[RickJ]

Ok, I'm a wine whimp, I know. The only kind I like is mellow stuff like Rosé. My dad calls it fruit juice :p

Knowing this, what kind of wine might you suggest I try?

[Sentra]

Jacob's Creek Shiraz, Kenwood Vineyards Red are my two favorites; they taste great, are meal versatile and inexpensive. A good port wine is nice, too.

[J_9]

When I am having a little party I like my Sangria, fruit added... Just for a fun fruity wine.

I know Ben'll probably wince at that one LOL!!

[Sentra]

J_9, that sounds pretty nice!

[J_9]

It's just kind of fun to have a punch bow full during the holidays.

[NeedKarma]

With reds stick with the low tannin stuff like Merlot, Beaujolais, Pinot Noir. With whites it depends how much on acidity versus buttery taste that you personally like. In whites I like Pouilly-Fussé (made with Chardonnay) or a pinot grigio (Italian) which is slightly more acidic.

I guess Curly isn't around today. :)

[Curlyben]

Hey what's this talking about wine with out me.
That'll teach me to working rather than spending time here ;)

OK so I'm going to weigh in here, in some sort of order;

Jacob's Creek Shiraz, Kenwood Vineyards Red are my two favorites; they taste great, are meal versatile and inexpensive. A good port wine is nice, too.

Excellent wines, but miles too heavy for what Rick's looking for.
Best suited for big flavoured meals or some dead cow ;)

When I am having a little party I like my Sangria, fruit added.... Just for a fun fruity wine.

I know Ben'll probably wince at that one LOL!!!!

YUKKKKKK *Runs and hides*

With reds stick with the low tannin stuff like Merlot, Beaujolais, Pinot Noir. With whites it depends how much on acidity versus buttery taste that you personally like. In whites I like Pouilly-Fussé (made with Chardonnay) or a pinot grigio (Italian) which is slightly more acidic

Some good ideas here, just to expand a little.
Merlots can be quite high in tannin especially when young and are really well suited to a wide range of food.
Beaujolais (Gamay) would be an excellent choice as they are quite light in style and can even be cooled before drinking.
Pinot Noir, can be a really mixed bag, some are outstanding and some should be left out standing in the field. Best avoided for the novice, but worth further investigation especially South American ones, like Chili.
Pouilly-Fuisse, definitely a serious step for the novice mainly due to the price, French wines in the US can be expensive and give poor return.
Saying that tho' there is a wide range of differing styles of Chardonnay from light and fruit to so oaky that you feel like you are spitting bark. Well worth investigation to see what style suits best.
Pinot grigio, Hmmm, is a bit like making love in a boat. If you need this explaining PM me ;)

So back to Rick's OP:

I'm a wine whimp, I know. The only kind I like is mellow stuff like Rosé.

There is an amzing variety of Pinks available from the washed out to the serious mouth filling styles.
A good place to start if you want to move on to reds, but haven't plucked up the courage to try yet.
Some pink's of note are made from Zinfandal, but not that aweful Blush stuff.
Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as producing some of the world's best wines, lends itself to outstanding pinks.
Bonny Doon makes some excellent pinks, maybe a little hard to fine, but well worth it. Your mouth will love you for ever ;)

NK suggestion of Gamay is great, go looking.
Also I think the fruiter styles may be better suited for you so things like Gewurztraminer and Semilon/Chardonnay's, both whtes, dry(er) in style but bags of fruit, are a good start.

That should give you a few things to think about.
Let us know how you get on.

[RickJ]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

We've got some huge wine shops around here... I'll print this off and go check what's available in my area.

Riuniti is getting old - and the guests laugh at me :p

[Krs]

U can also mix white wine with sprite / lemonade and red wine with coke (I mean coka cola) ;)

[Curlyben]

*** Heathen Alert ***

[Krs]

*** Heathen Alert ***

Is that addressed to me?
If so... what does it mean?

[curlybenswife]

*** Heathen Alert ***

Giggle ben can you imagine someone saying that at an oddbins wine tasting tee hee

[Curlyben]

'Fraid so Krs.
I'm using this meaning of the word:
Heathen; 4. irreligious, uncultured, or uncivilized.

Mainly uncivilized

Hey come on I am a bit of a wine snob ;)

Wine should never be mixed with anything apart from good friends and good food, oh and of course MORE wine.

[Krs]

Have u ever tried it?? Before calling me a pikey :p

[Curlyben]

PIKEY ROFLMAO I like it ;)

Yes I have and it's a waste of good wine.

[curlybenswife]

Have u ever tried it??? Before calling me a pikey :p

I think I just wet myself laughing pikey indeed, Ben's problem is he used to teach wine appreciation and that kind of thing in his book is sacrilege ;)

[Krs]

A pikey I'm not. Im actually from a very posh /snobbish area in Malta, like u ;) :p

I learnt that word obviously when in England LOL...

Well, yes you are absolutely right, but on your poor days, when you can only buy a GBP2 bottle of wine, add coke or sprite lol :D

[Sentra]

I say we settle this over a bottle of Boone's Farm.

*hides*

[NeedKarma]

I, for one, welcome our wine expert overlord. I think I understand where Ben is coming from. People don't seem to understand why I don't share their excitement for their new batch of homemade wine. Alas I believe I have become somewhat of a wine snob - damn you dad for having nice wine in our house!! Some say it's the French Canadian joie-de-vivre and it's innate in us. Having said that I've been to a few very large wine-tasting expos and I can assure you that you can indeed taste too much wine in a four hour period; after that the Sprite starts tasting good. :)

[Krs]

Hey all don't get me wrong... jesus should have kept my mouth shut. LOL.

I love wine, expensive wine, who doesn't ;)