For Wine Drinkers

I love wine and I love wine tasting.

I tend to lean towards lighter and/or older reds because tannins can give me a headache. I do love Pinot Noir, especially Ponzi, Castlerock, A to Z, Acacia and Morgan. I also like Zinfandels and Ravenswood is a great, less expensive, go to for that.

Personally, I find to Sauvignon Blanc to be too flowery for me. I prefer oaked chardonnay (Bouchaine, Morgan, Cakebread, Simi).

And, on a warm day out on the deck, there's nothing quite like a great Pinot Grigio.

Have fun with your wine making!

For red wines, I mainly buy Shiraz. My favorite is Maggio. I like my white wines sweet, so I usually go with Reisling--Fetzer, specifically. Pacific Rim is great, too.

Of course, there's $3 bottles of Charles Shaw from Trader Joe's. Those always seem to do the job.

I'm a bit of a maniac for Pinot Noir

I live in CA. We're spoiled. So many good wines.

I like Cabs, Syrahs and Pinot Noirs the best

I love champagne and a red called Rioja, it's a Spanish wine but one of the best reds I've ever had. If I could make it I would save between $35-$50!

I just found a new favorite called "once upon a vine" that I love LOVE...my standbys are:

1.) Cupcake wines: Their Merlot and their Red Velvet (blend) are wonderful.
2.) Menage e Trois (the red kind)

Generally most blends are safe...and they're my usual. I also enjoy Chianti and Malbec

I love Barolo wines - my favourite grape is nebbiolo. I decant mine 24 hours in advance and leave to chill in a coldish room. I enjoy it with gammon roasted in honey. Yummy!

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I usually go in for dry reds and whites, so I don't think I could recommend what I personally drink. But if you favor sweeter reds and want to branch out I'd say Malbec is a good place to start.

ETA: gewurztraminer is a sweeter German white that I like.

When drinking wine alone my favorites for reds are red blends or a pino noir. For whites I like a light dry white like a pino grigio or savignon blanc. Malbec (red) is really nice too. I'm not terribly fond of very spicy reds like shiraz or syrah, or very "buttery" chardonnays, though I have had some I've enjoyed.

If serving with food it really just depends on the food, and my mood. There are several internet sites that pair wines and food. I often use these when looking for a new wine or trying a new recipe.

ETA: I was recently introduced to "hyper aerating" or "hyper-decanting" red wine. Basically, you put it in the blender for a few seconds, then serve in a decanter. It can vastly improve the taste of cheaper reds, and you don't have to wait for it to breathe.

I agree that Pinot Noir is a good choice for a white wine drinker who would like to transition to red as it is often smoother than other varietals. Another good one to try would be Chianti which is made with Sangiovese grapes. Gamay/Beaujolais wines would be a good option too because they tend to be light and fruitier than most reds. You might like Beaujolais Nouveaus too which is a light fruity red seasonal wine that comes out around Thanksgiving.

Another good entry point to red wine would be Sparkling reds or even red Sangria.

Have been drinking your white wines as an aperitif (before dinner)? You might try to drink your reds with food. I think reds are more accessible for the new wine drinker when consumed with food than when consumed alone.

Also, I agree with the folks who are recommending to aerate your wine. Aerating softens and mellows the flavors, bringing out the aromas. Aerated wine will taste less harsh - which will bring out the fruit and make reds smoother and more accessible for a white wine drinker. You can buy a wine aerator or simply pour it in your glass and swirl it all around.

Personally, for you, I would recommend staying away from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec and Syrah because they tend to be bigger, bolder, more tannic wines.

Red wine has so more health benefits, so it's not surprising that a MFPer might want to acquire a taste for reds.