What is your top "off-beat" grape?

Ok - if you don't like Scheurebe, how about Rieslaner? Albalonga?

Rieslaner's interesting, but I haven't had as many crazy experiences with it as I have with Scheu. (Then again of the two Catoir Rieslaners I've had - that 01 was corked as you may remember, and an 04 at an Austrian/German OL was overshadowed by a bunch of other wines at the table.)
Albalonga... will wait until you open one of your Wittmanns before I comment.
The really great thing about Scheu is that while it's fairly scarce and hard to come by there are at least a decent handful of producers who do some really fun things with it - so a wider range of styles are at least out there on the market (whereas I've only seen 2-3 names consistently recommended for Rieslaner, and Wittmann's the only name I've ever seen attached to Albalonga).

In terms of red grapes... am starting to really like some of those lighter Austrian reds from Zweigelt and Blaufrankisch. There are some fascinating examples out there (and even better values than a lot of the Austrian whites in some cases).

Greco di Tufo doesn't suck either.

All of Europe is a cache of small production lesser known grapes (in Portugal, for instance. many pretty much inknown even to wine geeks).

A few others of some merit:
Picpoul (red and white)
Charbono
Cunoise
Terret (red, white or gris)

A (far from exhaustive) list is here: http://winegeeks.com/wines/category/grape/

Just south of there, Ruche.
As usual, Tom Hill beat me to the punch on stuff like TazzeLenghe, Schioppetino and the like from Friuli. Marzemino doesn't suck.

I also love Ruche/Ruchet, Brachetto, Freisa, and Marzemino for the wonderful floral/fragrant perfume they all display. Especiall
when they're made frizzante, not far removed from Nehi cherry soda pop. Wonderful w/ artisinal salumi.
Tom

Let me kick off with the following with the possibility of adding others if I think of them;

Nerello mascalese
Carricante
Grillo (of course)
Refosco
Aglianico (too well known?)
Petite Arvine
Cornalin
Gros & Petit Manseng
Mencia
Godello
Macabeu

[David M. Bueker]

Mencia is not nearly as off-beat as it used to be.

For whites: Ribolla Gialla or Chasselas (from better Swiss producers). If those are not off-beat enough, I really like the Basque Hondarrabi Zuri.

For reds: Sangrantino or Pinot Meunier as a dry table wine.

For whites: Ribolla Gialla or Chasselas (from better Swiss producers). If those are not off-beat enough, I really like the Basque Hondarrabi Zuri.

Ooh, good call on the Hondarrabi Zuri, Rangstrom! Yes, yes, gimme that ol' Tzakolina any time.

Mark Lipton

For reds: Pinot Meunier as a dry table wine.

Wow, really? From where? The only still dry Pinot Meuniers I've had were from Germany and they offered little of interest to make me want to explore the grape further. Good to hear there is promise after all . . .

Wow, really? From where? The only still dry Pinot Meuniers I've had were from Germany and they offered little of interest to make me want to explore the grape further. Good to hear there is promise after all . . .

Keith,
Not Dan, but only play him in the movies!!
AdamLee makes about the best one I've had at Siduri. Much like his Pinots, but a little more earthy, a little more
clunky. But pretty tasty.
Tom

All depends on what your definition of "off-beat" is. What's off-beat to one is well known to another.

I introduced a friend to her first time ever taste of Lagrein, and she loved it.

Did the same to a friend at Wine Styles. I have another lined up for when he's back from vacation.

I want to throw in another new favorite-based only on the one example. Lambrusco. Made with biodynamic grapes by hippy Italian winemakers. I think that will be my shock the friends wine-because it is major weird

I like variety, so I can't simply put one in the top place. Of current interest is Blauer Wildbacher. I would also be keen to try more Kalecik Karası. Then there are dozens of slightly less off-beat things like Mondeuse, Poulsard, Merwah, Obaideh, Raboso, etc. that I enjoy very much.

[Robin Garr]

Coming late to this thread, I've got to be the first to nominate

Pineau d'Aunis

A rare Loire grape that makes a lean, structured, peppery red wine what my wife can't get enough of, and I'm right next behind her in line.

Thierry Puzelat's rendition, a Dressner import, is a mighty fine place to start ...

How could we have forgotten Pineau d'Aunis? And Romorantin?

Coming late to this thread, I've got to be the first to nominate

Pineau d'Aunis

A rare Loire grape that makes a lean, structured, peppery red wine what my wife can't get enough of, and I'm right next behind her in line.

Thierry Puzelat's rendition, a Dressner import, is a mighty fine place to start ...

Robinot makes a fine one too.

For reds: Pinot Meunier as a dry table wine.

Wow, really? From where? The only still dry Pinot Meuniers I've had were from Germany and they offered little of interest to make me want to explore the grape further. Good to hear there is promise after all . . .

Many years ago...(like 15+) we visited Gloria Ferrer vinyards in Sonoma, bought some lovely sparkling wine and also several bottles of still Pinot Meunier, it was only sold at the tasting room. I regret to say that I can only remember that it was tart and not too easy to drink on its own (I was even more unsophisticated in wine than I am now). Today I would be delighted to give it a try, I love novelty wines, especially when they are produced by somebody who is clearly accomplished in their chosen winemaking field.

Bests (Great Western, Vic, Australia) also do a table wine Pinot Meunier. I've yet to try it, but based on their Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and even Cabernet Franc, I'd be keen to see what they achieve with it.

regards

Ian

Coming late to this thread, I've got to be the first to nominate

Pineau d'Aunis

A rare Loire grape that makes a lean, structured, peppery red wine what my wife can't get enough of, and I'm right next behind her in line.

Thierry Puzelat's rendition, a Dressner import, is a mighty fine place to start ...

Good stuff! The new vintage from Olivier Cousin is pretty nice, too!

Chambourcin is a minority grape in these parts. I like a well made chambourcin. D'Arenberg used to make a good one before they started turning it into a fizzy. (Have to say, though, that one of the worst wines I've ever tried was a chambourcin.)

surprised i haven't seen the piemonte varietal - Favorita - only had once but loved

Last week I had a rep bring by a Mondeuse from Savoie in France. I had some spicy and earthy characters that were interesting.

Kekfrancos (Hungarian red)
Longanesi (obscure Italian red from Emilia Romagna)

Hmmm, is this thread evolving into 'name the most obscure grape you know'? Anyway, I've been trying a lot of Portuguese wines lately and I'd have to say that Touriga Nacional and Franca are very interesting grapes, the first for power and the second for finesse/aroma. And among whites, Encruzado and Arinto can make some delightful wines. Probably not 'off-beat' in Portugal, but certainly are elsewhere.

Oh, you can keep your red hybrids, but I have a weakness for a good Vignoles (aka Ravat 51).

Oh, you can keep your red hybrids, but I have a weakness for a good Vignoles (aka Ravat 51).

But have you had a really good Chambourcin?

As has been said, what is offbeat depends very much on where you are and what wines you have available.

Petit Manseng is rather rare, except in Virginia where it is successful and widely available.

Myself, I drink a lot of Pinotage which for many is 'offbeat'.

Re hybrids: Chambourcin its not at all common where I am but I have had a most enjoyable Chambourcin wine from Australia, and not available here at all but I have really enjoyed Henry of Pelham's Baco Noir