What is a sweet tasting red wine? I hate the taste of wine(bitter), but need to sip some for health reasons.?!
What is a sweet tasting red wine? I hate the taste of wine(bitter), but need to sip some for health reasons.?
Just looking for something i can tolerate. I haven't even come close to acquiring the taste, so i need something light and easy but still has all the good antioxidants and other stuff to raise my Hdl cholesterol
Answers:
The tannin is what makes red wine bitter and puckers your lips. So, you want to look for wines that are lower in tannin. Cabernet and merlot are high in tannin, whereas Pinot Noir and Zinfandel tend to be lower. Syrah and Petit Syrah are medium in tannin but also spicy. I would recommend Pinot Noir as a start, with possibly Zinfandel after that.
There are a good number of excellent Pinot Noir. These are typically more fruity and light in body. I usually recommend Benton Lane Pinot Noir ($15) to start out, since they are cheaper. Once you like it, you can try others such as Mondavi ($20), Siduri (cheaper ones in $20's range), Wilamette ($25), Foley ($30), or Hartfort Court ($35). As for Zinfandel, it is usually more medium body, higher in alcohol, and much more berry and jammy. I love anything from Rosenblum ($10-35) and Ridge ($25-35). Many other Californian winemakers also make great Zinfandels. Once you are used to this, then you can move onto Syrah or Merlot and eventually to Cabernet.
On the other hand, if you are looking for something really sweet, go for Port wine. Port is fortified red wine, made with red wine grape but had brandy added to the semi-fermented grape juice. So, it is higher in alcohol content but very sweet. Try cheaper Port such as Sandeman (starting $15) and Dow (starting $10), and you may end up with very expensive Vintage Port that may cost from $80 and up. Port has tannin, but the sweetness covers the bitter tannin taste.
Good luck with trying. Once you get used to wine, it is a wonderful art that's also good for your health, in moderation.