This is a bit about wine and my likes / dislikes.

• Wine:
• The main factor that determines the basic flavor and most likely whether a person likes that wine or not is the type of grape (aka varietal)
• Single grape wines are known as varietal wines
• Multiple grape wines are blends
• If the wine does not identify the single or multiple grapes then it is almost certainly a blend
• Some blends do identify all the grapes included (they may even indicate the percentages of each), but some do not, (eg. most French wines)
• If the blend lists the grapes but not the percentages then the order is from largest to smallest percentage
• There are dozens and dozens of grape types, some popular and common, some not so popular and quite rare
• Many countries specialize in certain grapes, for instance:
• Baco Noir in Canada (Niagara)
• Carmenère in Chile
• Malbec in Argentina
• Pinotage in South Africa
• Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand
• Shiraz in Australia
• Tempranillo in Spain
• Zinfandel in California
• Grape types sometimes have multiple names, for instance:
• Shiraz is also known as Syrah
• Zinfandel is also known as Primitivo (in Italy)
• Although I have tried many grape types, there are dozens more that I have not had the opportunity to try yet
• Style is another determining factor, including in particular (in general):
• Old World Wine - lighter, less oak used
• New World Wine - heavier, more oak used
• Most people tend to favour one or the other style
• My preference is towards New World Wines but not in every case
• Of the grapes that I have already tried, here are some of the grapes that I like, in order of preference:
• Reds:
• Zinfandel (California)
• Shiraz (Australian heavily oaked New World style)
• Malbec
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Cabernet Franc
• Zweigelt
• Blaufrankisch (Austria) / Lemberger
• Pinot Noir
• Baco Noir (Canada)
• GSM Blends (Australia)
• Petite Sirah
• Petit Verdot
• Tempranillo (Spain) / Tinto del Pais (Spain) / Tinta Roriz (Portugal) / Aragoñez (Portugal) / Aragonês (Portugal)
• Nebbiolo
• Nero d'Avola (Italy)
• Pinot Meunier
• Marechal Foch
• Grand Noir (Portugal)
• Trincadeira Preta (Portugal)
• Blends that identify all the grapes and do not include the ones that I do not like, (see below)
• Ice Wine
• Ruby Ports
• Sparkling Shiraz (Australia)
• Whites:
• Chardonnay (heavily oaked - the more the better)
• Gewürztraminer
• Ehrenfelser
• Chenin Blanc (eg. French Vouvray)
• Off-Dry Riesling (eg. German Spätlese or Auslese)
• Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio
• Trebbiano / Ugni Blanc
• Vidal Blanc
• Blends that identify all the grapes and do not include the ones that I do not like, (see below)
• Ice Wine
• Asti (Italian off-dry sparkling)
• Of the grapes that I have already tried, here are some of the grapes that I do not like:
• Reds:
• Carmenère
• Merlot
• Primitivo (Italy)
• Syrah (Old World style)
• Blends that identify all the grapes and include any of these ones that I do not like, no matter how small the percentage
• Blends that do not identify what grapes are included, (eg. most French wines)
• Tawny Ports
• Whites:
• Chardonnay (un-oaked or lightly oaked)
• Kerner
• Dry Riesling
• Sauvignon Blanc / Fumé Blanc
• Sémillon
• Blends that identify all the grapes and include any of these ones that I do not like, no matter how small the percentage
• Blends that do not identify what grapes are included, (eg. most French wines)
• Sherrys
• White Ports
• Champagne
• Here are some of my favorite wines (alpha order):
• Reds:
• Bodega Catena Zapata Catena Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)
• Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon (organic, California, USA)
• Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile)
• Fox Creek JSM Shiraz Cabernet Franc (Australia)
• Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin (California, USA)
• Kaiken Malbec Ultra (Mendoza, Argentina)
• Penfolds Thomas Hyland Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia)
• Rancho Zabaco Dancing Bull Zinfandel (California, USA)
• Robert Biale Zinfandel (various) (California, USA)
• Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel (California, USA)
• Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel (California, USA)
• Whites:
• Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay (Napa Valley, California, USA)
• Byron Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley, California, USA)
• Cedar Creek Ehrenfelser (Okanagan, Canada)
• Cedar Creek Gewürztraminer (Okanagan, Canada)
• Gallo Laguna Ranch Chardonnay (Russian River Valley, California, USA)
• Gray Monk Gewürztraminer (Okanagan, Canada)
• Guy Saget Vouvray (Chenin Blanc, Loire Valley, France)
• Martini & Rossi Asti (Off-Dry Sparkling, Italy)
• Mollydooker "The Boxer" Shiraz (McLaren Vale, Australia)
• Mt. Boucherie Gewürztraminer (Okanagan, Canada)
• NK'MIP Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay (Okanagan, Canada)
• Pfaffenheim Grand Cru Steinert Gewürztraminer (Alsace, France)
• Quails' Gate Chenin Blanc (Okanagan, Canada)
• Quails' Gate Gewürztraminer (Okanagan, Canada)
• Quails' Gate Family Reserve Chardonnay (Okanagan, Canada)
• Ridge Santa Cruz Chardonnay (Monto Belloe Estate Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA)
• Rombauer Chardonnay (Carneros, California, USA)
• Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay (Stellenbosch, South Africa)
• Spy Valley Chardonnay (Marlborough, New Zealand)
• Spy Valley Gewürztraminer (Marlborough, New Zealand)
• Summerhill Pyramid Ehrenfelser (Okanagan, Canada)
• Therapy Chardonnay (Okanagan, Canada)
• Tinhorn Creek Gewürztraminer (Okanagan, Canada)
• Villa Maria Private Bin Gewürztraminer (New Zealand)
• Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay (Arroyo Seco, Monterey, California, USA)
• Wild Goose Gewürztraminer (Okanagan, Canada)
• Wolf Blass Gold Label Chardonnay (heavily oaked, Adelaide Hills, Australia)