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There is no shame greater than the one I feel when picking up some fruity, wimpy, purple in color, "wine," at the corner store for my wife.

If I could wear a ski mask without catching a felony while doing so, I would.

Any of you young gals box wine drinkers? That's when you know you're heading for trouble. heh heh heh

Franzia gives the WORST hangovers. You literally feel like you want to die.
But at $13 for 5 liters, flirting with death is so cheeeeaaap.

"Poo," how very eloquent.

Thank you, @Amandarama.

First of all, young wine people may be few and far between in your circle of friends, but I know quite a few of them.

Second of all, I am a "young lady," (I absolutely despise that phrase), and I do not drink wine coolers, nor do I feel the need to "giggle" at those who do. As Amanda said, some drink these beverages just to get drunk. Others drink them - and I suppose this is big reason while they appeal to younger drinkers - because they are cheaper than high-end wines. Others simply prefer the taste. While generally I'm not a fan of sweet or fruity wines, I have tasted several fruit wines that were very well made. Just because your friend's purchase was a blackberry wine doesn't mean it's bad or "simple."

And when did "simple" become a bad thing? Food and drink has become way too complicated lately. I wouldn't mind a return toward more simple fare.

I am no longer a young lady. I left the "lady" part behind long before I left the "young" part behind. But I still get the assumption from waiters and sommeliers when I dine out solo or with my female friends. My pal and I were at Babbo and when I ordered one of the Bastianich roses, the server cautioned me that it wasn't sweet. "My God, I hope not," I fear I snapped at him. Must not have been too nasty, because he was as pleasant as he could be after that. But it's not just the age, my dears. It's sexism, I fear.

And oh, yes, there IS something good about white zinfandel: It kept those zin vines in the ground so we can enjoy old-vine Zinfandel now.

Friends don't let friends drink white zin...and definitely not Boone's Farm. It's certainly a phase a lot of us go through, however.

I am a young female wine drinker. I find it really amusing when my construction worker boyfriend comes home from the liquor store with armfuls of white zinfandel. He LOVES them. Sadly, I drink it because I don't want to tell him that its considered a girly drink. I figure if he's genuinely enjoying them then why should I stop that. It gives me a smile each time =)

Also, ps: in the topic starter, I did say ,"typical". I realize many of us are in fact ATYPICAL.

@emilytaylor - There is certainly nothing wrong with starting a topic about the beverages that you enjoy. However, I would point out that one can state ones preferences without putting others down for not sharing your tastes. The tone of your post in bashing your roommates' tastes, in addition to the frequent use of the term "young ladies", came across less lighthearted and more as disrespectful of a particular category of human beings. Being female yourself is not an excuse to gender stereotype.

[/rant off]

Getting back to the subject of wine, I'm having an inexpensive New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with dinner this evening. With chili dogs.

When I was in college (not too long ago), I went on a wine tour with a few other girls. It was really amusing to watch my friends pick which wines they wanted to try.
Being a newbie, I picked a variety of wines at our first stop, just to get a feel for what the difference is really like. My one friend, on the other hand picked ALL of the wines with the HIGHEST sugar content. It was ridiculous. Whenever our choices coincided, I'd sip it, wince, and then rinse it out. And then my other friend aired towards the dry reds. She didn't like white wines, or champagne... or anything with "strawberry" in it.
Personally, I prefer semi-dry red wines. I've found that I like red wines more often then white. But I have a good range that I'm willing to try.

(Fun story: Being a featherweight and having a really obvious Asian glow, my friends keep a really close eye on me that whole day. We tried probably 25+ wines. I brought a nice stash of food in my bag to keep up with it all. And then I got back to my apartment and crashed.)

I have girls nite once a month. About 3+ years ago, one of the girls, being a beer drinker and knowing my love of wine, brought an assortment of Arbor Mists. It took everything I had to be gracious, and NOT serve it, as it was not a compliment to the meal I had prepared. I've grown up since then.
.

Look, when it comes to wine, and beer too as there is such an assortment of wonderful offerings out there, you like what you like. Drink what you enjoy, and judge not, lest you be judged.

We used to sneer at people that ordered White Zin in restaurants when I was a server. Frankly, most people don't even know that Zinfandel is RED...but...really, who the eff cares? Ya know....it's rather gauche/tacky/rude/mean to say anything about anyone else's choices/tastes, etc. Live and let live baby.

@blankplate I think your construction worker boyfriend might have a closet to come out of.

When I saw this thread I thought you meant sweet wines as in dessert wines like port or ice wine.

Yeah, not a fan of blackberry merlot. Tastes like grape tylenol.

Thank you for saying so, happyeats!!

I knew Bitch-Pop as Chablis white wine spritzers or Bartles and Jaymes wine coolers... Especially when they started making wine coolers in 2 liter bottles! I was over a friends house and his girlfriend had left several 2 liter bottles in his fridge. Being eternally broke at the time, we figured being out of money and line of sight from other friends of ours we'd just drink the wine coolers one sunday while watching a game on TV.... I ended up extremely full with no buzz and a purple tongue... I now equate purple as the color of shame.

And I'd like to second what @Happyeats said!

"Using language that denigrates others isn't funny"

@Amandarama... Where was the denigrating language in my post?

Remember.... Deep breaths, in with the good air...... aaaaaaand....... out with the bad air..... feel better?!...... good.

I'm sorry, but I'm with Amandarama on this one.

This post was rude, and not a great way to start on SE.

And as for happyeats, I'm sorry, I expected better from you. Your post criticizing Amandarama was COMPLETELY out of line, and horrendously immature. And what was with the language? Unnecessary.

This is a community for lovers of food and wine. Not a place to drop f-bombs on regulars.

Can we drop this already?

@Amandarama, Dear Gentle Reader, I did not invent the term "bitch pop". As far as it being denigrating to women is utter Hooey! The term was most often used amongst guys where I was from, referring to another guy drinking something considered "unmanly". The fact that you took it so personally is your problem and not mine. I'm not sorry for using it.

The only reason words like this have any power whatsoever is because high-n-mighty folks like you give it such power. It's a couple of words, get over it. I have never been anything but respectful to others and most especially women here, for the year or so I have been responding to posts. If you are offended, you need to build a bridge and get over it.

P.S. I'm glad you are feeling fine, as nothing gives me greater pleasure... well, almost nothing.

@Pavlov - It has nothing to do with "inventing" the term. You've perpetuated its use. It's not abut "getting over it". It's about owning the fact that words like "bitch" are derogatory to women, rather than reacting in a stubborn and reactionary manner to a criticism. Again, one can certainly discuss likes and dislikes without resorting to gender stereotyping (such as referring to a guy drinking something "unmanly").

@missvenuz - Thank you.

@Amandarama... The term "Bitch", refers to a female dog. I guess I don't see why you personally would be offended by this term. As far as one guy resorting to gender stereotyping of another guy, I wouldn't know as a dog and human are of different species. I guess I'm not sure why you would attempt to interpret what I think "BITCH-POP" means.

As far as one guy resorting to species stereotyping of another guy, I have taken the liberty of personally polling over 300 female dogs and have not had one objection to my using the term "BITCH". I'm not sure you could understand their plight being of another gender. Again, "one" can certainly discuss likes and dislikes without butting into other species personal issues... unless of course the other species has no objection to the like and or dislike of a particular word. My "female" dog took time out of her latin studies to tell me to tell you "memor tua rei".

Enjoy your evening and please feel free to call my dog, she in anxiously awaiting your call to discuss the matter further.

@Amandarama... I'm clearly in my own space period. I think you're a bit late on the degeneration of this thread. It started when someone turned into a killjoy. Then took it upon themselves to start a moral crusade with folks who are writing down a few lines and amusing themselves with food related topics. But I won't name names.

Clearly, you're in your own space regarding what you think other people care about versus what others "are sayin". (Not sure if your version was an attempt to poke fun at a lighthearted colloquialism.)

The women on this site are very strong characters. Had I slighted their sensibilities (as a collective whole) in the least, trust me when I tell you, there would be tire tracks going up one side of me and down the other. Women, aren't the poor, meek, downtrodden masses you seem to be playing them for. As far as you taking some misguided single minded high road...Enjoy the walk and the view.

BTW, I don't "include" my dog, and saying I chose to include her was something she found offensive. As if a female dog has no rights unless given by man. As an aside to that, she has decided to take the high road herself and continued to post on her blog about lime Jell-o.

Now I (to the relief of the very few still left following this thread) Have nothing left to say on the topic. Unless of course there is a response in which case I shall be forced to take you to task over in the SE Facebook side of off tpoic.

Good day.