I am looking for a really sweet, red wine that doesn't really taste like all the wines I have tried.?

Question

I don't really like wine, but want the benefits it provides to heart and stroke protection. I would appreciate your input. Also I am a diabetic, or I would just eat lots of grapes. LOL

Answer 1

For health benefits pertaining to antioxidants (preventing cancer)
grape juice has been proven just as effective. If are interested in preventing heart disease, pinot noir has been proven the most beneficial. If you intend on drinking wine as a tonic to improve your health, buy the cheapest Organic Pinot Noir you can find. Close your eyes, hold your nose and swallow it quick

Sweet, red, and healthy wine does not exist.

Answer 2

The problem is the diabetic part because just plain red grape juice like Welch"s does all that red wine does, without being alcoholic. But, may contain sugars, so check this with your doctor first. Grape juice is cheaper and healthier for us than wine.

Answer 3

for diabetics, wine only has between 0.8g to 1.8g of carbohydrates per serving of wine, which really is not that much. My mom is a diabetic, and one of her diet/carb books does not show any sort of carbs associated with wine.

Keep in mind that Sangria is a mix of wine, sugar, and other hard liquor that will send your diabetes out of control.

As far as truly sweet red wine, try a zinfandel port. Youmight also try ligher reds like gamay beoujolais that somebody else recommended as well as pinot noir and and possibly syrah. They are all light bodied reds.

Answer 4

You're going to have a lot of folks telling you that you shouldn't have any alcohol because you're diabetic, but here's the straight scoop: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-cholesterol/faqs-redwine.jsp Sounds like you're already well-informed :) Here's another for anyone still questioning: http://www.diabeticcare.com/articles/redwine.shtml

You're aiming for two 5oz glasses with dinner... but keep in mind if you're not a drinker, you may want to work up to that amount gradually. Also note that many wine glasses hold much more than that amount (to leave room for swirling and aeration) so don't fill a glass and assume it's 5oz. A normal (750ml) bottle of wine will have about 5 5oz glasses in it.

I don't think I'd go for sweet (that implies residual sugar) but more for something fruity because that tends to make red wine more palatable to most folks. Some easier to drink red wines would include Beaujolais (try Louis Jadot Beaujolais Village) with a light body and berry fruit taste.

You might also like pinot noir (this is a light in texture/mouthfeel red wine) Try Lindeman's Pinot Noir for cherry flavors and a smooth as silk texture.

My personal favorite as something easy to drink are some of the regional Italian reds. These are so perfect with pasta or grilled chicken or anything seasoned with Italian herbs/flavorings like basil, tomato, oregano, even rosemary. Try Santa Cristina Sangiovese or for a really budget conscious tasty wine, try Citra Montepulciano D'Abruzzo.

I'll take you up one more notch in tannin to merlot :) This tends to be still soft... but you'll learn to taste the fruit as you experiment more and more. To start, try Lindeman's merlot or Columbia Crest. You'll find these to taste of plum and berries and they're still smooth enough to enjoy with just about any food or alone.

Nothing I've listed will be over $10 a bottle. Some are only about $5 or $6 a bottle and the Citra is about $7 for a 1.5liter (double sized bottle) :) If you're really into budget, also try Concha Y Toro Frontera Cabernet Merlot blend. Again, about $7 for a 1.5liter.

One other suggestion: Invest $10 in a vacuum seal kit for the bottle. This is a little cork like thing that you place on top of the bottle at the end of the evening and a little device that you hand-pump the air out of the bottle, sealing your wine so that the oxygen doesn't damage the contents as quickly. Wine will keep like this for a couple of days at room temp, but will keep better in the fridge. Just let it sit out a bit before drinking it so it's a cool room temp (maybe 60 degrees for most - lightly chilled for the beaujolais)

One last thought. Remember Reunite Lambrusco? It's still there... still red... still fruity and still inexpensive :) Give it a whirl again and you'll think you've gone back to your illegal drinking high school days - lol It'll probably be about the "sweetest" on the list I just gave you so you might want to start there :)

Best to you! Salut!

(Edit - I'm going to caution you against the Mogan David, port and other very sweet red wines. The reason for this is that what makes them sweet is residual sugars. You'd be better off eating the grapes. You have to weigh benefit vs risk, but I'd go for fruity and avoid residual sugars... and absolutely discuss all of this with your physician before making changes to your diet) :)

Answer 5

Go for a Beaujolais, made from the gamay grape. The beaujolais noveau are quite sweet too and available for the next month or so. There is also a Russian wine Kindzmauali and that is sweeter too.

Answer 6

Our Dog Blue -- a fairly inexpensive Virginia dessert wine, is quite tasty and isn't a typical wine.

You may try the really cheap route--but check with your doctor to see if Boones Farm Strawberry Hill counts as wine. Wine lovers hate it, so maybe a wine hater would like it?--it's sweet like jolly ranchers. No, I can't beleive I said it--try another real wine.

Answer 7

all of these are excellent suggestions. another thing to try, that is a very very different taste is a very interesting wine with a big twist. it is called a maui blanc and it originated in hawaii. it is made with fermented pinneapple instead of grape. it is a very very great tasting sweet desert wine and you can get a great bottle for only 8.99 or so. i personally reccomend Tedeschi Maui Blanc Pineapple Wine

Answer 8

I think that Manichevitz or other Jewish kosher wine is the way to go for sweet wine. It's cheap and available almost everywhere.

Answer 9

You should consult your Doctor first...and if okay, you may want to get a red wine and add Diet Sprite to it.

Answer 10

Try Sangria...it's a smooth, sweet red....we love it...goes excellent with almost any meal...Dont buy the cheap stuff tho, cause it's too sharp.....spend a little more and get what brand your liquor store recommends....