I drink mixed drinks but wanting to upgrade to wines. What is a good wine to start with?

Question

Would like to start with a wine to have with spouse for an evening. Not necessarily to have with a certain dinner. Parents had Riunite in fridge constantly, is this fair or are others better tasting. I Reside in Dallas area, not California or Italy lol....tks

Answer 1

Riunite is a large wine producer out of Italy. If you like it, it is a fine wine. Wine is more like premium spirits. So just like there is a wide variety of taste in scotch, there is even more with wine. Wines vary not only in red and white, but in dry and fruity/sweet and in many different grapes and combinations of grapes, and finally there are literally 1000's of different wineries in different countries around the world. You probably want to try a variety to find what you like (or what your spouse likes).

I would suggest going to a store that sells wine and spirits and chat with the retailer. Describe what you like and have him make a recommendation to you. Also you might check out some of the wineries in your area: http://tourtexas.com/dfw/wineries.html

DA

Answer 2

If there are locally owned and operated wineries near you, visit them. They have wine tasting areas, or rooms, and you can try any wine they carry. They'll be happy to explain all the nuances and essences in the wines, and will even explain the wine making process to you, if you like.

When tasting wines, try the dry ones first. It doesn't mater if it's a red or a white. Dry is dry. From there, you can go to the other end of the spectrum and taste the sweet ones. After you've tried a few, you'll hit on one or two that will all but smack you upside the head and yell "HEY!!! BUY ME!!! I'M THE BEST ONE HERE!!" lol

Some wines are made with other fruits mixed in. Some Merlot's have cherry, blackberry, blueberry or raspberry mixed in. It makes the drier Merlot a little sweeter.... almost like a Sangria.

Some white wines, while sweet to begin with, will also mix in other fruits like apple, pear or some berry. It gives it an appearance of a rose, when the berries are mixed in.

If you cannot visit a winery, check your paper for wine tasting opportunities. Sometimes hotels will host a wine and cheese tasting evening, or there could be a wine festival going on. Those are excellent places to taste wines before you buy them. Either way, you get to sample it before you buy it, and you'll know you're getting something you think is good.

Answer 3

Cabernet Savignon is said to be the healthiest wine for your heart. And it's great at dinner. It's a classy wine. Red wine is a great way to start drinking wine. It goes with just about anything -- mostly red meat or pork. It's dry, but not drier than Merlot. It has a rich, full-bodied flavor. Tastes best just a little colder than room temperature.

White wines that are good for ending an evening are Riesling or Muscat (Moscato), as they are a little sweeter than your typical Chardonnay or Savignon Blanc. You have to keep these chilled. Never open a wine and put the leftovers in the fridge. Even if you recork it, the taste will change. Bon appetit!

Answer 4

Probably need to decide whether you like " dry " tasting wines or some a little sweeter first. Dry is more stringent and has very little sweetness to it. The list can go from there all the way down to heavy, very sweet wines like Manichiewitz Extra Heavy Malaga or Mogan David. Or even some lighter in alcohol, like Boones Farm. I started drinking wine illicitly when I was in high school but that was when Ripple wine, Bali Hi wine and other " Hippie" wines were popular with the young crowd. ( who are now all members of AARP)

Just drink what you like. There really aren't many rules and if you don't enjoy a wine but someone tells you you should like it, then you wont be happy. Making your own can be an option if you really get into it.

Answer 5

Riunite is one of the first mainstream wines in the US, which is why many of our parents have been drinking it for years. It will usually be on the sweet side depending on type, and less expensive.
I would suggest finding out if any local beverage stores in you area host wine tastings. This is a great way to try a wide variety of wines, usually without having to spend money.
If you do want to jump right in and buy wines, you can certainly find good wines at reasonable prices (under $10).
I would try to avoid fruit wines such as Arbor Mist, and real sweet wines, such as White Zin.
If trying white, Riesling is generally a good intro, can be med to sweet, also Pinot grigio. Less sweet, but not too dry.
If you want to try reds, Pinot Noir (try to avoid under $10 ones here) is a nice, light and fruity wine.
Generally one of the hardest to start out with is Cabernet Sauvignon. It tends to be somewhat dry and may be better to work your way up to. (a good one however you will remember for a long time)
Also, try to avoid something if it seems to be too good of a deal. There is a reason something is selling for a cheap.

Answer 6

Mixed drinks are usually sweet, so if you want to try a good sweet wine go w/ Riesling. Definitely served chilled! Other than that, Grapevine has a small festival every year where they showcase their wine, go to that and do a wine tasting. But upstate NY is the biggest wine producer in the US believe it or not....not Napa Valley!
I lived in Bid "D" for several years and if you're not opposed to going to Cedar Creek, and if it's still there, on the corner was a wine tasting studio. Anyway.....Shiraz, chianti, merlot, carbernet savionion, chardannay.....you pick.....white or red. Go taste.

Answer 7

Yes, you are all correct in saying Reunite is the largest wine producer in Italy.
But to mention the largest wine producer in the US is Galleo. Martini and Rossi which produces an excellent line of fine wines for a beginner and those wine snobs, for a reality check.

Answer 8

An inexpensive but smooth red -
Yellow Tail Shiraz Grenache

Enjoyable and smooth white -
Pouilly-Fume (Michel Redde)

Both are dry and go down easy.
I like dry.
Sweet wine makes me feel bad in the morning.

Answer 9

Depends whether you prefer red or white. For white, I would start with a Chardonnay, for red a Merlot. Ignore what wine snobs say on the lines of "you must drink A wine with B food", drink what you enjoy.

Answer 10

Sutter Home White Zinfindel.