Red Wine for White Wine Lovers
I know, I know. While I am a die-hard fan of the darker grapes, I completely understand and totally respect the rationale for those of you who stay true to the white stuff, whether you prefer fish to red meat, hate that wine stains your teeth think its just too heavy or simply don’t know where to start. There are many a good reason to steer clear of the dark side, but if you’re open to a little adventure, trust me, dipping a toe into the red stuff can be just as light, floral and satisfying as your favorite glass of Sauv Blanc, Pinot Gris or Chardonnay. A few ways to make the cross over.
1. Start with the lighter side of the spectrum
There are plenty of lightly, floral and fruity red wines that don’t require a medium rare NY Strip to enjoy. The lighter the red in your glass, the lighter it will typically be in body, character and taste. Pinot Noir and Beaujolais rank among my fav. Similar to many whites, Pinot Noir is high in acidity and low in tannins and leaves you with hits of rose and strawberry. Oregon, Burgundy and Chile offer versions that are divine. Beaujolais, a light red wine made from Gamay, hails from Southern Burgundy. A with equally low tannins and slightly lower acid than Pinor Noir, its delicate and just darn pretty.
WARNING: steer clear of cheap “Beaujolais Noveau” and go for one from the Morgon or Fleurie.
2. Go for the characteristic vs. the color
Enjoy something with a little pucker appeal, but still gives that hint of fruit, go for a Grenache - a grape variety made popular by producers from both the Rhone in France and all over Spain (where it’s known as Garnacha). When blended, it adds a very desirable spice and aromatic characteristics to the wine. On its own, Grenache is lighter
bodied with higher acidity.Like whites with a little more body and a hint of spice, but still, fruit-forward, consider a Carignan. Carignan (“care-in- yen”) is a medium-bodied red wine that grows mostly in Southern France where it’s a major blending and in Northern Spain. Long considered a low-quality wine grape, it's making a well-deserved comeback and, better yet, it’s still affordable. Go for one from the Corbieres region of France.
3. Snuggle up on a cold night
Red wines are made for cold nights by the fire. So, if you’re still not convinced, hold out for the first snow of the season, grab a cozy blanket and then proceed to Netflix and chill with the red stuff. There are few things better than a deep, savory, slightly sweet Malbec
or robust Cabernet Sauvignon in hand on a winter night. And the best part is, no one will be there to see what color your teeth are!
4. Put a chill on it
Don’t forget, Red wine can be served with just a hint of cool. Often, red wines are stored at cooler temperatures to preserve them and they are brought to room temperature for serving. So if the crisp, coolness of white wine is what you enjoy the most, pop that bottle in the fridge for a quick 10-15 mins to take the edge off and then enjoy!
Ok, so…you in?