with pasta?

[jtw2e]

Hi, I am looking for a very sweet red wine under $20 that would be good with an Italian dish--such as tortellini or ravioli. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Drew]

Roberto....this bud's for you.

Drew

[barnesy]

I am not sure if a very sweet read wine would even taste that good with pasta.... They tend to work much better as a dessert. It sounds like you may be trying to get around the problem of a way too powerful red, such as an over oaked californian. You may wish to ask your local wine retailer for a soft Chianti. You can probably find a nice '98 for around 10 bucks. I think the taste results would be better. Then again, Roberto may have the solution you are looking for.

Barnesy

[winoweenie]

Hi there jtw2e and welcome to the board. When most of us`ns think of pasta (with red sauce) we automatically think of reds that will complioment the tomato-based sauce.I too think you may be confusing sweet as opposite to brawney. Barnsey gave you a good answer . I personally like Zinfandels, Barberas, and Rhones with my various pasta dishes. Never, ever a sweet red wine. winoweenie

[Innkeeper]

If you want to stay Italian, would pick out WW's suggestion of barbera. Find a fresh, young, and inexpensive one. Talking $11-13. Those over $15 or $18 are a bigger, really different kind of wine. Barbera is best with tomato sauces because it is just about the most acidic widely available red, and tomatoes are just about the most acidic vegetables. Acid goes with acid; sweet goes with sweet.