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Wine Tips |
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Jumping from White to Red |
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Our previous article talked about getting somebody into wine,
while this article will focus on what we lovingly refer to as "transition" wines, which will
help move a strictly white drinker into red . Generally, a red drinker will also enjoy whites,
but many white drinkers shy away from reds. There are a number of reasons for this, from
not enjoying the warmer temperature of white to the presence of tannin to the bigger, bolder
flavors.
Many times, the white wine lovers are actually more challenging to move into reds than
non-drinkers, because they just don't see a reason to start drinking anything else since
they already know what they enjoy. So, let's discuss the type of red wines that can get
those white drinkers to cross over and become a well-rounded wine enthusiast.
Given the lighter-bodied nature of whites as a whole, our transition wines will certainly
be the lightest of the reds. The big, bold reds are definitely not going to convince a
white drinker to begin enjoying the other side, so stay away from Cabernet Sauvignon ,
Syrah , Zinfandel and even the medium-bodied Merlot.
The first red wine we'll talk about is indeed the lightest, Beaujolais from France.
It's made from Gamay, a grape that a lot of people have never heard of, but the wine that
comes from it is a pure, simple fruity pleasure. Those who are already into bigger reds would
dismiss Beaujolais as wimpy and lacking in any sort of complexity. However, for a white wine
drinker, Beaujolais makes for a wonderful transition wine, offering the same flavors with
a inconsequential amount of tannin or any of the earthy elements of other reds. Beaujolais
also tastes great chilled, making it an even better candidate for the white drinker that
has a hard time drinking warm reds.
Next, let's talk about a couple more light options from Italy , Barbera and
Chianti. Both make good transition wines for the same reason as Beaulojais, though
they will offer up a bit more body along with a little more fruit and flavor. Chianti
is much more well known and is easier to find in the marketplace, but Barbera is actually
more interesting, offering up steady flavors of strawberries and cherries. And unlike their
burly big brothers such as Barolo, these Italian reds shy way from the killer mega-tannin.
Finally, we want to offer up our favorite wine, Pinot Noir , though you must be careful
which region to go to for a style that a white drinker will enjoy. Definitely avoid any
Burgundy from France, because the earthy overtones will in all likelihood be rejected.
Looking at Pinot from the States, we'd also advise steering away from California , which
tends to be Burgundian in style and taste. So what should you look for? Pinot Noir from
Oregon and New Zealand . Both will be fruit-forward and much more reminiscent of berries,
especially the Pinot from New Zealand, where the ripeness reflects in the easy fruit flavors.
With these tools, you are now ready to tell that friend to put that glass of white down and
transition over to the marvelous world of reds.
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