Any Suggestions?

[jaashley]

Hi, my wife and I are trying to acquire our tastes for wine. I was wondering if anyone would have any suggestions on what I could try and introduce to my wife. I suspect that she would like something very sweet. Should I start looking at 'desert wines'? If so, any particular ones. Just as some background, she said 'not bad' to some white zinfandel, but could see clearly she's not used to that taste by the slight curl of her mouth. Thanks for the help!

[wondersofwine]

You might try a white dessert wine--German Riesling wines from the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region with a classification of Spatlese (late-picked grapes) or Auslese (specially selected grapes) may have some residual sugar and are a good value price-wise. If it says Trocken or Halb Trocken on the label, it is dry or slightly off-dry, not sweet. I especially like Wehlener Sonnenuhr or Urziger Wurzgarten wines from the Mosel.
There are also California white wines made as dessert wines such as late harvest rieling or Chardonnay or Gewurztraminer or Bonny Doon Muscat Vin de Glaciere.
Some Lambrusco (red Italian wine) available at supermarkets is sweet. I understand not all Lambrusco is made this way but the less expensive ones probably are sweet.
You might also try a 2001 Beaujolais Nouveau in January. These wines are not made for longevity and will begin to fade in the spring.

[cpurvis]

welcome jaashley. My favorite answer to this question: Moscato d'Asti. It's a semi-sparkling, low alcohol, sweet-but-not-syrup Italian apertif or dessert wine that's widely available in the US. Call a couple of local wine stores & ask if they have any. Great way to ring in the New Year.

cheers,
cp