Such a quest usually is fruitless: demand for top-rate pinot noir fruit is at an all-time high, so are grape prices, and inexpensive pinots are rarely very interesting.
Again, the label almost never offers any help.Īnd although regional characteristics can be helpful in determining the general style of the wine, much of this is never communicated to average consumers.Īlternatives to the most common wines can be a good solution when you're facing a wall full of choices, and the only help you're getting is from a clerk who's not even old enough to legally consume it.ĭomestic pinot noir? Average consumers like this lighter weight red wine, and I'm constantly asked for a good one at about $20 or less. Some people like sauvignon blanc, but they can be shocked if the acid is too high, or if there is too much sugar. But almost never does the label tell you what's inside. One of the most daunting is: what's in each bottle?Ĭhardonnay is supposed to be a rich white wine, but some are delicate or even austere and totally dry. Wine comes in so many different styles that most consumers are faced with endless dilemmas.