Swaying Lorie...

[Ryanb]

I need some help introducing my girlfriend to red wine.

I love wine. When we first met she told me she LOVED wine. Of course, it was mass- produdced sweet white wine she had a passion for. (Beringer White Zin, Gossamer Bay, boxes of pink wine, etc.).

I like white wine myself, however it became my goal to introduce the world of wines to my girlfriend. It has been an uphill battle. But after almost two years she has gotten to the point where she prefers very dry white wines and has just "admitted" to liking a semi-dry chillable red wine made here in Wisconsin.

I need some reccomendations for semi-dry chillable reds that can keep the cycle going. She likes big flavors, she hasn't developed a taste for subtlety yet. She likes fruity, refreshing wines. Along with the locally produced red, she also likes Mateus Rose (from Portugal), though rose feels a bit like back-pedaling to me.

Can anyone give me some suggestions? I would be forever in your debt.

[Innkeeper]

You might want to visit the Beaujolais postings down below. Red wines with a lot of fruit up front often if not usually taste sweet even though they are dry. Beaujolais in general and Cru Beaujolais in particular frequently fall into this category. As that posting shows, the 1998 Crus are beginning to show up across the country. They should be served slightly chilled, about five degrees less than the 65 degrees F that red wine is usually served at.

[This message has been edited by Innkeeper (edited 04-04-2000).]