Any wine enthusiasts out there?

[WebLady]

I usually enjoy a nice sweet blush wine, Mondavi White Zinfandel is my fav. But I keep hearing that red wine can actually be good for you. So I want to try some, just don't know what.

I like my wine chilled and I know some reds are served at room temp, so that is not one I'd want. I also would want something sweet; any suggestions for something I might could find at the local liquor store?

:cheers:

[Diamend]

I looooove wine!! Yes, red wine is really good for your heart! Infact, I stick to my grandfathers rule of a small glass of red wine a day!

I like sweet wine, and the sweetest red wine there is is Sangria... that is like drinking juice! I also have another kind at home that I love... but I'm not sure what it is called, I'll look when I get home and let you know!

If you like dry wines, a Merlot or Cabernet is really good!

Almost all sweet wines, you chill- dry wines stay at room temp. When you are shopping, on the bottle it should tell you if it is sweet or dry, and even what food compliments it the most!

[WebLady]

I am pretty sure I have had Sangria before, but I thought it was a drink that is made from red wine and not really a wine in itself right :purplex:

[KMS]

You can actually get the same benefits of red wine by drinking purple/red grape juice, without the negative systemic effects of alcohol.

I enjoy sweet whites too. I'm just starting to enjoy drinking an occasional glass of wine so I'm still working on liking the dry varieties. I don't like reds at all though! The only way I like red wine is if it's mixed w/ juices and made into a Sangria! I haven't found one that is sweet enough for me. As far as I know all reds are supposed to be served just a touch above room temp. Chad went to bartending school and bartended for a while and he says that he would recommend a Carmenere as the sweetest red he could think of. He hasn't bartended in a while so I'm not making any promises!

Or you could try some dessert reds like port.

[WebLady]

You can actually get the same benefits of red wine by drinking purple/red grape juice, without the negative systemic effects of alcohol.I heard that a little too, but also heard that he alcohol was good too; in moderation of course ;)

I enjoy sweet whites too. I'm just starting to enjoy drinking an occasional glass of wine so I'm still working on liking the dry varieties. I don't like reds at all though! The only way I like red wine is if it's mixed w/ juices and made into a Sangria! I haven't found one that is sweet enough for me. As far as I know all reds are supposed to be served just a touch above room temp. Chad went to bartending school and bartended for a while and he says that he would recommend a Carmenere as the sweetest red he could think of. He hasn't bartended in a while so I'm not making any promises!

Or you could try some dessert reds like port.
I was just reading on the Publix website (http://www.publix.com/clubs/wine/wine101/winegrapes/Home.do) (local grocery store that sells wine) and trying to learn some of the differences in the reds.

I heard that Port was a nice sweet red and good with desserts, but I hear it is thick and that sort of turns me off. Is it really thick or is that just a wine term?

I want something I can drink with just about anything, of course I want it chilled too. I may try a "New World Merlot" as I hear they are sweeter than French and Italian Merlots. I guess that is a start ;)

[Diamend]

I am pretty sure I have had Sangria before, but I thought it was a drink that is made from red wine and not really a wine in itself right :purplex:

They have Sangria drinks.. but there is also a Sangria wine. (my husbands family owns an italian resturaunt- this is why i love wine)

[WebLady]

They have Sangria drinks.. but there is also a Sangria wine. (my husbands family owns an italian resturaunt- this is why i love wine)hmmm; well I may have to look for some then ... is the wine still critus sweet or is it something else?

[Kirby]

I love wine! I am like you- I like sweeter wines. I am easing my way into red wines and my favorite red is Pinot Noir. If you go to buy a bottle read the back of the label and make sure it doesn't say anything about oak because if it is oaky it will be more bitter than sweet.

This one is my favorite, and it's pretty inexpensive. It's SO good, you should try it. I drink it room temp, but since it's fruity I'm sure it would taste good chilled. :)

Mirassou Pinot Noir:
http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/48244/2003627315502773422_rs.jpg

[Nekochanpurr]

I'm no help here.. I only like the really fruity, not wine tasting stuff. :D

[JLa]

I like white white but i do drink certain red wines....my dad makes homemade red wine from grapes imported from italy its sooo good.

[Diamend]

hmmm; well I may have to look for some then ... is the wine still critus sweet or is it something else?

mm.. its more of a grape juice sweet.

[uptowngirl]

We love wine!!! FH and I are trying to learn wines - we have gone to a couple of tasting classes and keep a wine journal...

If you like sweeter wines and want to try a red I would look for something spanish - some friends brought us over a bottle of Vina Santurnia that was incredible, and actually not too expensive for wine that tasty. I haven't seen it in stores locally, but I found it online here:
http://www.thewineclub.com/209941

http://www.thewineclub.com/images/bn/100/57728.jpg

Another one of my favorites is the merlot from Night Harvest by R.J Phillips. They do age it in oak, but the tannins (bitterness) are barely noticeable and it has a very distinct berry flavor (strawberries and raspberry)
http://www.nightharvest.com/imgs/bottle-merlot.jpg

[Jacobs_Girl]

I am definately a Zinfandel drinker! and jacob is a red wine drinker, his whole family drinks red wine. Not really my style but sometimes his mom makes me a half glass of red wine and some coke.

She's a bar tender :bunny:

That is the only time I will drink red wine :D

[Whitewater]

My MoH is pretty into wine -- picky, though, almost like a wine snob! -- and she says that she really likes Australian reds. She also likes Shiraz, though I can't tell you what it tastes like because I can't drink red wine, it interacts poorly with the metal fillings in my teeth.

A friend of mine who likes wine suggests South African reds, but again, I can't personally recommend anything because I've never had any!


Whitewater

[KMS]

You guys have some good suggestions. Chad and I will have to try some of these out!

[WebLady]

DH and I watched this "Truth About Food" show on TV not too long ago that did a study that showed the health benifits of red wine.

Here is an online recap of the show - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/humanbody/truthaboutfood/young/wine.shtml

[KMS]

Our server is running so slow right now! I can't even open up the page right now. I'll try again tomorrow. I've been meaning to catch that show. It looks so interesting!

[Measha]

I should keep up with my blog on wine tastings, I'm such a slacker. I was just going to say that I tried a red Shiraz, and found it very pleasant. An Australian vintage by Little Penguin...I think. It was rather light for a red. I've been trying more and more reds of late and went back to drink some white zin again and could barely get it down, haha. It is now almost too sweet and watery for me.

[ladymelissa]

Cabernet Sauvignon is my all-time favorite wine. I love it with just about anything and everything. LOL If I want white wine, I'll generally go for Sauvignon Blanc. Some pairing tips from Wiki:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabernet_Sauvignon

Pairing with food

Fatty red meats, such as lamb, pair well with Cabernet Sauvignon due to the ability of proteins and fats to negate some of the tannic qualities of the wine.Cabernet Sauvignon is a very bold and assertive wine that has potential to overwhelm light and delicate dishes. The wine's high tannin content as well as the oak influences and high alcohol levels associated with many regional styles play important roles in influencing how well the wine matches with different foods. When Cabernet Sauvignon is young, all those elements are at their peak, a but as the wine ages it mellows; possibilities for different food pairings open up. In most circumstances, matching the weight (alcohol level and body) of the wine to the heaviness of the food is an important consideration. Cabernet Sauvignons with high alcohol levels do not pair well with spicy foods due to hotness levels of the capsaicins present in spices like chili peppers being enhanced by the alcohol with the heat accentuating the bitterness of the tannins. Milder spices, such as black pepper, pair better due to their ability to minimize the perception of tannins--such as in the classic pairings of Cabernet Sauvignon with steak au poivre and pepper-crusted ahi tuna.[3]

Fats and proteins reduce the perception of tannins on the palate. When Cabernet Sauvignon is paired with steak or dishes with a heavy butter cream sauce, the tannins are neutralized, allowing the fruits of the wine to be more noticeable. In contrast, starches such as pastas and rice will have little affect on tannins. The bitterness of the tannins can also be counterbalanced by the use of bitter foods, such as radicchio and endive, or with cooking methods that involve charring like grilling. As the wine ages and the tannins lessen, more subtle and less bitter dishes will pair better with Cabernet Sauvignon. The oak influences of the wine can be matched with cooking methods that have similar influences on the food-such as grilling, smoking and plank roasting. Dishes that include oak-influenced flavors and aromas normally found in Cabernet Sauvignon-such as dill weed, brown sugar, nutmeg and vanilla-can also pair well.[3]

The different styles of Cabernet Sauvignon from different regions can also influence how well the wine matches up with certain foods. Old World wines, such as Bordeaux, have earthier influences and will pair better with mushrooms. Wines from cooler climates that have noticeable vegetal notes can be balanced with vegetables and greens. New World wines, with bolder fruit flavors that may even be perceived as sweet, will pair well with bolder dishes that have lots of different flavor influences. While Cabernet Sauvignon has the potential to pair well with bitter dark chocolate, it will not pair well with sweeter styles such as milk chocolate. The wine can typically pair well with a variety of cheeses, such as cheddar, mozzarella and brie, full flavored or blue cheeses will typically compete too much with the flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon to be a complimentary pairing.[3]


Health implications
In late 2006, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology published the result of studies conducted at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine that showed the beneficial relationship of resveratrol, a compound found in all red wine, in reducing the risk factors associated with Alzheimer's disease. The study showed that resveratrol found in Cabernet Sauvignon can reduce levels of amyloid beta peptides, which attack brain cells and are part of the etiology of Alzheimer's.[12] Resveratrol has also been shown to promote the clearance of amyloid-beta peptides.[13] It has also been shown that non-alcoholic extracts of Cabernet Sauvignon protect hypertensive rats during ischaemia and reperfusion. [14]

All wines are different. Sometimes experimentation can be fun. I've had some great Merlots and others are awful. Pinot Noir reminded me almost of a grape juice or exactly what one might envision wine to taste like. I'm really no expert, but I've never had a bad experience with Cabernet Sauvignon, so generally that is what I drink.

[ChibiAiChan]

mine and my hubby's fav is Allergo- it's white wine, sweet and yummy! u can get it at cost plus world market for $11 =)

[WebLady]

I am gonna go to the store tomorrow and try to find a red wine to try :D

[dawsmi]

I looooove wine!! And this is going to sound really bad but my favorite one is Arbor Mist because it is the only one that I have found doesn't have that bad after taste!!

[WebLady]

I looooove wine!! And this is going to sound really bad but my favorite one is Arbor Mist because it is the only one that I have found doesn't have that bad after taste!!I have never bought that Arbor Mist stuff, but I have had it before, it is good, nice and sweet, but it is cheap wine and often blended with other flavors. So I guess I don't see it as "real" wine :upsidown: But I see it alot and some of the flavors sound really good ;)

[nic1124]

I love blueberry wine! It's soo good. I know blueberries have lots of anti-oxidants, but thats about all I know!

[Parhelion]

I'm more of a white wine fan myself (riesling being my favorite), but there was this one cabernet that wasn't too dry and suited my taste very well...I just can't remember the label! Gosh, if only my FILs were here...they might be able to clue me in. Both are serious red wine fans and could give great tips.

[WebLady]

OK I went to the store and got some red wine. This one called Big Tattoo Red stood out and the label said something about " a powerhouse of fruit", so I thought I'd give it a try. Plus I thought it was cool that they guys that own the company donate some of the proceeds to charity :)

So anyway, I got a blend that is suppose to be 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Syrah; not completely sure what that means :geek:

I chilled the wine and I am having some now ... it is not bad, I wouldn't say really sweet or fruity; it is more "winey" :bblol: but better than the last red I had years ago which had caused my previous aversion to red wines. I gues red wine is just a different experience that than the White Zinfandel that I am use to. This definitely has a different flavor and after taste.

I don't think I can have more than one glass of this; though I never have more than 2 when I drink White Zinfandel. I have had about 1/4 a glass so far and I am almost feeling it already :upsidown: