Merlot

[Jerry D Mead]

If you like Asti...Try Ballatore Spumante...it's a very inexpensive California product made from the same grape variety and that wins gold medals every year.

Merlot has no sweetness...the best chance you'll take to red wine after drinking mostly fruity, sweet white is to make sure you try it with food. Red wine, at least for beginners, really needs to be paired with food.

A couple of really good value Merlots are Stone Creek and Forest Glen.

JDM