Which wine do you choose?

Nya, nya, nya, na. I live in one of New Zealand's best wine-growing regions and am spoilt for choice. However, when I lived in the UK, I did buy quite a lot of Loire wines which an earlier poster recommended. I also bought one of the loveliest red wines I had ever tasted and was amazed to find that it was Australian when I first tasted it. Stupid woman – I can't remember what it was called.

When I first visited Oz, it was with Monty Python's Australian Wine sketch in mind... It was fascinating to discover that Australians were taking their viticulture seriously, and making some really delightful slurp! That was at the beginning of the 1980s.

The BYO Restaurants, strategically situated next door to a bottle shop were an excellent ida, I thought. You ordered your meal, then, while it was being prepared you repaired to the bottle shop and chose your wine. The restaurant would open and serve it, but as they weren't selling it, they didn't need an expensive full licence - a win all round! Australia called itself 'The Lucky Country' - and they weren't far wrong.

Ariadne, friends visit Perth and have found some fantastic W.Aus wines, not usually available here. Happy hunting!

Just to sound a slightly different note, I'mone of those who enjoys a well-oaked Chardonnay - I like the peachy, melony kind.

I love the white Riojas! After chemo, I found to my dismay that my migraines were stimulated more than ever by red wine, so I had to bid it farewell (I still have a taste of someone's just for the memory). Ditto spirits, so no more Talisker. But I do miss the velvet of a good French red wine. There is still a bottle of Chateau - Neuf lurking somewhere...

We visited Bourgogne often before all this, so I had my fill. More or less..

However, this meant that I had to spend time finding out about white wines, and the Rioja was my first discovery. Then a visit to the Napa valley meant the Californian wines - lots of Chardonnay, of course, but also some great Sauvignon Blanc and Gewutztraminer.

In South Africa, it was Sauvignon for every day! Off to Australia for five weeks in August, and our friends in Adelaide have lined up Banrock Station, Barossa and somewhere else. But Perth is looking good too. Will report back.

Do you notice that this thread really appealed to me?

I like a nice New Zealand Sauvingnon Blanc. Oyster Bay is a nice one

A few years ago in Las Vegas, we bought a bottle of wine from a local store to drink in our room after walking round all evening- I wasn't going to pay hotel prices. It was by a Californian company called Barefoot. It's available now in UK and I think we've gone through every variety and have never had one we've not enjoyed. It's sometimes on offer in Supermarkets.
Bargain Booze [I do wish they'd change their name] often have 2 bottles for £11. Bought some bottles of Merlot and Shiraz there yesterday.

I here there is going to be a Prosecco shortage next year as the harvest is not looking good. Its not my tipple- perhaps only an occasional one I don't really go for bubbles - too gassy for my digestion. I did however enjoy a bottle of M & S Vintage Cava at a family celebration the other day but I like it bone dry so it might not suit everyone.

Gewürtztraminer is delightful, but you can keep your Earl Grey tea!

I do remember having dinner with a young lady, and buying a bottle of the Alsatian thinking she would like it - she found it too spicy for her taste.

I mostly drink claret, but can say I seldom meet a wine I don't like - there was a South African red years ago that had a tarry taste - never did finish it - but if the locals drink it so will I!

Gewurtztraminer is my favourite chilled white wine, it is like drinking a meadow of flowers - gosh I sound like Gilly Goulden, do you remember her ?

I would imagine this wine is for people who like perfumed drink/food such as Earl Grey tea and lavender biscuits, as I do.

Chablis is delicious too.

I like Bardolino for a lightish lunchtime red. For a fuller bodied red there is always Barolo or an Amarone if it's a celebration. For white wine I like Muscadet, Macon Villages or Asti. At Christmas Aldi were selling Franciacorta which is the absolute best Italian sparkling white. £14.99 and worth every penny!

I have a lovely South African unaoaked Chardonnay at the moment Jean Garde Boschendal - very fresh, very full bodied and lovely at only £6 (25% of is you buy 6 bottles ) Sainsbury

We tend not to drink French wine very often these days, but both Bourgueil and Chinon, from opposite sides of the Loire, are very good.

There has never yet been a rioja that I don't like, even though they can vary. I'm currently drinking my way through a bottle of pinot noir, from Bouchard aine & fils, but I think it's one we brought back from France. Merlot is ok, but a bit bland. Tesco does a good red hock that is a good lighter alternative to port when it comes to the cheese course. Sadly I am limiting myself to only a small glass or two at weekends, but once I have lost some weight I fully intend to increase my consumption!

If it's white, fizzy and dry I will drink it, especially in the summer. Champagne for preference, but Prosecco is lovely, and there are some cavas out there that are better than many champagnes.

I really hate oakiness in wines, so Chardonnay is a big Nono. Some tempranillos are a bit too oaky for me, so are a bit of a gamble, as are some Shirazes.

Yes, to White Zinfandel - that's my favourite, and I like the fact that it's usually quite a low alcohol level (Gallo is only 8.5%).

I like White Zinfandel and White Grenache, both of which are pink. I tend to go for Sauvignon Blanc in a white but they vary a fair bit and it depends what I'm eating. I don't like drinking wine on its own.

I like soft reds.

At the moment, apart from an occasional sip of DH's (that might be one sip in a fortnight), I'm not drinking wine as it gives me a headache. This may be something to do with my medication.

McGuigan Bin 578 Merlot; Hardys Bankside Shiraz; Wolf Blass Yellow Label; Yellowtail; Oxford Landing. Can't comment on white wine I'm afraid - only put it in risotto!

Also like the Aldi's Toro Loco Tempranillo.

rose my favourite at the moment is Yellowtail Merlot and my DD the white Yellowtail.

white I am not usually one for fizzy white as I prefer red, but I agree about the Camel Valley Cornish.

Waitrose had an English wine tasting in the store today. The sparkling one I tried was very good, but it's difficult to tell from the thimbleful they pour for you! They were also offering cubes of English goat's cheese which was the blandest goat's cheese I've ever tasted!

Now that I would enjoy!

Sorry Harrigran! I haven't had a drop! I pad has its own mind tonight! x

Harriman and Whitewave we must meet up for a champagne fest ! x

I usually have a glass with my evening meal, my most favourite is Sancerre or Chablis, but there are a couple of reds I like - also very partial to champagne and one of the best I have tasted is a Cornish sparkling from the Camel Valley

Grannytwice the pink champagne I prefer is Nicolas Feuillatte, not as acidic as some.