Well, it’s Wednesday. But more importantly, it’s WINE WEDNESDAY! Yes, I am doing it. Dedicating an entire post to talk about wine. But stay with me here, you might be able to reap the rewards of me being WINO COTTER. 
You all know I love wine. But let me tell you why. Wine to me is more than a drink. It’s science, it’s an art, it’s culture. And I love learning and embracing all three of those. In fact, I started traveling and studying abroad when I was 12. I have traveled to over 4 different continents and over a dozen different countries. Heck, I married a kiwi, didn’t I? haha. Needless to say, when you travel, you learn about the region, the food, the people, and the WINE.
I enjoy a glass about every night. It’s always a slow savoring glass. So I can enjoy it. So I can let it breathe. So I can taste it’s fullness.
So today I will talk about wine. I know many will skip this post, and that’s okay. Wine may not interest you. But I like to share my interests with others. Here goes… cheers!
My favorite affordable wines. Yes, some are from New Zealand because I am bias. But the others are great finds that you can’t go wrong with. You might even call them staple wines.
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Château Crisp from NZ- Sauvignon Blanc
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Ruta 22 Malbec- 2011 –>a great year for Argentinian Malbecs
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Coppola Rosso & Bianco- great table red blend
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Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin
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The Show Malbec (2011 is best)
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The HeadSnapper Malbec (2011)
New Zealand Favorites
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White Cliff Pinot Gris
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Mill Road Pinot Noir
Others not pictured but still favorites and affordable (Under $20)
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Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2010
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La Crema Chardonnay 2011
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Apothic Red 2011
Usually Randall’s (Safeway) have great deals on these wines ever so often, but so does Costco. And I’ve even noticed that Target has an increasing selection of good choice wines. Never hurts to look their either.
Want more ideas? Here’s a great list for 10 great wines under $15. CHECK IT! Or you can follow my pinterest wine board.
Fun WINE articles and WINE charts.
- Nutrition facts on wine via Wine Folly
- Fundamentals of Wine glassware
Pairings and more.
The different types of Wine by style and taste
And last but not least… my NEW 6 bottle personal wine cellar!
Expressing my love for wine via interwebs definitely has it perks. The lovely crew at Staples sent me this 6 rack wine cellar to review and to put to good use!
Oh, and the offered to giveaway one personal wine cellar too!
But first, let’s talk about the cellar, shall we?
Full disclosure: Staples.com provided me with these products for review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are strictly my own. Feel free to shop their entire line of mini refrigerators online.
I’ve had this cellar for 2 weeks now. So far, I adore it! I mainly store my red wine in there because it’s way too hot in TX to keep wine out in the kitchen and keeping it in the fridge is too cold, in my opinion. This cellar has personal temperature settings for both red and white wine. I keep it at 54F to store my red wine. It has helped my wine last longer and stay truer to taste. Which is obviously very important to me (us). It’s pretty small and light so you can place in on top of your refrigerator or on the counter top in the corner. It’s not loud and very easy to use. Plus it looks quite nice. Perks all around.
Here are some of the product details from the Staples website.
Store a few of your favorites in this elegant, compact wine cellar.
- Keep up to 6 bottles of red or white wine on hand and at an optimum temperature
- Features an electronic temperature control with LED display
- 14.75″H x 9.9″W x 20.25″D, 20.3 lbs.
- Thermoelectric cooling system creates a vibration-free environment
- 2 full-width chrome racks provide secure and steady storage
- Double pane insulated glass door to further protect your wine from the outside environment
- The small size makes this model a perfect fit for your countertop.
- Color: Silver
- 1-year parts and labor warranty
I think this has to be one of my favorite giveaways. Sharing the passion here! Happy Wine Wednesday.
What’s in your glass?
Cheers! Literally!
LC (wino cotter)
But, i would like to drink Sunday because this i am free from my work. I like the Coppola Rosso & Bianco wine taste because its taste is sweet. Now this time i have not wine cellar i just buy one bottle and drink it.
What is the best kind to drink if you are a Newbie to wine tasting!
i’d go for riesling or pinot grigio
I love a glass of sweet Riesling on a hot summer night.
We make our own wine so this would be perfect! I would love to learn more about making our own wine and getting more creative with it.
no way! i would love to try yours someday!
I want to learn to make my own wine. My grandfather used to make his own when I was growing up. I thought it was so neat and I’d like to try it myself!
I want to learn more about sulfates and if there are any pros to drinking organic. I feel like that’s a growing trend and I don’t necessarily know if the price tag is worth it.
I love love love pinot noir… It is my favorite red wine and goes great with everything!
My favorite red is La Crema Pinot Noir, but for cheapy wine I tend to go for Cupcake Red Velvet. For white I love Kim Crawford Sav Blanc — but really ANY kind of Sav Blanc works 🙂
I want to learn more about what food goes best with certain wine! I love red wine with food but like to drink white for celebrations!
I definitely want to be more knowledgable about wine and food pairings. Need to take a sommelieres course 🙂
I recently fell in love with Bex Riesling. I don’t usually like white wine but its perfect for summer!
I love any good red. But in the summer, I like a nice cold white. Just depends on the day. 🙂
I’m loving the NZ shoutout, White Cliff is one of my fav’s too! Now that we are in winter I’ve been loving the red wine though – feels warmer? Hah Awesome post Linds!
what’s your favorite NZ red?
I love the wine fridge. I currently have a built in shelf that I would love to take out and replace with a fridge!
Well you know I love wine! We’ve suffered from Wine Creep over the years though (but I am almost 50 so you’ll probably get there too eventually. It’s natural evolution). It’s rare we find a red under $20 that we like, but there are many whites at that price point!). But, my favorite chardonnay right now is Rombauer, which is closer to $30.
A fav huh? This summer I’m big on strawberry moscato – I’m loving it! We have a local place that has a fabulous one!
I want to learn how to enjoy red wine more. I am not so big on it, and I feel like I’m missing out!
I think this is the perfect giveaway for you! And what an awesome thing to have in the kitchen. Perfect for all my favorite whites!
I’m fascinated by wine pairings. I’d love to learn more!
I love Moscato wine!
I want to know if there are any realllly sweet red wines out there!
Oh…favorite wine…anything red but not sweet and under $15
Just found your website – somehow I made the switch from looking for green smoothie recipes to a topic I like better….wine….look forward to reading this one now
I would love to learn more about wine/food pairings and wine/cheese pairings!
I would be so excited to win this giveaway! It has my name written all over it 🙂 I have been expanding my wine selection to enjoy more dry white wines! My glass tonight was Estancia Sauvignon Blanc, excellent white wine 🙂
good choice!
I’d love to learn more about pairing food with wine!
My favorite wine is Clover Hill Concord Grape (I love the sweet stuff)
I would love to learn about the wine making process!
My favorite wine is Pinot Noir or a nice NZ Sauvignon Blanc
I want to learn more about pairings! PS I love this giveaway
Thanks for the wine temp chart! We have wine every Friday evening and I like to serve it at room temperature, while a frequent guest of ours brings it cold.
I want to learn more about pairing with wine. I know quite a bit after working in restaurants for a long time but I love pairing wine with food and there are always “new” things to learn!
This is an awesome giveaway!! And I love all of your details about wines and good ones under $20 – you list some fab ones, my friend! and now I’d like a glass of wine, or 8 😉
I’m a dry red wine girl…Cabs in particular! 🙂 But I also really like Malbecs, they can be fabulous if you get the right one!
I do like some white wines, moscato and some table whites NO Chardonnay though, can’t do that one for some reason!
OMG I NEED this. I am such a Wino. My favorite wine is Kendall Jackson Chardonnay or Apothic Red!! Also love Alamos Malbec! The list could really go on and on 🙂
I really love sweet wines (but am growing to appreciate others as well). So Moscato, Guertz, sparkling wines are my favorite.
I want to learn more about what wines go with what dishes. Those little charts are great for that!
My favorite wine is the Cabernet Sauvignon from Francis Ford Coppola. I love his family’s vineyard!
oh you know i would like that!
I want to learn how to enjoy white wine hahaha. We have SO MUCH WINE, I definitely need one of these!
i believe i will be getting my own cellar soon so i won’t be entering the giveaway but i obviously adored this post and love the idea of listing some fave wines. i may do that when i do my review post! i love both gnarly head red zin and apothic red. i also enjoy any wines by estancia!
I’ve been on a cab kick lately, bold and delicious! (pre-preggo, of course)
I want to learn more about the grapes themselves.
I’m a big fan of Cabs, Pinot Gris and Chianti. My favorite wine from all time was this cheap bottle my husband and I would get from a small store near our apartment in Rome, Italy…but we always forgot to write down the name of the wine! The label was white with red letters and I think the winery started with a “C.” It’s plagued us for years trying to remember this cheap but oh-so-good wine we bought.
* sigh *
I’ve always wanted to learn more about the actual process of making wine…the grapes that are used and why, what makes wine smell/taste different, etc.
Very cool blog post. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! And WOW, that little wine cellar is SWEET!
I love wine from New Zealand! Do you have a favorite Pinot Grigio?
Santa Margarita is pretty good! http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/pinot+grigio+santa+margarita
My favorite is Pinot Grigio!
My favorite is a white burgandy from Imagery in California. LOVE!!
i gotta look that one up!
I still want to learn more about the varietals and the grapes themselves. Oh and I know NOTHING about ports.
Luscious Lips – a red blend from Faulkner Winery (Temecula, CA) – I’d like to buy a case a year but maybe can’t always afford that….
Oh, I want to learn about how different wines are made, actually. I love it when I get bits of info from Soms.
I know this is so uncool but I recently tried Picnic Table Pink – an Outdoor Vino wine in a looks-like-glass plastic bottle. It was a sweet wine and I loved the idea that I could pack it outdoors without worrying about it breaking! This was sampled at The Naked Winery in Hood River, Oregon. Kicking myself for not buying a bottle.
I have wine occasionally when I go out to dinner. However, the one I absolutely adore and keep in stock is WellRead from Trader Joe’s.
Love Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel.. love that you included that one! Excellent post; thanks for sharing!
the cupcake moscato im drinking right now is one of my favorites 🙂
i guess i want to learn more about the benefits. I love wine and will drink it anyways, but it would be nice to know which ones might be better for me.
This is a great giveaway, too bad I don’t like wine! I will share with all my friends who do though! Cheers.
I loveeeee Malbecs.
I want to learn more about how to distinguish different types of grapes in wines!
I love a sweet, sparkling white like Moscato!
I want to learn what wines go with what foods
Thank you for the information on wine pairing. I am pretty clueless about that. I would really like to learn more about cooking with different wines.
Of your list I have only tried the La Crema, but I LOVED it. And that’s rare because I usually only like red wines. One of my favorites of all time is Castle Rock Syrah!
Lindsay Cotter! You are my long lost best friend! We have much in common you and I :). Old gnarly Zin is one of my favs. We live in Canada so another fav of mine is East Dell Black Cab, but my fav fav expensive bottle would be Silver Oak cab Sav. We were gifted a bottle from my parents for our wedding, it’s supposed to peak in 2024 🙂
I pretty much know zero about wine! Well except for the fact that im not a big fan of red wine! So I’d love to learn anything about it!
I LOVE red wine! The Justin Cabernet Sauvignon and Twenty Bench Cabernet Sauvignon are my two favorites! I like them dry and spicy. Awesome giveaway!
i gotta remember those! thx!
I tend to love Malbecs! There’s a great one at Trader Joe’s… haha my budget.
oh how i want a TJ’s to come to Austin!
This is the best thing ever. I have never seen a better giveaway. I would LOVE to learn more about wine in general, especially the different types of wines and grapes used!
My favorite wine varietal – Cabernet Sauvignon – Big, juicy California
Justin
Caymus
Happy Canyon
J Lohr
I adore Wine Wednesday! I would love to learn more about Australian wines. I have developed quite the California red pallet, but would like to widen my pallet and try new varietals!
I would love to learn more about all the different wines each country makes. I know they vary and I would love to become more educated on it.
This giveaway makes me a happy girl! I love enjoying a glass of wine and one of my all time favorites (affordable) is also Gnarly head.
This is a fun and helpful post to me because I don’t know anything about wine. Then I get completely overwhelmed when I am at the store trying to decide what to buy!
what a fantastic taste of wine you have and a fantastic giveaway!!
My favorite wine is a very very dry rose – three WA favorites are Brian Cater, Dellile and Mark Ryan – gorgeous Roses for the summer!
I want to learn more about smaller wine regions focused on organic growing!
my favorite type of wine is pinot noir, but i also love a crisp glass of sauvignon blanc in the summer! =)
this is an amazing giveaway! i would love to go wine tasting in santa barbara or napa in order to learn more about the different types of wine and the process of making it!
My fave wine is a cab by Silver Oak. Pricey but definatly worth it.
LOVE THIS POST. I need to learn more about paring wine. I’m definatly going to study your chart above.
My favorite wine is anything that’s red or white and lightly sweet. Also ones that are lighter on the alcohol content because I’m a ridiculous lightweight 🙂
This is seriously an amazing giveaway. I LOVE wine, especially red, but really know nothing about it, so this was fun to read! I find awesome deals on wine at Trader Joe’s (even on wine made from organic grapes – like around $3-4 a bottle)! I’ll have to check out Target next time I’m there too! As if I need yet another thing to shop for at Target 😉
I am pregnant so I am soooo excited to drink wine again!!! Any recommendations on my first sip?
Interesting! I’m not a big drinker, but I find wine pairings really interesting. Definitely curious to learn more.
I am all about sangria and fruity wines!
Best way to store wine to keep it longer!
I would also like to learn how to order wine when there is nothing on the menu that I recognize!
No need to enter me but I wanted to say it was great to learn more about you – how very very interesting about your travels!!!
I would love to learn how to detect the flavors in wine that I read about in the descriptions…”this wine has rich tobacco, leather, plum, chocolate notes”…what?! I am never able to detect these notes!
gosh, I wish we could have a glass of Malbec together! xo
I love wine too! All the education you posted on here has my brain swirling.
Buena Vista from napa
Best way to select & store wines
Oops, just saw how I’m supposed to enter (duh). I would love to know how to keep wine longer! It takes me a while to finish a bottle (hubs likes wine but prefers beer).
La Crema Chardonnay is my favorite! I love white wine (especially chardonnay) but I’m trying to wean myself to red. Actually, one of the things I don’t like about it, especially in the summer, is that it’s warm…so this wine fridge would be perfect (my parents have a larger one that I envy. oh, and side note, it’s also great to keep coconut oil in during the summer!). I had some great Malbec when I was in Argentina, obviously. Next time I’m bringing a hard-sided suitcase to bring more back 😉
i will drink whatever wine you put in front of me.
Yes!!! I love wine Wednesday. And I love all the wines you chose to show us!!
I think we are to comment three times…? So another thing I want to learn about wine is different cocktails you can make with it… beyond sangria and spritzers.
I want to learn more about wine pairing …like I know the basics (red wine/white wine with basic meals) but I want to try something where it makes the food (a strawberry or bit of cheese) taste almost entirely different when drank with the wine.
Nutritional facts as in calories? Pshaw.
Wine has negative calories because … um… you burn them by smiling when you drink it.
That wine cellar is too cool. Never saw one that small! Perfect!
You know I love my grassy crisp Sav Blancs. Currently I ball on a budget and there is Rex Goliath Sav Blanc in my glass. I also love a good spicy peppery zinfandel (LOVE Ravenswood) and that Gnarly Head is great too. Smooth actually!
my wine muse
I was t to learn about pino blanc!
I am very partial to Spanish Reds… but I also love Liquid Wisdom from the finger lakes, a great cheap white wine!
My favorite wine is any red, but the dryer, the better!
I want to learn more about the different grape varieties and how they make different flavored wines. It’s all about the science, obviously. 😉
I love learning about what wines go with what foods. I do not know much about anything besides Chardonnay! I am a white wine snob!
I want to learn how you always find the best deals on good wine. 😉
I’d love to learn more about wine pairings with food!
My favorite type of wine is shiraz!
Whoa, I am wayyyyyyy toooo distracted to even read what you wrote because this ZESTY Italian Dressing AD is shaking his “dressing” at me! LOL!!!!
But really, I won’t lie to you – HATE WINE. LOL! I can’t drink it but when I did back in the day, yuck! I always told people not to waste it on me! LOL!
My favorite wines are Bridlewood 175 Blend and Edna Valley Chardonnay
I’ve been working for a wine company for over a year and have learned so much already, but I still would like to see someone make wine from start to finish. I need to make it up to the vineyards in Santa Ynez someday….
I would also like to know what the best wine is at a very low price, say $5-6 per bottle? Is it possible to be good for so cheap?
I would love to learn more of what pairs well together. We are totally new to drinking wine!
Oh and my favorite wine is Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet. We celebrated with a bottle after Kirk’s last Ironman. 🙂
What I need to learn about wine is WHY DOES THE BOTTLE GET EMPTY SO FAST?! 😉 But I might already know the answer to that one.
You knew I wouldn’t skip this post!! I love learning about new styles, like the Sémillons I tasted in the Hunter Valley a week or so ago. 🙂 And I love the images you pinned, great references.
There’s a restaurant near us called Cooper’s Hawk Winery and they make their own wine. Their winter blend is amazing!
I’d love to learn how to pick out distinct flavors in dark red wines.
Mmmm wine! I’m a Reisling girl, but would love to learn more about some others out there!
I would love to learn more about pairings. I know very basics. Like I prefer red with red meat and pastas, white with seafood… but I have no actual basis for any of this.
I am an equal opportunity wine drinker (as long as it is not sweet)
I wish I could get Rafflecotor at work (it’s blocked). I have a wine cooler, but it’s full. Haha.
I love your attitude towards wine – it really is an education. I geek out on it and plan trips around it. Like Napa next week. Bam! Wish you were coming!!!
I want to know how to get wine in my belly right now! A good blush wine! 😀 I can’t believe you’ve traveled so much! What a lucky girl! And I would definitely try wines from multiple countries just to see what’s different about them!
OH.EM.GEEEEEEE!!!! I’d love to learn more about white wines – they’re my favorite!
I want to learn more about reds. I have always gravitated to white wine.
Moscato is my favorite wine!
I love Malbecs and Tempranillos, but a good Pinot is always nice in the summer.
My husband and I love wine! We’ve been to Italy twice and would love to take some wine centered trips to other parts of the world. We’re actually going to a wine tasting tonight!
I just tried that Apothic red recently and absolutely loved it! So yummy. From New Zealand, my favorites are the Marlborough region of Sauvingnon Blanc–my summer favorite.
Yay for Wine Wednesdays!
I just bought a case of Chasing Venus sb, have you tried it? I usually like a french rose, pretty and delicious, but tried the sauvingnon blanc for something different. I want to practice enjoying a “slow savoring glass” each night. I’ve been thinking about getting a wine cellar for aging goat cheese.
Nespresso coffee 😉
I want to learn how to properly “taste” wine. I’ve been on several wine tours, but I can never pick up on the subtleties. That said, I still love me some vin. I’m planning on hosting a wine tasting/al fresco dinner with some friends soon!
I love malbec and pinot noir
I love wine! But it drives me nuts when they label the different notes, fruits, woods, chocolates, etc you should be able to taste in them, and I can’t taste that at ALL!! Grrr. I feel like I have a really awesome palate, so I would love to be able to pick out those flavor notes 🙂
i want to learn more about cabs & pinot noirs – my favorite kind of reds!
I love wine and here in Switzerland, we have some really delicious ones. Problem is, that I react on red wine – my favorite – with hot flushes, burning feet and insomnia. Weird, ey? It’s so sad. So I stay with sparkling whine or whites wine with water mixed. And if somebody opens a bottle of Amarone de Valpolicella I eff on the hot flushes and drink it anyway 🙂
I want to learn more about the different wine regions and why the regions specialize in those specific wines.
Best post ever!! (OK maybe not because you always have great ones but this one is way up there!!!)
I LOVE wine. My favorite wines are sweet white wines (I love German wines!).
I think what I would really like to learn about wines is where they come from and then I want to learn about the people who make it and own the winery!!!
This is great. I’m one for red wine on any occasion. Cabernet is my top choice with Pinot Noir coming in close second 🙂
I just enjoy a lovely red with pairing food sometimes. I’m really not that picky. 🙂
Oh my Lord. LOL I didn’t know you were such a winey, Cotter! 😛 I also didn’t know most of the fine wine science stuff! Great info, for sure.
I love wine!!! I am a sweet wine kinda gal but I would love to learn more about red wine and acquire a taste for a good red!
Skip this post? No way! This is definitely one of MY favorite giveaways, too! I’d love to have a personal wine cellar–especially during these super warm months. Like you, LEARNING about the wine is so interesting to me. There’s so much put into the process and it’s fascinating to hear what different wine makers do and want from their wine. Great resources in this post, too–thanks!
I seriously love me some wine. Can’t wait until I can have some again in ~20 weeks haha.
Awesome info! Thanks for sharing!
I like a good Italian wine.
You know I love wine!
Costco in Texas sells WINE??? OMG I cannot wait to see if the one in Houston does…Grocery stores in NJ do not sell wine. HA!
I’m not a connoisseur but I will enjoy a glass every now and then. I would like to know which wines go best with seafood.
I’m definitely not a wine connoisseur, but I do enjoy an occasional glass or two. This was a very interesting read, and I’d love to learn what kinds of wines to pair with certain types of food.
I love moscato, like to sip wine on a quiet night , and am trying to like reds!
I love a good French or Italian Pinot Noir. I’m definitely more French or Italian – love Italians best, maybe that’s the heritage factor 😉 I also like a good Beaujolais and Louis Jadot may be my fave.
Oh you know i like wine too. I still haven’t been able to get into the fuller-bodied wines yet. I think all of it really is fascinating. We learned that the glass type really and truly can make a difference. Also, aerating helps too. I’d love space for a wine fridge. Let’s see, none of that answers the question of what to learn though huh? Anything…does that count?
HOLY COPPOLA! I almost fell out my chair reading this! I’ve been eyeing for a wine fridge/cellar since the same is to be said for FL – even the inside of my darkest cabinets are humid. womp womp.
I love reading about each winery’s fermenting processes and the different grapes/fruits/barreling (various types of woods) and how each gives each wine their unique flavors. Pairings are always good to know, too for having the perfect dinner compliments.
You know I’m slightly biased to the NZ wines as well! 😉 But right now I’m seriously digging this sweet malbec from a local St. Augustine winery – San Sebastian.
my glass is water BUT the husband’s big carl?!
WINE 🙂
I love this! I didn’t grow up with wine, so I feel like I’ve been playing catch up learning ever since.
Pinot Grigio is my favorite wine
I need to learn more about pairing wines!
unfortunately I’m not on twitter.
I learned a ton just from reading your article (thanks for all the info.) but I want to learn more about all the different kinds of wines, which I’m sure involves A LOT of tastings. I’m ok with that. 😉
Call me crazy, but wine & I just don’t go together. I’m not sure what it is about the taste, but I haven’t found one I enjoy yet =(
I think once you do, you would enjoy it. Not crazy at all friend. It takes time. But then again, you may never like it. At least you like traveling! hehe