can someone give me advice on how i go into a bottlestore and buy a good bottle of sweet red wine?

Question

I always find that i look stupid cause i dont know the difference b/w a merlot and a shiraz!!!

Answer 1

Try something a bit more interesting, like a Greek Mavrodaphne. It is a very sweet red wine, and goes well with cheese and nuts, or a baked desert (that isn't too sweet itself). Otherwise, go to your local wine cellar and ask. The guys who work there are trained in wine and know more then anyone here! Ask for recommendations. They won't think poorly of you, and it's their job to help you pick out a wine. And it doesn't have to be expensive. Less than $20 can get you a good bottle of a sweet red. Definitely less than $30.

Answer 2

Sweet wine questions are asked on answers numerous times a day. You might want to use the search box and look for "sweet wines" to get some additional recommendations.

The sweetest wines are dessert wines. These will be ice wines, late harvest wines, and ports. These are typically easy to find in any supermarket wine section or liquor store. They range from being disgustingly sweet to being fabulously citrusy or vanilla-y with a hint of sweet.

From there, white wines that are sweet include a non-dry Reisling, Viognier, Muscat, and Gewurtztraminer. Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Fume Blanc, and similar whites are not typically sugary sweet.

Frequently, beginners confuse "sweet" with fruity or "not dry". Red wines are not traditionally sweet unless they are the cheap wines with flavours added. You can find non-dry red wines that have fruity undertones, like Zinfandel and Shiraz/Syrah. These will frequently have a flavours of plum, cherry, black currant, and rich dark fruits. Steer clear of inexpensive cabs.

Some to try:

Maryhill Viognier
Maryhill Gewurtz
Fetzer Gewurtz
Allegro Muscat (in a cool tall bottle)
Sineann late harvest Zin
Reuscher Haart Reisling
Six Prong Red
Cycles Gladiator Syrah

The next best thing to do is to start attending tastings. Most wine shops have them, so start going. Write down wines that you like and what you like about them. Also, do the converse. If one tastes like dirt, write down that's why you don't like it. Don't get hyperbolic and write things like "it tastes like gasoline" or simply "it sucks" as you'll never be able to pinpoint what it is that you are disliking. Once you have your list, talk to the shop person about it. Have them help you pick something out that has the traits that you like while avoiding the traits that you don't.

Good luck and have fun!

Answer 3

There is a way to tell the sweetness of a wine just by the shape of the bottle. The bottom of the bottle actually. All you have to do is look at or feel the bottom of the bottle. The bottom of most wine bottles are indented, the more indented the dryer (less Sweet) the wine. If you are looking for a sweet wine look for bottles with flat bottoms. Not all wine companies follow this but it is the standard. If you are just looking for a good bottle of sweet wine try the velvet red at the following link. It's the best sweet red I've ever had. If it is too sweet try the STEINBERG RED at the second link.
http://www.stjameswinery.com/
http://www.stonehillwinery.com/winesGrapes/red.aspx

Answer 4

Merlot and shiraz are dry, not sweet. Look for Druid's Fluid or Wildflowerfor a slightly sweet red, or if you want really sweet red dessert wine, opt for a Portuguese-style port made from varietals such as Tinta Cao, Touriga Nationale, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amerella. Try Quady Starboard (California) or Six Grapes from Portugal.

Answer 5

Everyone's taste buds are different, but choosing wine isn't learned overnight or much really in a book - try going to a place that does wine testing - take a small sip of the selection, jot down notes and also, talk to people that do drink wine regularly. It's not that embarassing when you don't know what they're talking about, it's a hit and miss situation, you'll just have to try them, I like the barefoot line from australia, they're affordable and not too bad, so buy a couple of different bottles, maybe have one of your wine-drinker friends with you and take it home & try it.

Answer 6

Find a book that tells you all about wines. You can then have an idea of what wines are sweet and which ones are best to buy, I used to have the same trouble.

Answer 7

try Chianti, And after your done,the bottle make a cool candle holder. and I doubt if Abdoul the towelhead knows about wine

Answer 8

port, dubbonet, doesn't get much sweeter in red then that!