Lots of wines to try this year, Lots of wines to try this year! So where to start? Well, I suggest you peruse the list below and make a short-list of 20 wines you are dying to try.
I recommend trying wines in three categories:
1. The inexpensive wines you are likely to load up on for everyday drinking;
2. The mid-range wines you want to have around for those monthly special bottles
3. The crazy stuff that you may just want to have one of for your anniversary, birthday, etc.
Narrow down your list to 20, knowing that you’ll end up tasting more than that. Then, try and keep your head clear, and have fun!
Shinas Estate – George Shinas
Victoria, Australia
Shinas Estate is situated in the northwest region of Victoria. This region is known for its Mediterranean-like climate, classic wines and great food. The first vines were planted in the region in 1886 and by 1898 vine planting commenced on the estate. With eight generations of grape gowing and wine producing experience, as well as George Shinas' passion for perfection, he draws on time honored traditions to produce premium hand crafted wine. Currently there are two wines in the Shinas Estate portfolio, the Guilty Shiraz and the Innocent Viognier. The names for the wines come from owner George Shinas's career as a judge in his hometown of Mildura.
- The Innocent Viognier - $20.99
- The Guilty Shiraz - $20.99
- The Verdict Cabernet Sauvignon - $20.99
Alpha Box and Dice – Justin Lane
McClaren Vale, Australia
Alpha Box & Dice is former Red Heads Studio's head winemaker Justin Lane's new winery. Based right in the heart of McLaren Vale, just down the road from his former digs, Justin is sourcing fruit from some of the oldest and best vineyards, primarily in the Vale but also in other parts of South Australia and making some of the most interesting blends from that fruit. Mixed with some extremely creative packaging and you've got Alpha Box and Dice.
- Apostle Shiraz - $34.99
- Blood of Jupiter Sangiovese - $31.99
- Dead Winemaker’s Society Dolcetto - $25.99
- Tarot Grenache - $14.99
Bethel Heights Vineyard– Pat Dudley
Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon
Bethel Heights firmly believes the old adage that great wine is made in the vineyard. Once the fruit is harvested our winemaking emphasizes gentle handling and minimum intervention through all phases of processing. Grapes from each section of the vineyard are vinified and aged in separate lots until they are bottled, so that they can learn as much as possible about their individual differences and qualities, and how they develop over time.
- Pinot Blanc - $18.99
- Pinot Gris - $17.99
- Chardonnay - $27.99
- Estate Pinot Noir - $31.99
Vine Street Imports - Ronnie Sanders
Vine Street Imports is dedicated to bringing the most exciting boutique and artisan wines from Australia and New Zealand into the US market. Our wines come from the hottest and most respected winemakers, and are sometimes funky, often geeky, and always delicious.
- Some Young Punks Double Love Trouble - $33.99
- Some Young Punks Passion has Red Lips - $24.99
- Some Young Punks The Squid’s Fist - $24.99
- First Drop The Red One - $12.99
- Bindi Block 5 Pinot Noir - $97.99
- Bindi Quartz Chardonnay - $76.99
- Raw Power Shiraz - $13.99
- Auntsfield Sauvignon Blanc – Sale $16.99
- Walnut Block Pinor Noir - $20.99
- Barrel Monkey Shiraz - $19.99
- Boxhead Cabernet Sauvignon - $11.99
- First Drop The Cream Shiraz - $92.49
- La Raganie Brunello di Montalcino - $55.99
Ole Imports – Patrick Mata
Olé Imports began in 1999 with just 3 wines. Their unique portfolio of Spanish wines has now grown to over 100 wines today. Patrick searches the Spanish peninsula for wines that share four fundamental elements: terroir, quality fruit, exceptional winemaking and last but not least, wines that present an exceptional value. His portfolio is one of the best in the country!
Wines still to be determined.
Small Gully Wines – Stephen Black
Barossa Valley, Australia
The people of Small Gully bring passion, experience and history to their winery. Robert started in the wine industry in 1981 whist the Zimmermann family has been growing grapes in the Barossa Valley since early last century. Darren and Robert have established superb low yielding Shiraz vineyards, producing super-premium fruit. Small parcels of Grenache, Mourvédre and Cabernet Sauvignon are also carefully selected from other local vineyards for the Small Gully wine range. Small Gully produces wines of a distinctive bold and intense style with great expression of fruit character and winemaking technique. The Small Gully wines reflect the attention to detail in the vineyard and the meticulous fruit selection.
- Formula Cabernet / Shiraz - $15.99
- Formula Robert’s Shiraz - $15.99
- Concoction Shiraz Viognier - $20.99
- Concoction Grenache / Shiraz / Mourvedre - $20.99
Amisfield Wine Company - Graham Sterinberg
Central Otago, New Zealand
High altitude, cool climate, long summers, and clean soils allow Amisfield to produce some of the best Pinot Noirs and aromatic white wines in New Zealand. The Amisfield vineyard is located in Lowburn, Central Otago, the southern most wine growing region in New Zealand, just north of the 45th Parallel. All Amisfield wines are single vineyard and planted on a range of glacial soils and then processed in our state of the art production winery onsite.
Pinot Noir - $41.99
Bordeaux Fine & Rare – William Bowman
Raleigh, North Carolina
Whites
- Fichet Meursault - $59.99
- Fichet Meursault Chevaliere- $69.99
- Perrone Moscato d’Asti - $17.99
- Huet Vouvray Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec - $36.99
- Huet Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec- $39.99
- Huet Vouvray Petillant - $29.99
- Chapelle Macon Solutre - $23.49
- Pascal Reverdy Sancerre - $24.49
- Anton Bauer Gruner Veltliner “Verdi” - $11.99
- Steininger Gruner Veltliner Kabinett - $13.99
- Tegernseerhof Riesling - $18.99
Reds
- Markowitch Carnuntum Cuvee - $18.99
- Ferrand Chateauneuf du Pape - $58.99
- Beau Mistral Rasteau Vieilles Vignes - $23.99
- Perrone Barbera Tasmarcan - $18.99
- Massolino Dolcetto - $22.49
- Bussola Valpolicella TB - $38.99
- Massolino Barolo - $55.99
- Bussola Amarone Classico - $55.99
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