Thirsty Thursday is the quest to drink good, cheap wine that is $10.00 and under. Want some more recommendations? Check out the past cheap wine posts on Thirsty Thursday.
Everyone should go to wine country at least once. (And by that, I mean somewhere that is a BIG producer of wine like California or Washington/Oregon, not Missouri.)
Whenever I suggest this to my friends, they look at me strangely and say, “I don’t know enough about wine to go tasting.”
But see, that is the EXACT reason you should go to wine country.
No where else are you able to try as many wines at so many different price points. This massive tasting helps you develop your pallet. Wines that you never thought you would enjoy before (like Cabs or Merlots), may become your new top picks.
Why? Because you are experiencing the “whole sensory” of wine. The taste, the smells, and the scenery.
And I’ll be honest. When I review most inexpensive wines, I’m only able to experience one of those – the taste.
Since I live in Kansas, the scenery is definitely not there. And most inexpensive wines have no amazing aromas to discuss. Sure, there are times when I can smell ripe fruit or a leathery undertone. But those smells are nothing like the glorious smells I experience in wine country.
Until now.
Meet the 2008 Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon from California’s Lake and Mendocino County.
This organic wine has the most amazing nose of ripe fruits – like cherries, currents, and a hint of raspberry – with cedar, spice, and vanilla. Seriously, I could have spent 20 minutes just smelling the wine, it was so pleasing.
It is a traditional cab that is rich and full with a hint of smokiness and lingers with the right amount of tannins.
And as a traditional Cab, it is dying to be paired with steak or a salad with bleu cheese.
It is a wine that can easily hang out with much more expensive Cabs – so it is a great buy at under $14.00. (Or if you’re like me, buy a case so you can get the 10% discount.)
Don’t forget to use the Thirsty Thursday Wine List when creating your wine shopping list.
Note: This wine should be available at most liquor outlets. Please be responsible when you drink wine – and never drive drunk…seriously, that is just stupid in this day in age.
What about you? Have you tried a great wine lately? Link up or leave a comment – because life is too short to drink bad wine.