new to wines

[redrose39]

i would like to find a sweet wine,kind of mild...for an after diner drink...and not cianti..not a dry wine...or a sour wine....just mild and sweet.......something both a man and women would like

[mrdutton]

For medium sweetness, try a white or red Lambrusco (which also has a slight fizziness to it) from Italy.

Or you might try Liebfraumilch, Riesling Kabinett or Riesling Spatlese from Germany, or Chenin Blanc from California. (These are white wines.)

For sweet you might try a Sauternes from France or Riesling Auslese from Germany. (Again white wines.)

There are also sparkling wines (Asti Spumante from Italy) or Champagnes (demi-sec) that are sweet.

Sweet fortified wines include those such as Ruby port or Cream sherry (Harvey's Bristol Cream comes to mind).

Another thing comes to mind, but not really for after dinner. A nice drink, especially in the summer, made with red wine with fruit and sugar added. Go to www.epicurious.com and look up thier recipe for Sangria. But if you decide to try Sangria, please do not buy the bottled stuff. Get a good recipe and make your own, using a decent red wine. I've spent many a pleasing afternoon in Barcelona sitting at a sidewalk "cafe" drinking Sangria and people watching.

Above all check with your local wine merchant, spend some time with him letting him know what your tastes are. He should be able to point you toward something you might like. Once you've established a "baseline", then you can branch out from there trying different wines.

[This message has been edited by mrdutton (edited 02-06-2000).]

[juliedu]

One wine that I turn so many (forgive me) white zinfandel drinkers on to, to wean them off the stuff is, Mirrasou, Monterey Reisling. The response has been 100% pleased. It is a very easy drinking white, very slightly sweet, and both men and women can enjoy it. Also a very nice sparkling is Marwood, Ruby Spumante. This is an Italian sparkling not too sweet for a spumante, and a nice Rose colour. Enjoy.