That's funny... I have Little Penguin white shiraz in my fridge as we speak. I have no idea if it's "good" wine, but it's tasty. So sure, I'd come to your party!

Reminds me of a time when my friend got two cool new hanging wine racks for her kitchen. We went to the nearest liquor store, armed ourselves with a grocery cart and barrelled through the store buying every bottle with a pretty label. Who cares what it tastes like, it's just gotta LOOK good!!

Thankfully I've learned a bit more since then and am a happy wine-o. Sometimes great wine comes in ugly bottles!

I bought a bottle of Fat Bastard Shiraz once and was not impressed. Gee, I wonder why. *grin*

I really don't think I would care to drink anything with "Fat Bastard" written on it! I personally prefer cute or classic names.

I hate Fat Bastard wine - yucko. But I'll still show if you have drinks.

I love port wine. Any brand is good. But if somebody else is buying, I'll drink almost anything!

I will be there, but only if you have some Woodchuck Hard Cider. I'm not much of a wine drinker.

I will still come over, but I don't do wine. Just let me know if I have to bring my own beer or if you will have some for me.

Are you implying that this is not the proper way to choose wine? If I don't do it by cute name and bottle how will my wine rack continue to be considered a tasteful decoration?
Currently on the rack:
Polar Bearatage - Blue Moon Riesling - Yellow Tail - And something Austrailian with a pretty label.

Actually, Fat Bastard Shiraz is one of my favorites for inexpensive wine. Their Chardonnay is also pretty good. They've recently expanded into Merlot (ick) and Sauvignon Blanc, but I have not tried those. Taste is individual, of course, but I wholeheartedly disagree with the people who are complaining about it.

Toad Hollow Chardonnay is also pretty good. I have not tried any of their other wines.

I don't think I've tried "Love My Goat", but I have had other Bully Hill wines and they are fine. Nothing great, but easily drinkable.

By contrast, Yellow Tail is mass-produced swill and is only good for pouring down the drain. Of course, that's why it's the most popular wine in the U.S.

(and PLEASE don't buy wine based on the cute name or label)

I love wine, but I hate it when people want me to "taste the bouquet". Okkaaaay.... Yummy!

My son wants me to buy Fat Bastard just so he can show his friends.

:)

Hell yeah! I would come to your party! when is it? ;)

take care!

Oh yeah! Just tell me when and I'll bring a bottle of my Red Truck too! :)

Here's what I do: Go to my favorite wine store where the 20-something wine clerks spend their evenings tasting the new arrivals. I ask them for their picks for under, say $10. Or $7, or whatever. They like the challenge and I've never been disappointed.
-Chris

here in Portland we have "Hip Chicks Do Wine" ... Wendy from onthegomom.com has been to their winery, which, I guess, is just a warehouse - but they have GREAT wine and they ship, so I'd recommend you try some Hip Chick wine once ;-)

Girl, it can even be a screw-top and I'll be there!

OH, I wanna come! I don't drink much wine (I love beer) but I love the bottles. I have a collection of odd wines. I pick them for their pretty label or name. I have three Elvis wines, a Norma Jean and a variety of holiday bottles.

Until I knew what I was doing, I did as chris did... Find a good wine store and follow the recommendations of the wine shop kids.

That being said, of course I'd come to your party. I'd even bring you a bottle of wine.

I'm a wine-o and wish I knew a lot more about it.I love Red Truck.Its a great sipping wine.
I like to buy for the names and labels for my wine rack too.The problem is I keep stealing it and leaving a space empty.
A few cute ones I have are Marilyn Merlot and Fish Eye.

I dunno. You got cheez wiz?

I would gladly come to your party, (and let you cry if you want to) even though I don't know much about wines and usually end up buying the cheap kind for cooking.

I will come.
I will bring wine.
And because EVERYONE has different tastes, no matter WHAT KIND you serve, I'm sure someone will LOVE it and someone will shun it.

I actually found a yummy wine by accident - I wanted something to sip on the deck, just me and dh, nothing fancy and no one to immpress so I wanted to buy a "CHEAP" wine. I saw a rose colored white zin - 2004 - for $6. YUM!

Accidental good choice. See? Who knew????

Haven't tried any of those, but I'm a big fan of cheap wines. I'm another Little Penguin fan, but don't tell Trish I was appalled to see that they're now making a white shiraz. Guess it's the "new" white zinfandel, which just goes against nature.

But if you're buying, I'll drink it. Make sure you get some red, though! I can drink about any red, but a lot of whites make my teeth hurt.

(cross-posted at NIT)

Beachaven Winery is in Clarksville and their wines are sold in Nashville, like Frugal's and J. Barleycorn's. If you drive up to the winery, they have free tastings as well as Jazz on the Lawn through October.

Jazz on the Lawn is free. You can bring your own food but the only alcohol allowed is Beachaven wine.

Sonata (red wine) is very good. I also like Muscadine (white) and Heavenly Peach. All of those are sweet wines.

I think the most I've paid is $20 for a bottle. Jazz, Harmony and the Peach wines run around $10 to $15.

Their website: http://www.beachavenwinery.com which includes prices.

Easy rule of thumb: if the top screws off, or the wine is in a box, pass.

When we lived in the Seattle area and were child-free (and thus had more time and disposable income) we used to have a Friday Wines of the World happy hour. We bought by the country--Chile always treated us well, as did Australia. And Spain, for red wine, which I don't drink.

Whew. Now *I* need a glass of wine . . .

you would have loved the moose drool ale we had in wyoming.

I am so with you on that one!

I just love going into a restaurant here in town and yelling out "give me some fat bastard!"

I want an invite to the party. I'll bring munchies!
I ask the folks at the party store for help when buying wine for a party or gift.

I don't know anything about it either, I just look for the kind with the pretty fall leaves on the label. I'm real refined I know!! Give me a Bud Light and I'm happy.

I like Fat Bastard...the wine, that is. Last time I bought it, the checkout clerk told me how difficult it is to call for a price check on that item. Then the man behind me told me to enjoy my fat bastard. It was a fun day at the grocery store.

Actually, I wanted to tell Susan that now good wines also come with screwtops...really.

Hey, I did come to the party and I did bring wine! Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve, at that! I mean hell, if you're gonna drink, then drink right! As I recall, it went rather quickly! Now give me a bottle of Cakebread cabernet and I'll be your best friend! I can't afford $75 bottles of wine but I SURE do like to drink 'em! ; ) considering where I come from.....!

oh, and FYI... we decided not to "re-vacuate" Houston unless Rita comes straight at us. Then we'll maybe go back home to N.O. Tired of running and driving and do not have Busy Family near enough to make it worth packing up the car and sitting in traffic. So, we stay. I'll update via Busy Mom so long as she doesn't mind sharing her space with an intruder! But we all know how she feels about that! Space sharer for sure!!! : )

I am so there! I don't care what kind of wine you serve. I drink Bud Light anyway. SO high class. I actually have some nice wine and it is just aging in the wine rack. We always say we will wait until we cook a nice meal, and well.. yeah.

another good one to yell for in the store is Menage a Trois........... "price check for menage a trois on aisle three..."

I am clueless about wine as well. My friend brought me a bottle of Funky Llama because I like llamas. It had a really cute label and cork (which I saved). Didn't taste that great, though.

Cool that you get Bully Hill wines down there -- they're from our region. If you ever get to NY, theirs is the BEST winery tour. Very unpretentious & FUN. And they're generous at the tasting! And they have a great cafe -- beaufiful setting overlooking Keuka Lake, the prettiest of the Finger Lakes, IMHO.

Hey! Whats wrong with wine in a box?
I'll come to your party if you have squirt cheese!! ;)

Okay I'll admit it, I do kinda like wine in a box. *ducks as winos throw their corks* I think Fat Bastard wine is decent and I'm not a big fan of reds. Wine just really isn't my thing. Sideways was a pretty funny movie though.

Hi there from an Outback Mom (or Mum, as we say it here!).

I myself favour the Yellowtail - with the picture of the aboriginal kangaroo - got to push this one - we even provided some of the grapes!

Great site! See me at ##How to be an Organized Parent##

Nice blog.I like this.
Nick
http://www.yahoo.com