Poll: Your preferred drinking (country of origin)

Just thought it might be interesting to gauge:

If you could only drink wine (grown and produced) from one country for the rest of your life, which would it be?

Results may be predictable... but maybe not.

[David M. Bueker]

If I could only drink wine from one country it would be the "European Union"

I picked France due to the multitude of options, but I would not be happy with just France.

It was a tough decision, but I chose the USA over France, but just by smidge. ESJ, Napa Cabs, Finger Lakes Rieslings, OR Pinots, etc. provide a great diversity of food friendly wines.

Viva Italia! A multitude of options, and many of them much more affordable and consistent than the French....

Go the frogs.

[Robin Garr]

If I could only drink wine from one country it would be the "European Union"

I picked France due to the multitude of options, but I would not be happy with just France.

That pretty much sums it up for me, too. I ended up wimping out with a "Can't Decide" vote because the contest between France and Italy is just too close; and to be honest, I would be very unhappy with a "no-U.S." rule, particularly on the assumption that I get to choose which U.S. wines I drink.

USA - USA - USA!

I voted France but as others have said I would be unhappy being restricted to one country. My favorite red wine grape is Pinot Noir and I think Burgundy still does it best, but I also want Pinot Noir from Oregon, California, New Zealand, and Zinfandels, Tempranillos, Italian reds, etc. Plus, I can't afford the very best of Burgundy so have to supplement Bourgogne rouge and 1er crus with some domestic Pinot Noir.
While I am fond of Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc wines and Muscadet, my favorite white wine grape is Riesling and I find the German Rieslings more affordable than those of Alsace or Austria and better for some categories (Auslese, Eiswein.) So I don't want to live without German wines either.

[James Roscoe]

Viva la Francias! but as Mr. Bueker put it, this option would not really make me happy. Quite frankly I could have gone with Italy, Spain, or the USA and not be too disappointed in the choice, especially if Howie's wines came with the USA choices (he gets much of his fruit in Canada).

I'm with the other Mike_F. Italy has enough diversity to keep me trying new wines for the rest of my life. (Although I'm not sure how long that would be as I don't see how I could possibly live with such a restriction!)

Italy for me. 90% of the reds consumed in our home come from there. An occasional domestic cab or Washington PN thrown in once in awhile. But if I had to choose one place to hang my wine consuming hat in? It'd be there.

Richard

Another in the "I voted for France but would be very unhappy constricted to one country" camp.

There's a lot to be said for Italy and US as candidates. I eventually went with France because of the edge (for my tastes) in sparkling and dessert wines.

Ye gods....this has something akin to asking me if I prefer Krug or Taittinger, blondes or brunettes, lobster or coquilles St Jacques, T-bone versus Porterhouse. The only way I could possibly commit myself to an answer would to if confronted simultaneously with one bottle each of Krug and Taittinger, one gorgeous and intelligent blonde and an equally gorgeous and intelligent brunette, one lobster stuffed with crabmeat and a set of eight grilled, coquilles St Jacques, one T-bone and one Porterhouse steak. And even then, only if I can take the leftovers home with me.

As might be guessed, I voted for "cannot decide"

Best
Rogov

Because I know that the wines we see in the US are not representative of the true diversity of wines made there, mine was a very easy choice - Australia.

Mike

Gonna stick my head way out and say that no other country with the possible exception of Italy has the diversity of wine that the USA has. Although we enjoy wines from all over the world we voted for the US.

Will have to go with France, which has the largest representation in my modest collection of bottles. But I'd terribly miss some of my favourite Rs - Riesling (German/Austrian), Ridge, and Ripasso.

My heart wanted to vote for Italy because it is so interesting. My palate, and my wife, made me vote for France. She likes vintage champagne, old Bordeaux and white Burgundies.

How about a poll for the least preferred country. My vote goes to Oz, Argentina or US.

Walt

I would have no choice with this one - it can only be France!

Probably contrary to the norm, my choice of France actually isn't necessarily because of Bordeaux or Burgundy but where else would I be able to get my beloved champagne if not in, well... Champagne???

Never having the former two wines (regions) would simply be sad losses. But not having the latter is downright cruel! Next thing you know, the sun might not come up again or sharing a soft kiss and holding hands will be outlawed. Talk about sad...

So if only to "save" champagne alone, the only choice can be France. Unless the region gets geographically re-located for some bizarre reason then THAT country would be the only logical choice.

I will say that, just based on the number of favorite wines I've had by country, that Italy would likely be my second choice. With the US third I suppose.

But in all fairness, I haven't tried wines from EVERY country. I would be lying if I said I have. The above mentioned three countries are simply the ones I drink most and thus have had the the greatest number of pleasureable wines from as a result. The real revealing question might arise from, how many wines has one enjoyed as a PERCENTAGE of all the wines they buy from that country? Perhaps with a minimum requirement of having tried at least 10-15 bottles from any given country...

Jeff

How about a poll for the least preferred country. My vote goes to Oz, Argentina or US.

On the basis of my own experience, I'd have to go with Moldova

Mark Lipton

[James Roscoe]

How about a poll for the least preferred country. My vote goes to Oz, Argentina or US.

On the basis of my own experience, I'd have to go with Moldova

Mark Lipton

My experience would lead me to Algeria. Awful stuff.

How about a poll for the least preferred country. My vote goes to Oz, Argentina or US.

On the basis of my own experience, I'd have to go with Moldova

Mark Lipton

My experience would lead me to Algeria. Awful stuff.

I have had some very good Moldovian and Algerian wines
Walt

Although I prefer drinking German Riesling, if I could only choose one country for all of my wine needs, there is no other choice than France.

[David M. Bueker]

Although I prefer drinking German Riesling, if I could only choose one country for all of my wine needs, there is no other choice than France.

Exactly my line of thinking.

OK, we all love wines from most of these countries, but only one, I have to go with Italy. Everything from beautiful easy drinkers to profound agers, and everything in between! Such regional diversity, all those unique funky grapes too, gotta love Italy as my "only".