Wine recommendations..help please :)

I'm cooking a nice Italian dinner for my friends this weekend and need some recommendations for a cheap, fruity, wine. Dark, rose, white, doesn't matter.

The group isn't fond of many wines but most agree that the sweet, fruitier ones are what they would like. Any suggestions? :)

It's sweet, red, and nice for non-wine-drinkers.

I'd prefer a Chianti or a Sanginavese myself.

I swear, it tastes like a grape soda to me! :) There is nothing wrong with Lambrusco, and if you like it--go for it with your Italian dinner!

If your palate runs to the sweeter wines and you want a white, you may want to consider some of the domestic wines from Missouri. I know it sounds funny, but do give a try to a Vignoles or a Seyval Blanc. They are nice Whites that are sweet enough for non-wine fans to enjoy.

What are you making? There are several folks on here that will be happy to help you with suggestions for wines based on your particular menu!

Laura

I've often been in the situation of placating people who don't "do wine." Usually, they're put off by anything that doesn't taste like soda.

I have had some success with Mondavi fume blanc, though.

Appetizer-

Tenderloin of beef thinly sliced, served raw with shaved Parmesan, pine nuts, and arugula lightly drizzled with lemon vinaigrette.

Soup-

Seafood and vegetables simmered in tomato garlic broth

Salad-

Butter lettuce, cherry tomatoes, sweet onions and roasted peppers with balsamic vinaigrette.

Pasta-

Lobster stuffed pasta in a tarragon-cream sauce sprinkled with fresh herbs

Main Entree-

Tender veal medallions topped with thinly sliced prosciutto and fresh sage, asparagus, and wild mushroom risotto and complimented with Marsala jus.

Dessert-

Two layer white-wine chocolate mousse cake

1. appetizer - is relatively light for beef, so maybe a beaujolais would do the trick, it's light, fruity, not dry.
2. soup- this is where the gewurztraminer would come in handy.
3. salad- pinot blanc or a pinot gris
4. pasta -I think a really nice chardonnay, Chappellet would do the trick.
5. I think, a pinot noir. I prefer big fat zins when it comes to beef though. But, the zin would take over this particular dish.
6. dessert- chocolate, goes with sooo much wine!! ports, madeira, though, I prefer Coturri Zin. It's sweet, fruity, a lovely end to a meal. Or, for a lower alc. content, since sometimes it's rather difficult at the end of a large meal, with this much wine, you might want to go with something like moscato d'asti nivole, michele chiarlo.
another tool you could use is http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Dining/FoodWine_Matching_Search/
good luck! sounds like a great dinner!

Look into some of the Portuguese and Napa valley wines.

someone mentioned those to me a while back

sorry.

Sounds like you've got a serious menu there, so why not serve a proper wine that would pair with the food rather what the inexperienced think they would like? It'll be a good experience for all of youze.

So for Italian, think Chianti (Ruffino classico----very accessible wine, so it shouldn't turn anyone off).

Both are Italian and fantastic in my opinion -- reasonably priced amarones are out there, but can be hard to find depending where you shop.

And, although it is not fruity, chianti is a great choice because no matter how cheap it is, it is hard to screw it up!

The lambrusco suggestion is great, just be prepared for very sweet.

Also good if you like sweet and fruity (although not stylish since like 1985) is a white zinfandel (which is really a pink wine, not a white wine)

Good luck! :beer:

try a Fetzer Geuvertzterminer. I am sure I spelled that wrong but the wine dept willknow. Just say Fetzer.It is only about four bucks at Costco! Tastes like apple pear juice. Nice really cold. Most poular wine in USA served with turkey. I used to be a wine steward!

It's cheap, fruity and tastes great. You can probably get a bottle for $5. And if you like peaches, they have a Peach Chardonnay that if you close your eyes you can almost taste the fuzz.
Duckie

find a nice Chianti. If you live in an urban or moderately populated suburban area, you should be able to find a good supermarket that has a decent committment to quality wine, and find something reasonable for under ten bucks a bottle. Also, there is an inexpensive Italian red called Colosi, it's described on the label as being dry, but it's quite fruity, and goes well with a variety of dishes.

Cross between Cabernet and Merlot. Very smooth.

red - Gamay Beaujolais

white - Riesling Johannesburg

Merlot
White Zin

on the Montepulciano. It's delicious.

Many a morning have I awoken cursing its deliciousness.

Thanks everyone. Wow, I didn't realize we had so many wine experts. I am grateful for the help and the suggestions.

Dry, light and white.

i like just about all the Soking Loon reds, so far i have had the merlot and shiraz(like it better). i use it in cooking, but tryed it first.

I think you should buy a nice chianti! (end of wine)

LOL

How about this one?

<>

:-P