What are some excellent dinner wines?!
What are some excellent dinner wines?
Answers:
It pretty much depends on what you are having for dinner.
If you are looking for something to go with lighter dinner, such as baked chicken or seafood, I would recommend Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir. These are lighter wines with fruit so not to overpower the taste of food. Sauvignon Blanc such as Chateau St. Michelle ($12) or Hogue ($12) or Duckhorn ($18) are great choices, as well as Pinot Noir such as Siduri ($20 for cheaper ones), Robert Mondavi (not Coastal, $25).
For meals with medium body taste such as pasta with marinara or fajitas, I would think about Zinfandel or Syrah. I love a good Zinfandel, which has a lot of fruit without the tannin or the fine texture of Cabernet. Syrah is a spicy wine that takes some getting used to. Try Zinfandel such as Robert Mondavi (not Coastal, $20), Frank ($30), Rosenblum ($10-35), or Ridge ($25-40), as well as Syrah like Joseph Phelps ($30), Columbia Crest ($15), Rosenblum ($18-50).
If you are looking for some heavier meals, such as barbeque or steak, you want to go to bigger reds such as Merlot or Cabernet. Again, good choices include Robert Mondavi (not Coastal, $25), Markham ($25), Chateau St. Jean ($20), or Newton ($20-40). If you want something fancy, go to Caymus Cabernet ($50), Jordan Cabernet ($45), or Joseph Phelps Cabernet ($45).
For dessert, go to great dessert wines such as Icewines (Inniskilling $60) or Port (Dow's or Sandeman for $10-20).