I have tried a few wines over the years, but for the most part I haven't been satisfied with the experience. On my last birthday I resolved to begin drinking a glass of red wine with dinner every evening. Mostly this is because of the studies which indicate a glass of red wine every day can help prevent heart disease. I'm keeping track of the wines I try in hopes of enjoying them more as I learn what I like. Here is my on-going diary of wine tasting.
| Date | Winemaker | Wine | Year | Price | Description | Alcohol | Qty | Try? | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/2/98 | Bolla | Valpoicella | 1996 | $8.99 | Italian Dry Red Wine | 12.0% | 750ml | No | Tough first wine? |
| 10/6/98 | Bolla | Bardolino | 1996 | $8.99 | Italian Dry Red Wine | 11.5% | 750ml | No | A little dryer? |
| 10/10/98 | Beringer | Gamay Beujolais | 1996 | $8.99 | California Red Wine | 12.2% | 750ml | No | No better. |
| 10/15/98 | Post Familie Vineyards | Red Muscadine | - | $6.49 | Arkansas Red Table Wine | 11.0% | 750ml | Maybe | Tart but sweet. Sylvia loved it. |
| 10/20/98 | Meridian Vineyards | Cabernet Sauvignon | 1995 | $9.99 | California Red Wine | 13.5% | 750ml | Yes | Better, maybe I like Cabernet Sauvignon. |
| 10/26/98 | Meridian Vineyards | Merlot | 1996 | $9.99 | California Red Wine | 13.3% | 750ml | No | Not good. |
| 10/29/98 | Meridian Vineyards | Syrah | 1996 | $15.99 | Paso Robles Red Wine | 13.2% | 750ml | Okay | Slightly better than Merlot. |
| 11/1/98 | Walnut Crest | Merlot | 1998 | $9.99 | Rapel Valley Red Wine | 12.0% | 1.5L | Okay | Maybe I don't hate Merlot. Consumer Reports liked the Walnut Crest wines. |
| 11/9/98 | Georges Dubceuf | Merlot | 1997 | - | French Red Wine | 12.0% | 1.5L | Okay | Not as good as the Walnut Crest. |
| 11/17/98 | Lindemans | Shiraz Cabernet | 1996 | - | Cawarra SE Australia | 12.5% | 1.5L | No | Not a good mix of grapes for me. |
| 11/30/98 | Lindemans | Cabernet Sauvignon | 1996 | $10.95 | Bin 45 SE Australia | 13.0% | 750ml | No | Very tart. |
| 12/3/98 | Leonard Kreusch | Zeller Schwarze Katz | 1996 | $13.99 | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer White Wine | 8.5% | 1.5L | Yes | A very smooth German white wine. A little tart toward the end of the bottle. |
| 12/7/98 | Georges Dubceuf | Cabernet-Sauvignon | 1997 | $10.99 | French Red Wine | 12.0% | 1.5L | Okay | A little tart. |
| 12/16/98 | Walnut Crest | Cabernet Sauvignon | 1997 | $9.99 | Rapel Valley Red Wine | 12.5% | 1.5L | * | It was Walnut Crest and a Cabernet Sauvignon but it tasted horrible! My mom, with a more experienced palate, explained to me I was drinking vinegar. So maybe some of the ones I tried earlier that were really bad were sour. |
| 12/18/98 | Wiederkehr | Beau Noir | - | $6.49 | Arkansas Red Wine | 12% | 750mL | Yes | A very good, easy drinking wine! |
| 12/20/98 | Woodbridge | Cabernet Sauvignon | 1996 | - | California Red Wine, Lot 296 | 12.5% | 1.5L | No | Very tart. |
| 1/5/99 | Mondavi Vineyards | Cabernet Sauvignon | 1996 | - | California Red Wine | 12.6% | 1.5L | Okay | A little tart. |
| 2/2/99 | Black Opal | Chardonnay | 1996 | $10.99 | SE Australian White Wine | 12.0% | 750ml | No | Too tart. |
| 2/3/99 | Post Familie Vinyards | White Muscadine | - | - | Arkansas White Table Wine | 11.0% | 750ml | Okay | Sweet and fruity. |
| 2/4/99 | Andre Champagne Cellars | Blush | - | - | California Pink Champagne | 10.5% | 750ml | Okay | Good for a champagne. |
| 2/5/99 | Dry Creek Vinyard | Cabernet Sauvignon | 1995 | - | Sonoma County Red Wine | 13.5% | 750ml | No | Too tart. |
| 2/16/99 | Glass Mountain Quarry | Merlot | 1996 | - | California Red Wine | 13% | 750ml | No | Tart |
| 2/18/99 | Schmitt Sohne | Pfalz | 1997 | - | German Red Wine | 11.5% | 750ml | Okay | A little tart. |
| 2/22/99 | Jakob Sebastian | Spatburgunder | 1998 | - | German Red Wine | 11.0% | 750ml | Okay | A little strong. |
| 2/28/99 | Piat Pere & Fils | Le Piat D'or | - | - | French Red Wine | 11.0% | 1.5L | Okay | Smoother |
| 3/15/99 | Santa Rita | Cabernet Sauvignon | 1996 | - | Rapel Valley Red Wine | 13.0% | 750ml | Okay | A little tart. |
| 3/22/99 | Wiederkehr | Cabernet Sauvignon | - | - | Arkansas Red Wine | 12.0% | 750ml | Okay | A little tarter. |
| 4/1/99 | Post Familie Vinyards | Cabernet Sauvignon | 1994 | - | Arkansas Red Wine | 12.0% | 750ml | Okay | A little tart. |
| 4/14/99 | Wiederkehr | American Burgundy | - | - | Arkansas Red Wine | 12.0% | 750ml | Okay | Fairly smooth. |
| 4/16/99 | Beringer | Gamay Beaujolais | 1997 | - | California Red Wine | 12.8% | 750ml | No | Strong and tart. |
| 4/17/99 | Wiederkehr | Noble (Red Muscadine) | - | - | Arkansas Red Wine | 12.0% | 750ml | Yes | Smooth and sweet. |
| 4/22/99 | Wiederkehr | Sangria | - | - | Arkansas Red Wine | 11.5% | 1.5L | Yes | Very sweet. Might be too sweet for some. |
| 2/1/00 | Julius Kayser & Co. | Zeller Schwarze Katz | 1995 | - | German White Wine | 9% | 1.5L | Yes | Smooth and sweet, just the way I like it! |