Merlot 101

What is a good beginner's wine for a spaghetti dinner?

We tried Cabernet with steak the other night, and HOLY MOLY did it taste strong. So we were asking around, and people advised us to start with easy-to-drink wines, namely Chardonnay and Merlot. I'm making spaghetti, will Merlot go with it?? If not, what is a good beginner's wine that goes with it??? I looked it up on the internet, and all I can find are suggestions of Dry Italian red wines, have no idea what to buy. Thanks!

Public Comments

1. TAKE MY ADVICE,I'M NOT USING IT.
2. Bloody Mary Red Wine
3. Merlot is good, although a bit strong in the nose. Shiraz is a nice, dry red, not quite as strong as Merlot.
4. Merlot will go with spaghetti, or you could try a lovely Italian one called "Frascati"
5. Here's an excellent choice. Bourjourlais Villages. It's a red wine with a semi-dry clear flavor. Good with spaghetti. About $10 a bottle.
6. Bogel wines are inexpensive - and listed by Sunset Magazine as a good wine to have on hand as your house wine - and pretty easy on the pallet. Back in my youth Sutter Home White Zin was the rage - light almost sweet, kind of a first introduction to drinking wine. Wouldn't touch the stuff now, but it was wonderful at the time.
7. Very good, modest dry Italian red wines Caleo - Nero D'avola Di Majo Norante - Sangiovese Conti Zecca, Donna Marzia - Negramaro Parallelo - Primitivo
8. I'll assume that you'll be serving a tomato-based sauce with the pasta (as opposed to a cream-based sauce). The key is to find a red wine that will compliment the sauce, cut through the acid in the tomato and not curl your toes. Many Italian varietals are excellent choices for tomato-based pasta meals. Chianti, Sangiovese (my personal favorite), Primitivo and Merlot are all good grape choices. I would also recommend trying Zinfandel (NOT "White Zinfandel" - *bleech!!). Ask your local wine shop to help you out...if they have a lick of sense, they'll be helpful and informative.
9. Pinot Noir is a much milder red wine, that still has lots of flavor. My favorite everyday brand is Beringer.
10. Any dry red - Merlot, Cabernet, Shiraz.
11. chianti. It goes very well with spahetti. also be sure to look on the lable for "classico" and "reserve" or "riservo". That will ensure that it's a good bottle. You shouldn't spend more than $20 for a good bottle of Chianti.
12. Try a Chianti or Sangoevese they are good choices for beginners they are mild with a lot of flavor.
13. Merlot works...Chianti is a great Italian choice. Try something out of the ordinary. Try a Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris. Ask at your local wine store or check out fineliving.com for the sommelier picks. Salute!
14. reunite merlot red wine will hook you right up. Sweet, aromatic and tasty even for non wine drinkers.
15. I like the merlot by Red diamond, it;s from Washington..very good. Also Cabernet from Estancia , the 2003 it's very good! how about a white wine ..a german reisling? if you like white wine.. I would not get chardonay it's aweful!
16. I would recommend a Sangiovese...this wine pairs very nicely with spaghetti and is lighter than Cabernet. You will also find that not all wines of the same varietal taste the same....flavors and quality can vary greatly. Don't taste just one Cabernet. Some people just starting to drink wine, prefer sweeter wines. Instead of a Chardonnay, try a Riesling. Riesling can be drank alone without food and are great with spicy foods. Because they are sort of sweet and light, you can drink quickly and counteract the spicness of the food. Riesling also goes well with chicken, fish, and pork. I'd even recommend it for Thanksgiving along with a Pinot Noir for those who prefer red wines. Generally newcomers to wine prefer white wines to red.
17. Tr a Chianati....it goes good with most Italian Foods. You can get a good bottle for less than $10.00