Happy Hallo-wine!
As rosé season comes to an end, it’s time we explore the world of red wines. A question I get asked a lot is how to become a red wine drinker when you usually gravitate towards sweet wines or light white and rosé wines. Entering the world of red wine doesn’t need to be a spooky experience, so let’s usher in the season of RED (wine and Taylor Swift).
Getting overwhelmed with the wine selections at a liquor store is common practice, even for the most experienced wine aficionados. An easy trick is to learn a couple of good regions for the varietal you’re interested in trying and then just picking a wine based on region and your price range. Below I will list some great starter red wines and the best regions for them. I listed the wines from lightest to heaviest. Also, since it’s Halloween I’ll throw in a candy pairing recommendation too.
Pinot Noir
My favorite wine to recommend as a starter red wine for a few reasons. One reason is that it’s very light bodied, making it a nice transition from white wines. If you really want to ease in you can put your Pinot Noir in the fridge for 20 minutes before you drink it. The second reason is trying something so light will help you learn if you like lighter reds or if you might want to try something heavier. The final reason is that the taste of Pinot Noir can change depending on the region it’s from, with the fruitier Pinot Noirs coming from Sonoma County and earthier Pinot Noirs coming from Burgundy and Oregon.
Pinot Noir Regions: Burgundy, France; Willamette Valley, Oregon; Sonoma County & Santa Barbara County, California, New Zealand, Italy and Germany
Pinot Noir Candy Pairing: Reese’s, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, Starbursts
Petite Sirah
Petite Sirah (or Petite Syrah) is a fun one because it’s not one that people usually go for but it’s fruity and on the lighter side. Try this next to a Pinot Noir and see if you can notice the nuances and the differences between them. Like Pinot Noir you can also put this in the fridge for 20 minutes before drinking it.
Petite Sirah Regions: California (Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lodi)
Petite Sirah Candy Pairing: Dark Chocolate
Zinfandel
*Not* White Zinfandel, as we’ve discussed. Zinfandel is great because it can be on the fruitier side, which can be interpreted as slightly sweet compared to some of the bigger and drier reds.
Zinfandel Regions: California (Notably: Russian River Valley, Dry Creek, Lodi, Napa, and Paso Robles)
Zinfandel Candy Pairing: M&Ms, Lollipops
Merlot
Personally, I love Merlot. It is medium-bodied, easy to drink, and pairs well with a lot of food. Merlot has had an unnecessarily bad reputation because of some terrible movie in which the main character kept exclaiming his hate for the varietal. I am here to say #JusticeForMerlot!!
Merlot Regions: Bordeaux, France; Napa, California; Chile; Australia
Merlot Candy Pairing: Kit Kats
Cabernet Sauvignon
Finally, we arrive at the king of reds – Cabernet Sauvignon. It is one of the most widely planted and well-known grapes in the world, and that’s because it’s delicious. This is a full-bodied dry red wine, so if the Pinot Noir wasn’t quite doing it for you this might be your perfect choice. It is a scientific fact that you are 25% cooler when you order “a heavy Napa Cab” at a restaurant.*
*Okay maybe not, I was never good at science.
Cabernet Sauvignon Regions: Bordeaux, France; Napa, California; Australia; Tuscany, Italy; South Africa
Cabernet Sauvignon Candy Pairings: Snickers, Reese’s
Now it’s time for some boo-s! Drink & Eat responsibly out there!
Grape & Grub 