Six Wines You've Never Heard Of - Wine of the Week

My DeLong's wine grape varietal table. Photo: Gretchen Roberts

Gretchen Roberts writes the wine blog Vinobite, has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

A couple of weeks ago, we asked how adventurous a wine drinker you Slashfoodies really are, and a whopping 78 percent of you chose "I'm a player. The more choices, the better!" This post is for you, for those days when the thrill-seeker in you says, "Not another Cabernet!"

I'm working toward membership in the Wine Century Club, a geeky group you can join by tasting 100 varietals of grapes. And trust me, it's not as easy as it sounds. The big six (Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling) are no problem. Then tier two: Syrah, Pinot Grigio, Zinfandel. ... But to get to 100, we're talking really esoteric varietals. Assyrtiko. Petite Arvine. Bukettraube.

After the jump, how to find unusual wines plus six to whet your appetite for more.

So how do you track down these hard-to-find wines? Often I'll just walk into a wine store and say, "Show me your weird wines, the ones no one buys." Generally, they're thrilled. They'll lead you right to the unheard-of bottles and gush about them, why they took the chance on ordering a case or two even though they're quite certain they won't sell them because no one knows what they are.

Just to get your mouth watering for the obscure, here are six unusual wines I've had recently. You may or may not be able to track them down, but the fun is in discovering your own weird, wacky wines.

Louis Guntrum Scheurebe Kabinett 2007: Scheurebe, a cross between Riesling and Sylvaner, is hard to find even in Germany, where it's mainly grown. It tastes like sweet grapefruit with hints of spice, and though not quite as delicious as Riesling, it's very good.

Seven Sisters Bukettraube 2008: Bukettraube is another German variety, but it's mostly grown in South Africa now (though obviously it's not all that common there, either). A white wine that's lightly sweet and fragrant and tastes of honey, it's delicious with fresh fruit and cheese. Bonus: Seven Sisters is a Heritage Link brand grown by native South Africans.

McNab Ridge French Colombard 2008: From California's Mendocino area, the McNab Ridge French Colombard is light, fun and tasty with notes of peaches and a hint of sweetness.

Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Alicante Bouschet 2007: A cross between Grenache and Petit Bouschet, Alicante Bouschet is one of the few varietals that produces red-fleshed grapes (most red grapes have red skin and clearish insides). The Coppola actually tastes quite Grenache-like -- fleshy red fruits with leather and spice.

Vynecrest Chambourcin 2007: Chambourcin, a hybrid grown in the Loire Valley of France, is planted widely in eastern United States, specifically in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. The Vynecrest has a bouquet of dusty cherries, with more cherries in the mouth, good acidity and a nice savory undertone. I'd put this in a blind tasting against reds from around the world without hesitation.

La Posta Bonarda 2006: Bonarda is an Italian grape grown in Piedmont, but it's also planted fairly widely in Argentina, where the La Posta comes from. It tastes rather like a Chianti with round New World fruitiness and is delicious right out of the fridge.

What's the wackiest wine you've ever had? Dish in the comments!