - $18.00 a bottle, a $5.00 bottle of Beringer White Zinfindel works too. :)

White wine from a Red Grape?

What will they think of next?


Speaking of vegemite... Lindemans Lambic Peche... mmm... bubbly-- except that's from Belgium... and has nothing to do with the Australian Winemaker :wink2: So really no vegemite involved, except the guy who gives out the Vegemite sandwich in the Men at Work song was from Brussels -he was six foot four and full of muscle-... so figure that out. Did you guys know Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln. Weird.
 
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And a lot of these pacific northwest wineries are becoming more well known for their Reislings, which is a fantastic white wine also. The are typically more well known as a sweeter wine but in actuality they still range from pretty dry to sickly sweet. The older vintrages actuall seem to be a bit sweeter, but they all seem to be very fruity(essences of pear, peach, apricot are common), but they compliment a variety of meals and are also great dessert wines. Very tasty and very versatile. Also usually fairly inexpensive, usually in the $10-$15 dollar range, but I've found a couple of good ones in the $7-$9 range too. Similar to Reisling is a german wine called Gwurtztraminer.

They are getting well known for their German Styles... its too bad they are, in actuality, a bunch of hacks in that arena. Its drinkable... but pretty boring for what they are.:wink2: Unfortunately we get stuck with it, because the good German/Alsatian stuff gets consumed in Europe.
 
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Before I get accused of threadjacking, I haven't really delved into Australian wines too much. Shiraz isn't my favorite, and I haven't tried much other stuff.

My brother was at some dinner party with a winery owner from New Zealand a couple years ago, and the guy ended up sending my brother a case of wine which was quite good. Now, if I could only remember what it was... I'll have to ask him and let you know.
 
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