Wine Tips
I'm new to wine, how do I know what to serve?
What's new at Argonaut in 2017?
I'm going to dinner at my future in-laws, what should I buy?
My daughter just turned 21, and I would like to buy her a bottle of wine.
What do you recommend?
Which wines are your personal favorites?
What are "private label" wines?
Can you really buy good wine from Colorado?
How can I learn more about wine without spending a fortune?
I'm new to wine, how do I know what to serve?
While a good bottle of wine can be enjoyed with almost anything, you will always be safe with the following:
- Chardonnay with chicken
- Sauvignon Blanc with fish
- Cabernet with beef
What's new at Argonaut in 2017?
We do Staff Picks now which are really popular. We taste wines all week and vote for our favorites. Here are the winners from this quarter. All are very reasonably priced between, $15 - $30:
- Nino Franco Rustico Proseco
- Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet SAuvginon
- La Crema Russian River Chardonnay
- Calanchi Chardonnay
- Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc
- Dry Creek Chenin Blanc
- Dunham 3 Legged Red Blend
- Ettore Germano Nebbiolo
- Guigal Cotes du Rhone
- Uppercut Cabernet Sauvignon
I'm going to dinner at my future in-laws, what should I buy?
Generally, you can buy a very, very good bottle of wine for around $50. My personal favorite is the Duckhorn Merlot. One caveat, if you are buying for a wine connoisseur, and do not know his/her tastes, you can stay on the safe side by buying a bottle of single grower champagne.
My daughter just turned 21, and I would like to buy her a bottle of wine. What do you recommend?
It used to be that Muscato's, (and other sweet wines), were served with dessert. Not anymore! Today's younger generations often prefer a level of sweetness that rivals wine coolers. Particularly popular, is the Folie a Deux, a California wine which can be found for around $10.
Which wines are your personal favorites?
In my line of work, I have tried many of the very best wines from around the world. Fortunately, these can be found at a variety of price points.
- $10 or less
White – Voluptuoso Torrontes or Pleasures Chardonnay
Red – Mud Pie Cabernet Sauvignon or Pleasures Pinot Noir - $10 - $20
White – Baus Family Chardonnay
Red – Benvenuto Malbec or Perrin L'Oustalet Rhone - $20 - $30
White – Groth Chardonnay
Red – Billard Hautes Cotes de Beaune Red - $30 - $40
White –Frank Family Chardonnay
Red – Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon or Frogs Leap Merlot - $40+
White –Louis Latour Meusault
Red –Orin Swift Prisoner
What are "private label" wines?
Argonaut Wine & Liquor is part of the Wine & Spirits Guild, which is a buying group that sells fine wines under its own labels for considerably less than the original price. Two of my favorites are The Culprit Red and Angels Landing Cabernet Sauvignon, both are red. The Culprit Red is a blend similar in style to the Prisoner from Orin Swift.
Can you really buy good wine from Colorado?
Definitely! In recent years, a number of local growers have begun producing excellent wines. I really like the wines by Infinite Monkey Theorem, which include a unique blend of Colorado fruit that comes in a can for around $20. They also do some excellent tours and tastings at their facilities.
How can I learn more about wine without spending a fortune?
I learned much of what I know by tasting various wines. To discover your own favorites or learn more about wine in general, I encourage you to attend local wine tastings. Argonaut Wine and Liquor holds tastings on the fourth Tuesday of every month in conjunction with a local charity. This year, our tastings benefit Project Angel Heart. They are held from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM at the Park Hill Golf Course.
Great New Gift Ideas
90s Club Gift Box
6 bottles of 90 point Wine prepackaged in a gift box with tasting notes.
Was $106.99 - Now only $59.99
Includes a corkscrew & wine wheel.