Principato Rosso

[jpy15026]

Hi,
This I understand is Olive Garden's house wine. Does anyone have a description of how it tastes?
I'm looking for a "fresh, clean tasting" Red, one that doesn't have an "earthly, or "minerally" taste like the Merlots or Beaujolais that I have tried. There seems to be some excitement about this one and it's available in our Wine & Spirits Stores here in Pa. for $9.39 1.5 L I'm tired of buying Reds and dumping them after a 5oz.taste, so if anyone has a description that would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance

[Innkeeper]

Try putting some red food dye in water to get the idea.

[wineguruchgo]

Innkeeper - that wasn't very nice.

JP the "earthy & Mineral" quality that you are describing are generally associated with "Old World" wines (France, Italy, Spain, etc...)

I would try wines from Australia or California because they concentrate on the fruit components rather than the earthyness.

People are raving about Yellow Tail and it's pretty inexpensive. I would try the Shiraz if I were you. Might be to your liking.

If there are wine tastings in your area I would start going to them. It's the easiest way to try wines without spending the money up front.

Hope that helps.

[Innkeeper]

Sorry WG, but I tasted it at OG, and that is exactly what it tastes like.

[brappy]

IK posted:

"Try putting some red food dye in water to get the idea."

[img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/tongue.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by brappy (edited 03-02-2006).]

[Thomas]

IK, are you stealing from my gene pool???

[andypandy]

I worked at Olive Garden during college, and we weren't allowed to call the Principatos our "house wines." We were supposed to call them our "signature wines" in a desperate marketing effort, and there were usually rewards for selling a magnum of the stuff.

EDIT: I just dug out my old "Product Knowledge" book I got while working there, fun memories.
"Principato Rosso: Mild, light to medium-bodied with dark berry flavors, delicious, soft and approachable. Similar to Pinot Noir in body style."
I don't remember it having any dark berry flavors or being especially delicious, mostly just light and inoffensive, but it's been a long time.

[This message has been edited by andypandy (edited 03-02-2006).]