I like a red wine with dinner...usually cabernet sauvingon...but I am realizing I think i would like a more fruity wine now...one that I can drink rather than sip because sometimes the cabernets/merlots are too strong and dry.
What are your favorites wines and do you have any suggestions for a good red wine that is also fruity? Thanks!
I had some Syrah for the first time (I think the same as Shiraz but depends on the region its from) and I really liked it! I am not a big fan of heavy, dry wines like merlot, this was fruity and light enough to enjoy. Wish I remembered the brand.. think it was from Napa Valley.
This isn't a red, but my absolute favorite wine ever is Elk Creek's Kentucky Blue Vidal Blanc. It's about $15 and I always keep multiple bottles in my house because I'm not sure I could go on without it. And it is definitely drinkable, there's no sipping in my house :)
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I am a big fan of Reisling. I can never remember the name of my favorite one (I just know it is in a blue bottle and I get it from Famous Liquors), but I also like the one called Relax. They sell it at Target and it is seriously like $7. It is really fruity and crisp. I'm a big fan. I could drink a whole bottle by myself (and I have, HA!).
A nice second from Reisling for me is Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio. I am more of a white girl than a red girl, but I think it is because I am also into the fruity taste and I don't like drinking anything at room temp.
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I like both whites and reds, and for white I like Rieslings like Farrah. Good for sipping, good with food, not too heavy, not too sweet.
For reds I really like red zinfandel. I'd always figured all zins were that pinkish color, but the red (old vine) varieties are really nice. My favorite is Renwood - I get it at costco for $13-ish? Also very smooth, good for sipping or with food.
And then if we're really slummin' it, I like peach Arbor Mist . But don't tell anyone I said that ... but it's light and fruity and not too sweet and by golly it's only $4 a bottle! Don't knock it 'til you try it's all I'm sayin'.
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Mmm, I'm a big fan of Riesling as well. I've also been enjoying the Roses this summer. So light, crisp, with just a hint of fruity, and chilled! I'm so glad to see them coming back into fashion - they've only begun serving roses by the glass at fancy pants restaurants in the area in the past year or so.
For reds, I am a HUUUUUUUUUUUGE fan of any and all Malbecs. I never liked red wine until I started drinking Malbec every day in Argentina. Love, love, love.
One of our newest faves that we discovered this summer is Vinho Verde. It's a white wine that's got a bit of effervesence, but not as much as champagne. It's light, fairly fruity, and lower in alcohol content than most other wines. It's perfect for drinking during the day on a nice weekend.
There are some Cabs that I'd describe as "fruit bombs" - Fife, Mount Veeder, Flora Springs, Pine Ridge, Whitehall Lane, Melka C.J. - these are in the $25 and over range.
For inexpensive wines, here are a few we serve a lot of - all under $12 or so.
Christian Moueix - they call it a Merlot, but it's a Bordeaux blend by a winemaker whose claim to fame is the incredible "Dominus."
Lava Cap El Dorado American River Red
Peachy Canyon Incredible Red
Ravenswood Sonoma Zin - they also make Napa and Lodi versions, but I think Sonoma is best)
Bonny Doon/Ca' del Solo Big House Red - a blend of Italian grapes.
I've been liking Sicilian reds lately, and Lambrusco, which is an Italian sparkling red served chilled. I used to think it was cheap junk, but I found one at Trader Joe's that is relatively cheap and not junk.
If you're a cab fan you probably aren't a pinot noir fan, so instead of burgundies you might like Rhone blends (Chateuneuf du Pape being the most desirable AOC) and reds from the South of France.
i wonder if you'd like a pinot noir? it's lighter and less heavy than a cab... i'm partial to california pinots, but there are lots from oregon that are great too. they may be a bit more expensive than the average cab or merlot. someone mentioned if you liked cabs, you may not be a fan of pinot noir; this may be true for you, but for me, it's the mood i'm in, what i'm eating (if at all) and the weather. i think weather may be the most important factor in "my world". the last thing i want to drink on a 90 degree humid august evening is a cab; but i may not want a sauvignon blanc, so i'll go for a pinot noir. we have a wine fridge that keeps everything at around 55 degrees, so it's still refreshing. if i want white, i'll move a bottle to the normal fridge for about 20 minutes.
i think you could go buy a bunch of different wine in whatever price range you choose, and just drink away.
this sounds a bit nerdy, but i have a wine journal to help me remember what i tried and it's details. we have been trying so many, it's difficult for me to remember what i had, what year it was, what i was eating while drinking, and what i liked about it. it really has helped.
-- Edited by tara t at 10:07, 2008-10-03
-- Edited by tara t at 10:08, 2008-10-03
-- Edited by tara t at 16:40, 2008-10-07
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I am a big fan of Reisling. I can never remember the name of my favorite one (I just know it is in a blue bottle and I get it from Famous Liquors)
I LOVE Reisling. And I think I like the same one Farrah is talking about, it comes in a blue bottle and I know the one I like has a big sunburst on the label. I get it a Jewel.
I also really like the Ecco Domani brand for the Pinot Grigio and their Merlot. I hate dry red wines too, so their Merlot is really good when I want something heavier then a white. http://www.eccodomani.com/ I get this at Jewel too, I think it's like $10 a bottle. You can probably find it anywhere.
The only wine I ever buy is Riesling. I believe the one that the other gals mentioned is Schmitt-Sohne. It comes in a cobalt blue bottle and there are a few varieties. The website is: http://www.schmitt-soehne.com
Tempranillo as was sad isn't necessarily fruity but it is very smooth and drinkable. Malbecs can be strong or fruity, but lots of them are pretty cheap. I would also ditto the idea about Pinot Noir as its is sort of a less strong cab. Some Shiraz are pretty fruity, you may want to try that.
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Beaujolais Nouveau is fruity and red. It comes out every fall around Thanksgiving and is pretty likable. Georges Duboeuf is a popular one that is easy to find - its always in a pretty, floral bottle. The bottle design changes from year to year...
My little 3-year-old niece, Phoebe, asked me recently, "Alisa, do you like wine?" I said, "yes, I do." She stopped, turned and looked at everyone at the dinner table then exclaimed, "Alisa LOVES wine!"