The white wine drinker's guide to red wine

White wine drinkers can love red wine, too.

How many times have you walked the wine aisle searching for a red wine that will please someone else, without hurting your wallet? All you want is to grab your favorite white and call it a night, but, for some reason, the decision wasn’t yours.

This is a common dilemma. Yes, theoretically it should be that someone else in that aisle. Theoretically it should be his (or her) wallet, ultimately, making this annoying decision. Yet theories are well and good; in theory, communism works and all babies are cute, but we all know how life really works. Someday, if it hasn’t happened already, you’ll find yourself seeking the red stuff, like it or lump it. At the end of the night, however, one of the following red varietals just might surprise you.

Red wine doesn’t have to be bitter, noxious or heavy. Many a wine drinker has been turned-off by the red stuff, by an early (awful) experience. Sometimes it wasn’t even a cheap wine; perhaps it was a good wine gone bad, or something that just didn’t suit the palate. Not everyone is a fan of the old standards; the dry, heavy bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and the cloying fruitiness of the Merlot are not always the best representatives of the red stuff. Movies sometimes present an answer.

If you have seen Sideways, the movie that truly launched the careers of both Paul Giamotti and the Pinot Noir, then you know that there are other red varietals (see also: Miles' hysterical rant against Merlot). In truth, there are thousands of varietals, but here are a few reds that might interest you, the white wine lover with a red wine obligation.

Pinot Noir is a good place to start. Not only is it highly popular, now, amongst red wine drinkers, its light-bodied “mouthfeel” and subtle fragrances make it a delicious choice for people who’d sooner sip a Sauvignon Blanc than knock back a short glass of something red. Cavit has a Pinot Noir that will suit just about anyone; it’s a mid-level wine, fairly inexpensive and tasty.

Another option, if the object is to find something more robust, is Syrah. This is a varietal with a family of grapes, such as Shiraz (practically the same grape), tending to be slightly tart, not without some sweetness, and possessing a much fuller flavor than the common Merlot. This goes doubly so for the Petite Syrah (a different varietal altogether, though closely related), a denser, more exciting variation on the Syrah/Shiraz. Also known as Durif, ts grapes are smaller, having been grown in more arid conditions. The Petite Syrah is to Syrah what Mighty Mouse is to Superman. The “petite-ness” of the grape has an inverse relationship to its richness. Estancia produces an easily drinkable Syrah and if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, try Bogle’s Petite Syrah.

Perhaps you’re looking for something to take to the barbeque? Malbec, a varietal originally hailing from Spain, but coming to fame via Argentina, is smooth, medium-bodied and slightly tangy that blends well with spicy sauces and tangy marinades. Finca Flichman produces a strong Malbec and, for just a couple dollars more, a Malbec Reserve that will compliment whatever foods the chef prepares (red meat or white), putting you in the chef’s good graces.

If you aren’t afraid of a dry red and just don’t care for the formal oak of the common Cab, then try Zinfandel. No, not the ubiquitous White Zinfandel, which tastes like hopped-up Kool-Aid. Zinfandel is a deep red varietal, just as dry as the Cab, just as high in alcohol content, but with a smoother character and far richer flavor. As you pull a sip of Zinfandel over your tongue, you’ll be surprised by the way its flavor dances the Lambada all the way to your throat, without any of the Cab’s harsh burn. Gnarly Head and Barefoot both have excellent (and pleasingly cheap) examples of Zinfandel.

So if you are the poor white wine drinker, coerced into drinking red, there is hope. Keep these wine varietals in mind, and the brands mentioned, as you wander the wine aisle. Console yourself, too, with the fact that red wine is a healthy choice, if it will make it easier – that is until you have tasted one of these suggestions. One of these, if not all, just might surprise you.